TwistedGray
El Jefe Brewing Company
Pulled a sample; it's coming along.
12 Beers of Christmas 2019 Edition
- Thread starter MapleGroveAleworks
- Start date
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TwistedGray
El Jefe Brewing Company
It is aging in the background (Co2 blanket) while I am brewing a secondary batch to blend in. I hope to have both blended together in a month and then the spice tincture thereafter. It's at 7.5% right now...should be closer to 8% by the time it is done/done not including whatever little bourbon gets into there by then. Anyways, just sharing an update 
jack13
Well-Known Member
It is aging in the background (Co2 blanket) while I am brewing a secondary batch to blend in. I hope to have both blended together in a month and then the spice tincture thereafter. It's at 7.5% right now...should be closer to 8% by the time it is done/done not including whatever little bourbon gets into there by then. Anyways, just sharing an update
View attachment 627115
Looking forward to it. And I'm glad you took steps to make sure that sample you pulled did not fly away.
TwistedGray
El Jefe Brewing Company
Pfffft, flat warm beer...mmmmmmm heaven *blah* - taster though
Anyways, I know it's borderline too burnt firewood for many, so I am working the blend in to tame it a little bit. I anticipate the spices and bourbon to then round it out. I bottled three of them today to see where they're at right now to know how much blending I should do. One is a small bottle so it should carb a little quicker (usually I get away with a week) whereas the other two are white and brown sugar (respectively) to see which I want to bottle with. I've toyed with the idea of brown sugar, but I have yet to try it for priming. We'll see if there is any difference and go from there.
Anyways, it's coming along : )
TBC
Well-Known Boozer!
It is aging in the background (Co2 blanket) while I am brewing a secondary batch to blend in. I hope to have both blended together in a month and then the spice tincture thereafter. It's at 7.5% right now...should be closer to 8% by the time it is done/done not including whatever little bourbon gets into there by then. Anyways, just sharing an update
View attachment 627115
I picked up the bourbon (knob creek small batch) and grey goose vodka today. Hoping to make my tincture this weekend and then sample in a week or two.
After participating the last 2 years to me it seems like the anise over powers the spices so I don’t plan on adding any at this time and I’ll see how that works out.
TwistedGray
El Jefe Brewing Company
TBC
Well-Known Boozer!
Sounds good that’s what we did last year with the saffron Tripel
Jmarsh544
Well-Known Member
Brewed up the group 2 juniper rye bock on Sunday. Ended up hitting 1.084 and 90% efficiency with the system. All went well and now things are fermenting happily along! Some photos:
Cheers to brewing Christmas beers in May!! [emoji481]
Cheers to brewing Christmas beers in May!! [emoji481]
TwistedGray
El Jefe Brewing Company
Slacker, lol.
TwistedGray
El Jefe Brewing Company
After much delays (lazy) the spiced bourbon tincture is underway.
TwistedGray
El Jefe Brewing Company
Beer labels created and sent off to the printer...probably spending more on labels than bottles, eek! Oh well, hope they turn out as nice as they look on my computer
TBC
Well-Known Boozer!
My juniper arrived yesterday. I plan on making my tincture this weekend.
TwistedGray
El Jefe Brewing Company
TBC
Well-Known Boozer!
Yes except I’m not adding the anise. I think it is overwhelming. Depending on how the sampling goes maybe I’ll add a lesser amount or skip completely
TwistedGray
El Jefe Brewing Company
satph
Well-Known Member
I brewed the Saffron Tripel for Group 1 (East). I decided to go with 2g of crushed seeds of paradise in the whirlpool along with 1oz of Hallertau from 180° down to pitching temp in about 1/2 hour. Pitched the 3787 at 66° and I've been ramping it up to 72°. I'll let it go another week or so before bottling. I plan on steeping a gram of Saffron in the priming sugar water. I'll give it a taste at bottling time to see if I need to add any more grains of paradise, but I doubt it, as I picked up a peppery/coriander flavor in the wort.
After a bunch of other ideas, I found that using a long slicing knife made quick work shaving 3lbs of sugar off of the brick of jaggery.
After a bunch of other ideas, I found that using a long slicing knife made quick work shaving 3lbs of sugar off of the brick of jaggery.
jack13
Well-Known Member
Beer labels created and sent off to the printer...probably spending more on labels than bottles, eek! Oh well, hope they turn out as nice as they look on my computer
Can we see?
TwistedGray
El Jefe Brewing Company
I'll wait until they get here and on bottles...not sure whether or not to hold off showing them until everyone actually receives their beer later in the year. I dunno...time will tell how patient I will be. I will say this...they are very thematic
Hey all, I am afraid I have some sad news. Brother Pete had his last call June 3, 2019. No joke. (Pete's obituary.) Trying to help out my sister in law to tie up all the loose ends and, well, there was this.
I intend to help my nephew, Ryan, brew the Honey Ginger IPA. Ryan has followed in his father's footsteps to become an attorney and may yet assume the mantle of homebrewer, as well. I just retired so I intend to brew the summer away...
No pity party. Just thought it appropriate to tell those involved in this arrangement of the change in circumstances.
I intend to help my nephew, Ryan, brew the Honey Ginger IPA. Ryan has followed in his father's footsteps to become an attorney and may yet assume the mantle of homebrewer, as well. I just retired so I intend to brew the summer away...
No pity party. Just thought it appropriate to tell those involved in this arrangement of the change in circumstances.
@HopHeavy I’m very sorry for your family’s loss. Sounds like Pete was a stellar family man. God bless.
My condolences.
Condolences...
Thanks guys. Like I said, no pity party!
Looks like a few of the brews are coming along pretty well. Nice!
Looks like a few of the brews are coming along pretty well. Nice!
TwistedGray
El Jefe Brewing Company
Into the bottles it goes!! Plenty of aging time
TwistedGray
El Jefe Brewing Company
Changing the oil on my beer...
TwistedGray
El Jefe Brewing Company
Hope to pull samples from the uKeg by Saturday or Sunday. I might try a splash later today
satph
Well-Known Member
I brewed the east coast Saffron Tripel. I added grains of paradise to the whirlpool. When I tried the beer before bottling, I couldn't detect any GoP. I bottled with jaggery sugar, saffron and more GoP. I don't think any saffron threads made it into the bottles, but I did have to clean out the spring loaded bottling wand a couple of times. I couldn't help myself and cracked one open, Big hit of saffron on the nose and a bright yellow orange tinge to the color, I couldn't detect GoP. I have them carbonating at 75° to make sure the 3787 doesn't go to sleep.
Hey West Coast group!
Token Canadian here.
I finally managed to source all the weird ingredients for the Christmas Gruit! I am going to brew it next week after a visit to get the malts and hops for the base recipe from a homebrew shop when I am visiting Milwaukee over the weekend.
I setup a business shipping address at a drop shipper in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan to send and receive from. Looking forward to this. Already setting up a tasting party with friends.
Token Canadian here.
I finally managed to source all the weird ingredients for the Christmas Gruit! I am going to brew it next week after a visit to get the malts and hops for the base recipe from a homebrew shop when I am visiting Milwaukee over the weekend.
I setup a business shipping address at a drop shipper in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan to send and receive from. Looking forward to this. Already setting up a tasting party with friends.
After 5 months in the primary, I transferred the Lambicky onto cranberries today. Couldn't find any good crab apples.
Let the brett work on those for 3 months or so, then I will keg it up. Sample tastes pretty good. Maybe a touch more bitter than I wanted but I suspect that will go away.
BTW, is this group full? The front page hasn't been updated and shows a few empty spots.
TwistedGray
El Jefe Brewing Company
Pretty sure we are full. You can only edit posts for x number of days (not many), so they cannot update the first post.
Seeing all the shared pictures is giving me motivation. I have a couple events coming up, and surely will get my Christmas brew going, before August is done. Cheers!
Dubbel trouble. Coming along and cherries acquired
Haven’t needed a blowoff for a long time!
Haven’t needed a blowoff for a long time!
Jmarsh544
Well-Known Member
Looking good everyone! Can’t wait for December to get here!
@MapleGroveAleworks are all the slots still filled, or has anyone dropped out and not been replaced?
Is there anyone out there who hasn't started their beer and is now having second thoughts about getting it done? I'm thinking there is still a little time for someone to step up and brew a beer if life has just gotten too busy for anyone. I'm really hoping that all 12 beers get made in both groups this time around.
My Cherry Dubbel (West Coast) is bottled and aging. I still need to make some labels.
Is there anyone out there who hasn't started their beer and is now having second thoughts about getting it done? I'm thinking there is still a little time for someone to step up and brew a beer if life has just gotten too busy for anyone. I'm really hoping that all 12 beers get made in both groups this time around.
My Cherry Dubbel (West Coast) is bottled and aging. I still need to make some labels.
I haven't started the gingerbread ale in the east yet, but will get it done next month. It's just a brown ale with the spices added, and I have my recipe formulated. I didn't want to brew it too early & have the spices fall off. Thought I'd post since I haven't been very active here lately.
Mine goes on cherries this weekend.
I’m brewing the Abbey Weizen in the west. I made a batch earlier this year to see if I was on the right track. That turned out to be a tasty enough brew, but not very holiday-ish. I’m going to brew another batch in a couple of weeks and split it between two fermenters so I can try 2 different yeasts and two different combinations of spices and adjuncts. I’ll settle on the final recipe and brew the “keeper” in early October.
This is a style that shouldn’t really need to age, so I don’t anticipate going down to the wire.
This is a style that shouldn’t really need to age, so I don’t anticipate going down to the wire.
I am in the same boat on the west gingerbread ale. I have my brew day and time line all mapped out but did not want to pull the trigger too early and have the spice fade.
jack13
Well-Known Member
Same here with Honey Ginger IPA. Hops will fade.
Happy to say the East Coast Quad is on schedule. Just over 10% ABV. Ryan's Honey Ginger IPA is on deck, due to the plate in October.
