ThreeTaps

Recipes 

Hi all,

I'm considering buying the pumpkin spice beer kit found here:

Pumpkin Spice Beer Kit

I see that it's simply a blonde ale with a bit of flavoring. My question is, do you think this beer will really give a nice taste of pumpkin? I currently have my first batch of beer fermenting (blonde ale, which I hear is good for my taste preference right now) and would like to start on a festive beer for when the in-laws and other family come over for thanksgiving and before.

I'm open to suggestions, however keep in mind that I'm a beginner (only been doing this for 3 days now) and would need some serious hand holding for a custom recipe.

cdburg

Recipes 

Most of the "pumpkin" beers I've seen are meant to taste like pumpkin pie, not an actual pumpkin (squash). Some recipes have actual pumpkin in them, some just have the pie spices. It sounds like this recipe has just the spices.

If you like pumpkin pie, go for it. It could work pretty well as a Thanksgiving beer. Personally, I can't drink too much of any of the pumpkin/spice beers. They're a but much for me. I'd prefer something else, especially to drink with a big meal like Thanksgiving.

ThreeTaps

Recipes 

Thanks for the quick reply, cdburg. I think I'll give it a go.

EuBrew

Recipes 

do a search for the Thunderstruck pumpkin from Yuri I think. There are all grain and extract recipes with instructions if you want to go full custom. There's also a long thread with a lot of q and a on pumpkin brews. Good luck!

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cdburg

Recipes 

This thread might be interesting for you too...

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f12/pumpkin-beers-discussion-developing-recipes-tips-tricks-good-practices-131786/

ThreeTaps

Recipes 

EuBrew,

I actually read through that long thread you mentioned...which is what got me wanting to brew a batch. However, all those recipes and custom instructions really confused and scared this newbie, so I'm sticking with the pre-assembled extract kits for now. Haha. I'm sure I'll venture out into other stuff soon enough.

ThreeTaps

Recipes 

Yup, that's the one I read through. Some of those recipes sound reeeaallll good...but only when I'm ready to venture away from pre-made kits.

davesrose

Recipes 

Yeah, "pumpkin spice" just refers to the spices that normally go into pumpkin pie. A lot of what you're tasting in pumpkin pie is the spices and not pumpkin (which by itself is fairly bland). Some people actually buy premixed "pumpkin spice" at the grocery store It usually consists of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice. I like using freshly grated nutmeg in all my desserts: there's a big difference. This is just my knowledge of cooking mind you, I'm not a fan of dessert spices in my beer

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Homercidal

Recipes 

+1 ^^^

I had a couple of pumpkin beers and could barely finish them. Lots of others really like them. I'd rather have a slice of pie and a beer.

ThreeTaps

Recipes 

Are they really that sweet? I would imagine that after all is said and brewed...it's still a beer, and would have maybe 10% flavoring of pumpkin spice. Unless you just REALLY prefer your beer to be strictly a beer, and have beer-only taste.