Planning and scheming for my midlife crisis party

As the title refers, vaguely, I'm turning 40 in October and will be having one hell of a knock-down, drag-out party to commemorate my hitting the mid-life milestone. I'm hoping to have 20 gallons (4 separate 5 gallon batches) of high-abv beer on tap for the big event. Since it takes a while for these big beers to come into their own, I'm starting the plans to brew them now and will hopefully have them in secondary by spring, so they're ready by October.

Here's my current line-up thoughts:

#1 Breakfast stout:

Batch size 6 gallons
Boil size 7.2 gallons
Boil time 60 minutes
Grain weight 27 pounds
Efficiency 82%

Original gravity 1.128
Final gravity 1.032
Alcohol (by volume) 12.5%
Bitterness (IBU) 33
Color (SRM) 57.5°L

Yeast
Safale US-05
Lavlin EC-1118

Grains/Extracts/Sugars
Golden Promise 32ppg, 2°L 13 pounds
DME - Extra light 42ppg, 2°L 3 pounds 11.1% 30 mins
Liquid Sugar - Maple syrup 32ppg, 35°L 3 pounds 11.1% Staggered additions
Barley (Flaked) 32ppg, 2°L 2 pounds 7.4%
Special B 30ppg, 140°L 1 pound 3.7%
Crystal 60L 34ppg, 60°L 1 pound 3.7%
Oats (Flaked) 32ppg, 2°L 1 pound 3.7%
Rice (Hulls) 30ppg, °L 1 pound 3.7%
Barley (Roasted) 28ppg, 500°L 1 pound 3.7%
Chocolate 29ppg, 350°L 0.75 pounds 2.8%
Black Patent 27ppg, 500°L 0.25 pounds 0.9%

Mash
Target 148°F

Boil
60 minutes, 7.2 gallons
Magnum hops 14%, Pellet 1.5 ounces 120 minutes (+-60)

Notes: Staggered maple syrup additions over 2 months, 1# at flame out, 1# at 1 month, 1# at 2 months. Cold brewed Kona coffee added at 2 months.

#2 Devil Pils
Batch size 5.5 gallons
Boil size 7.1 gallons
Boil time 90 minutes
Grain weight 19 pounds
Efficiency 82%

Original gravity 1.102
Final gravity 1.025
Alcohol (by volume) 10.0%
Bitterness (IBU) 59
Color (SRM) 3.5°L
Yeast
White Labs
WLP802 Czech Budejovice Lager

Grains/Extracts/Sugars
Pilsen 36ppg, 1°L 19 pounds 100%

Decoction Mash
75 minutes, 9.3 gallons
Strike Target 120°F 5.0 gallons 136°F 15 minutes
Decoction Target 145°F 7 quarts 212°F 30 minutes
Decoction Target 156°F 4 quarts 212°F 30 minutes
Sparge Target 170°F 4.3 gallons 189°F

Boil
90 minutes, 7.1 gallons
Sterling hops 7%, Pellet 2 ounces 75 minutes (+15)
Sterling hops 7%, Pellet 1.75 ounces 30 minutes (+60)
Sterling hops 7%, Pellet 1.75 ounces 15 minutes (+75)
Sterling hops 7%, Pellet 1.75 ounces 0 minutes (+90)

Ferment
14 days @ 50-55°F

Lager
60 days @ 33°F

#3 Westvleteren Clone

Still deciding on whether to do saq's new world or old world with some personal modifications

#4 ??

This is where I need some input. I've done some big ciders/apfelweins that are always a hit but I'm not sure if I want to fall back on something that easy.

Help me out people, give me ideas!

Thanks in advance!

Hmm I would recommend a big sour but you don't quite have the time for that. You've got a stout, a pils, a quad...how about a big IPA? It would round things out.

Yeah a IIPA wouldn't be bad if your friends like those. Another possibility might be something like a wee heavy, or if you have lagering facilities maybe a doppelbock.

I think you are a decade early for a midlife party. I intend to live to 100 so I think midlife is 50. That said, yes an IPA might fit the mix real well.

Maybe a Pliny the Elder clone or Bell's Hopslam clone?? I don't know if you've ever tried Flying Dogs Raging ***** or Chouffe Houblon Dobbelen IPA Tripel...a Belgian style IPA or a Black IPA? Also, since its in October maybe you can do a nice Pumpkin ale like Southern Tier or Dogfish Head

I'd go either double IPA, Dopplebock, or Oktoberfest (since it's a fall party).

Depends on if you're going to have any small beers in addition to the big ones.

cercueil said:

Maybe a Pliny the Elder clone or Bell's Hopslam clone?? I don't know if you've ever tried Flying Dogs Raging ***** or Chouffe Houblon Dobbelen IPA Tripel...a Belgian style IPA or a Black IPA? Also, since its in October maybe you can do a nice Pumpkin ale like Southern Tier or Dogfish Head

Click to expand...

I completely forgot about my traditional "the great pumpkin" ale. I guess I could ramp that one up a bit on the octane level. I have done a few 8-10% IIPAs but have been wanting to do a Pliny clone for a while. Hell, I have 9 taps available for this party, I might as well go for both and the apfelwein right?

I have 10 gallons of my black IPA in the kegs as of last weekend (HBT contest entry ) and will probably be brewing it again for a late summer party this year. I haven't done a non-west coast IPA yet though... Great suggestions so far!