Great Lakes Christmas Ale

[rjschroed]

So I know it's July but being a homebrewer involves looking ahead. . . Christmas in July sounds like a good time to brew some Christmas ale so it will be good and tasty come the holiday season. At any rate here is my attempt at a clone of the famous great lakes Christmas ale. Advice, recommendations, and constructive criticism welcome, "that stuff is nasty" comments not.

Recipe: Christmas Ale
Brewer: rjschroed
Asst Brewer:
Style: Christmas/Winter Specialty Spice Beer
TYPE: All Grain
Taste: ?

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Batch Size: 5.50 gal
Boil Size: 9.00 gal
Estimated OG: 1.069 SG
Estimated Color: 15.4 SRM
Estimated IBU: 40.3 IBU
Brewhouse Efficiency: 72.00 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amount Item Type % or IBU
10.00 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 70.18 %
1.50 lb White Wheat Malt (2.4 SRM) Grain 10.53 %
1.00 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 40L (40.0 SRM) Grain 7.02 %
0.50 lb Special Roast (50.0 SRM) Grain 3.51 %
0.25 lb Roasted Barley (300.0 SRM) Grain 1.75 %
1.00 oz Hallertauer [6.20 %] (60 min) Hops 20.9 IBU
1.00 oz Hallertauer [6.20 %] (30 min) Hops 16.0 IBU
1.00 oz Cascade [5.00 %] (5 min) Hops 3.4 IBU
1.00 oz Ginger Root (Boil 5.0 min) Misc
2.00 tsp Cinnamon (Boil 5.0 min) Misc
1.00 lb Honey (1.0 SRM) Sugar 7.02 %

That boil volume is off. . . FYI

 

[denverDA]

Yeast? 1028 is what I seem to be seeing.

 

[rjschroed]

I did use 1028

 

[denverDA]

Haha, after I posted this I realized you also posted in another spot and had the yeast info there. Thanks for replying though! I'm a very new extract brewer and wondering if this beer would be a good All-grain "toe dipper" or if I should learn how to convert to extract and do that for the time being...a real quagmire. (It's more about the extra $ to be able to do all-grain, than fear of it FWIW)

 

[rjschroed]

I'd go with I more tried and true recipe. I haven't even bottled this yet and I have no idea how it will turn out. As for AG, you'll never regret it. As much as I don't like the idea, maybe you could try BIAB.

 

[denverDA]

What is the case against BIAB? Seems decent.