Who's thinking about their Christmas Brew already?

TerapinChef · 07-27-2008, 10:30 PM

I know that I am, I just have a hard time convincing myself that it's time to brew it again already. But it was such a winner last year, I can't help but want to give it another go 'round...Here's mine, let me know what you think or share your own....
It's based on an English Brown, and was my first all grain batch

BeerSmith Recipe Printout - www.beersmith.com
Recipe: Holiday Brown Bear #3
Brewer: Terapinchef
Asst Brewer: SWMBO
Style: Christmas/Winter Specialty Spice Beer
TYPE: All Grain
Taste: (45.0) This was a great brew. Mellowed out nicely, a long aging period is definately necessary. Good smooth flavor, clean spicy aftertaste.

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Batch Size: 5.25 gal
Boil Size: 6.14 gal
Estimated OG: 1.065 SG
Estimated Color: 26.0 SRM
Estimated IBU: 22.1 IBU
Brewhouse Efficiency: 83.10 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amount Item Type % or IBU
7 lbs 8.0 oz Pale Malt, Maris Otter (3.0 SRM) Grain 70.42 %
1 lbs 4.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt - 60L (60.0 SRM) Grain 11.74
6.4 oz Chocolate Malt (450.0 SRM) Grain 3.76 %
4.0 oz Caravienne Malt (22.0 SRM) Grain 2.35 %
4.0 oz Melanoidin Malt (20.0 SRM) Grain 2.35 %
1.00 oz Fuggles [4.50 %] (60 min) Hops 13.3 IBU
0.50 oz Fuggles [4.50 %] (30 min) Hops 5.1 IBU
1.00 oz Goldings, East Kent [6.90 %] (5 min) Hops 3.7 IBU
0.10 oz Cinnamon Stick (Boil 5.0 min) Misc
1.00 oz Ginger Root (Boil 12.0 min) Misc
1.00 tsp Irish Moss (Boil 10.0 min) Misc
4.00 oz Malto-Dextrine (Boil 5.0 min) Misc
1 lbs Brown Sugar, Dark (50.0 SRM) Sugar 9.39 %
1 Pkgs British Ale (White Labs #WLP005) [Starter Yeast-Ale

Obviously won't be using Fuggles this year, have to look for something else...I know that Tettanager would be out of character but anyone see anything wrong with the flavor? I'm not much of a stickler for tradition....

[edit] thinking of adding cardamom this year....

FishinDave07 · 07-28-2008, 12:18 AM

That looks pretty solid. I'd be tempted to see how the spicyness turns out with using Euro hops (Hallertau, Tettnang, etc.)

TwoHeadsBrewing · 07-28-2008, 12:20 AM

You might try Willamettes as a substitute for Fuggles. I just made a Brown, and also couldn't source any Fuggles...and it turns out the Willamette hop is a Fuggle variant.

I'm also thinking of my Holiday brew...probably going to clone the Anchor Steam Christmas Ale, but I'm lacking the recipe. Just in case, maybe I'll brew yours AND the Christmas Ale clone

.

KingBrianI · 07-28-2008, 12:28 AM

I'm thinking about a scottish 80/- that is bittered/flavored with a gruit instead of hops. That might make for an interesting holiday sipper.

Plan9 · 07-28-2008, 12:35 AM

Thinking about....

... mine's in the carboy!

I don't have the recipe on this computer, so I'll have to post it later.

ohiobrewtus · 07-28-2008, 12:47 AM

I'm trying to get a recipes together for beers to have at both Thanksgiving and Christmas. These holiday brews are about the only chance I get to fruit the beer, so I enjoy experimenting with them.

I did an ale for Christmas last year that I'm thinking about duplicating, but I'm thinking about something light with some cranberries for Thanksgiving (Lord knows I want to make a Turkey and bacon Thanksgiving beer, but I haven't figured that out yet

). Who knows if I'll follow through with it or not.

Plan9 · 07-28-2008, 01:02 AM

Rouge suggests their Juniper Pale Ale to go with turkey. It is a really good fit with Thanksgiving dinner.

I have one on Tap now. I smashed a pack of juniper berries and some coriander, and soaked them in some vodka, then dumped it into secondary.

brewt00l · 07-28-2008, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plan9

Thinking about....

... mine's in the carboy!

I don't have the recipe on this computer, so I'll have to post it later.

Likewise, mine is currently sitting in the secondary on 1+ lb of cherries....

8.75 lb Pilsen Malt
3 lb Munich 10L Malt
6.0 oz Chocolate Malt
1 lb Honey
1 oz Saaz (2.1%) - added during boil, boiled 60.0 min
.5 oz Saaz (2.1%) - added during boil, boiled 30 min
0.25 tsp Ginger (fresh) - steeped after boil
1.0 ea White Labs WLP565 Belgian Saison I
1 lb Cherries (fresh) - added dry to secondary fermenter
Oak Wood Cubes - added dry to secondary fermenter

Edit: 3.5 gal batch BTW.

**Revvy** · 07-28-2008, 01:57 AM

Oh god..no....

I keep telling myself that if I want pumpkin ale for Halloween I have to brew that in the next couple weeks.....I don't wanna think about summer being over, let alone having something nice for Christmas time.....damn this hobby and it's &#$%&@# requirement of patience and planning....

I mean I usually don't even start my Christmas shopping til the middle of December.

**Saccharomyces** · 07-28-2008, 02:09 AM

Dang... should have done mine already. I need to get it going soon. Going for a strong honey porter. It will be my first dark beer.

- Eric