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Seeking Critique of Pumpkin Porter Brewed Today

Discussion in 'Extract Brewing' started by 3_Creepio, Sep 2, 2014.

 

  1. #1
    3_Creepio

    Active Member

    Posted Sep 2, 2014
    I know it defeats the purpose of asking for opinions after the beer is made, but now that I have to wait for it to ferment and bottle condition, I thought I would ask you guys what you think it might end up like or what I could have done differently. So here's the recipe and method:

    1 can (3.3 lbs.) Mutons LME light
    1 can (3.3 lbs.) Mutons LME amber
    1lb. DME extra light
    1 lb. dark brown sugar
    1/2 cup locally made maple syrup
    Steeping grains (all for 30 mins at 150-145, sparged): 1 lb. Crystal 60
    1/2 lb. carafil 1 black malt
    1/2 lb. chocolate malt
    Hops(adjusted):
    1.5 oz East Kent Goldings 60 mins.
    .5 oz Chinook 45 mins.
    .5 oz. Chinook 30 mins.
    1 oz. Chinook at flameout
    Spice Bill (all added at 10 mins.):
    1 tspn allspice
    1 tspn nutmeg
    1/2 tspn cinnamon
    2 bourbon vanilla beans, split (returned to fermentor after boil)
    1/2 whirlfloc
    Also (of course) 4 cans pumpkin (15 oz. ea.) baked 40 mins. at 350 and added at 60 mins. (start of boil.)

    Method:
    Using turkey fryer setup, steeped grains in 3 gallons of spring water for 30 minutes. Sparged with 1 gallon warm spring water, topped up to 6 gallons. Meanwhile, baked pumpkin on sheet tray, added after bringing to boil and flaming out along with 6.6 lbs. LME. Brought back to boil, added 3 oz. E. Kent Goldings hops and started 60 min. timer. Had a slight boil-over here, and estimate a loss of between 1/3 to 1/2 of total 60 min. hop addition. Made an adjustment by adding 1/2 oz. Chinook at 45 mins and 1/2 oz. at 30 (happened to have them on hand. What the hell, right?)
    At 15 mins, added mixture of 1 lb. DME extra light, 1 lb. dark brown sugar, and about 1/2 cup of locally made maple syrup. At 5 mins, added another 1/2 oz. Chinook hops, and at flameout added the other 1/2 oz Chinook. COLD CRASH.
    After laborious filtering/aerating process, ended up with exactly 5 gallons of wort. Took the vanilla beans and added them back into fermentor(impulse decision). Topped up with another 1/2 gallon of distilled water for total of 5.5 gallons. Everything was either boiled or submerged in StarSan or both. Did 1-step yeast starter with Wyeast smacker of AmAle 1056. Going to pitch now, after taking OG reading and tasting the wort.
    I expect to ferment 2 week and then rack to secondary (normally wouldn't with a dark beer like this, but trub was extensive, even after filtering, so I think it might be worth it.) One more week and then prime, bottle and condition for 3 more weeks. Should be done by the middle of October.
    Final Calculations (using Brewers Friend.com), after the slight boil over and hops adjustment: OG: 1.064 FG 1.016 ABV: 6.30% IBU: 59.03 SRM: 32.08
    Hoppier than the average porter, which is what I wanted(Warlock, anyone?). ABV is high but within guidelines for the style.
    This is my 10th batch of beer, and maybe the most difficult so far. Any gurus around here have thoughts?

    Appreciated,
    3_Creepio
     
  2. #2
    Sudz_Makenzie

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Sep 7, 2014
    Not a guru by any means, but this sounds interesting. Let us know how it turns out.
     
  3. #3
    ericbw

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Sep 7, 2014
    I would have left out the flameout hops, and let the spices be your aroma. But that's just me. It sounds like an interesting porter.

    I made a pumpkin dubbel last year, and I didn't like it. I tried one a few weeks ago and it was better. So it might need some aging to get good.
     
  4. #4
    ericbw

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Sep 7, 2014
    I also see that you have a good amount of simple sugars (brown and maple syrup), so it should end up on the dry side, which is good for a porter.
     
  5. #5
    3_Creepio

    Active Member

    Posted Sep 8, 2014
    Originally, I was going to just go with the Goldings at 60 minutes and let that be it, but I'm a hop head and can't help myself. It turned out to be a good thing because of the slight boil-over and loss of the Goldings, but I know what you are saying.

    Ah, yes. I like dryer beers anyway, but I know this style demands it. I've made something of a habit of adding (either cane or brown--depending on style) sugar to just about every brew. Not to add ABV, but to add dryness. And never more than a pound or so (or 10% of total fermentables) because I understand that too much can produce a cidery flavor that I don't want in any of my beers.

    So far there has been some very active fermentation and some nice aroma coming through the airlock.
     
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