I'm wanting to brew a pumpkin ale and give it a good long rest of a few months as it seems to age well. One problem... the canned pumpkin shortage of 2009 bled over into 2010 and the new crop isn't out. I was thinking of mixing up some sweet potatoes and butternut squash to mimic Pumpkin. After the spices are added, sweet potato pie tastes a lot like pumpkin. Thoughts?
Pumpkin Ale - Having trouble finding Pumpkin
- Thread starter KAMMEE
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mosquitocontrol
Well-Known Member
I'm begining to think I shouldn't have made those pumpkin muffins a few months back with my one can!
BeerPressure
Well-Known Member
I don't even use pumpkin in my pumpkin spice ale.
Captain_Bigelow
Well-Known Member
I use x3 15oz cans of this....
http://www.vitacost.com/Farmers-Market-Organic-Canned-Pumpkin
It goes into the mash with the grain. There was a bad harvest last year and it is very difficult to find.
http://www.vitacost.com/Farmers-Market-Organic-Canned-Pumpkin
It goes into the mash with the grain. There was a bad harvest last year and it is very difficult to find.
HI_SALENITY
Well-Known Member
Stupid question but is that pureed or a "chunk" pumpkin ?
agroff383
Well-Known Member
When I did my extract version last year it turned out very good, just used 2 large cans of pumpkin. Someone said earlier that they dont even put pumpkin in it, I would say if I made it again that I wouldnt put the pumpkin in. It is just the combination of spices that gives it the pumpkin pie flavor. The pumpkin was a pain to handle and the beer took forever to clear. Just my .02
HI_SALENITY
Well-Known Member
Was the Pumpkin you used pureed?
Firstnten
Well-Known Member
SO what happened? Did you make the beer?
I'm getting ready to order the AHS pumpkin ale kit.This will be my third one, I love this beer esp in the fall.
nootay
Well-Known Member
i found pumpkin at martin's. its the organic type and $3 a can! ive read you dont get much flavor from the pumpkin unless you roast it. i made a pumpkin ale about 3 weeks ago. i roasted 60oz of pumpkin at 350 for about 65 minutes. i tasted the beer the other day and can just barely taste it. we'll see how it tastes in a few months. i plan on tapping it oct 1.
Firstnten
Well-Known Member
You can't taste the pumpkin unless you use pumpkin oil. Ive roasted the pumpkin and have just thrown it in there. Roasted makes it taste a little sweeter.
Firstnten
Well-Known Member
what kit did you use?
jgln
Well-Known Member
Most canned pumpkin is probably already roasted, that is how you get the pumpkin off the shell and most recopies assume the canned pumpkin you are using has already gone through that process. Was this just freshly canned pumpkin? Can't say I ever saw it that way though. I do know though when you roast it yourself (a whole pumpkin) you can get it really caramelized and sticky which is what you want, I doubt canned pumpkin is cooked that long, only long enough to get it mushy.
Does adding the pumpkin contribute to the sweetness and/or alcohol content? I'd prefer mine stay on the dry side. I just bought the AHS kit today, and the guy who sold it to me said he's done that recipe 6 or 7 times, and that he doesn't think adding the pumpkin really contributes much. I may just skip the pumpkin all together.
I just picked up 4 cans of this exact brand from Whole Foods here in Chicago, and they had a ton in stock.
Making this recipe on Saturday: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f76/samhain-pumpkin-ale-140674/
Most of the reviews on the recipe say that there's a distinct difference with using real pumpkin in the mash versus simply using spices. Also, pumpkin helps you achieve that amazing deep orange color.
Firstnten
Well-Known Member
I brewed this twice both times I used pumpkin. The first time a just threw the pumpkin in the second time I roasted it beforehand. The roasted IMO def made it sweeter and no significant rise in ABV.
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