Gingerbread Ale suggestions

[washdcbrewer]

Hi everyone, I'm making a gingerbread ale and was wondering if I can get some suggestions. I need hop suggestions and I want to know what everyone thinks of the amounts of spices I am using. This is what I'm going on so far:

8 oz caramunich
8oz victory malt
8 chocolate malt

4 lbs light DME
2 lbs brown sugar
1 cup of molasses
1/2 lb lactose

Cinnamon sticks (thinking 2 four inch barks)
Grated ginger (2.5 ozs?)
Nutmeg (1/3 tsp)

Thanks

 

[washdcbrewer]

Anyone have hop suggestions?

 

[Shipwreck_Jonny]

I'm thinking that using that large amount of fresh ground ginger will dominate your beer, especially in secondary. Perhaps add that to the end of your boil? Or dial down your amount, particularly the ginger. The last spiced beer I made, I added 1 TBS of spice to the boil and made a tea using the same spice but at a lower amount, 1.5 tsp boiled in water and added to secondary. The spices were there and noticeable, but not overpowering.
Just my opinion. The only way to know is to try.

 

[Shipwreck_Jonny]

Anyone have hop suggestions?

Fuggles to bitter, nugget to finish. It will let more of the malt, spices and yeast flavor through and not command the forefront with hopiness.

 

[tennesseean_87]

I'd not use finishing hops at all. just a bittering charge on the low end is all you need.

 

[washdcbrewer]

Thanks for all the help! I'm definitely going to add the ginger to the boil and I purchased the Fuggles last night.

 

[Shipwreck_Jonny]

Let me know how that works out for you. Good luck.