12 Beers of Christmas 2021 Edition

[rsquared]

Seeing how the Saffron Tripel is still wide open, I'd like to claim that one.

 

[Johst12]

We have almost 2 full groups over here in Germany, the Switzerland section also has at least 1 full group. Looking good so far. I'll keep you guys updated.

I called for the spiced bourbon stout. I'll ramp up the gravity and brew an imperial stout!

 

[TBC]

I am cool shipping across the country, but I would request that I keep the crabapple because I already invested in the ingredients. Hoping to brew it next weekend so the cultures can age.

That doesn’t look like it will be a problem. @Funky Frank offered to take the abbey weizen

 

[theothermillion]

Put me down for the Gingerbread Ale on the East Coast if ya'll will have me. This looks like fun! Recipe book is sitting in my Amazon cart

 

[calandryll]

I would be ok with combining, one advantage is @jack13 and myself can be shipped to the same address. We will also probably combine our beers together for easier shipping.

On a side note, with the Christmas Gruit, has anyone tried brewing it with that lambic suggestion? I was contemplating trying it with Sour Batch Kidz, just slightly afraid it might get too sour.

 

[JAReeves]

Did you find crabapples? I’m ok with switching off...it just gives me another year to keep perfecting my lambic, lol.

Yeah, a specialty produce distributor here in Los Angeles sold me 6#, $60. I spent an evening peeling and coring, and I froze them to mush them up a bit.

 

[yoop89]

@calandryll
I didnt use a culture but I tried some raw honey(local to me) and it worked on my test batch but not on the final batch that I ended up shipping. On the test batch it gave it a nice slight tartness that complimented the spices I used. Unfortunately it didnt do anything (flavorwise) to the second batch. I used it to naturally carbonate in the keg.

I really wanted to try a mix culture but was afraid it would dry it out too much.

 

[TBC]

So if everyone is fine with combining the 2 groups this is what the current group would look like. This would leave one more opening to be filled. I will take either one that is left.

Let me know what you think and if you have any questions or concerns.

1) Caramel Quadruple @jack13
2) Spiced Cherry Dubbel @j1laskey
3) Spiced Dunkel Weizenbock
4) Juniper Rye Bock @yoop89
5) Fruitcake Old Ale
6) Saffron Tripel @rsquared
7) Christmas Gruit @calandryll
8) Honey Ginger IPA @jerbrew
9) Crabapple Lambicky Ale @JAReeves
10) Gingerbread Ale @theothermillion
11) Spiced Bourbon Stout @grampamark
12) Abbey Weizen @Funky Frank

 

[JAReeves]

So if everyone is fine with combining the 2 groups this is what the current group would look like. This would leave one more opening to be filled. I will take either one that is left.

Let me know what you think and if you have any questions or concerns.

1) Caramel Quadruple @jack13
2) Spiced Cherry Dubbel @j1laskey
3) Spiced Dunkel Weizenbock
4) Juniper Rye Bock @yoop89
5) Fruitcake Old Ale
6) Saffron Tripel @rsquared
7) Christmas Gruit @calandryll
8) Honey Ginger IPA @jerbrew
9) Crabapple Lambicky Ale @JAReeves
10) Gingerbread Ale @theothermillion
11) Spiced Bourbon Stout @grampamark
12) Abbey Weizen @Funky Frank

Your organization is much appreciated!

 

[jerbrew]

So if everyone is fine with combining the 2 groups this is what the current group would look like. This would leave one more opening to be filled. I will take either one that is left.

Let me know what you think and if you have any questions or concerns.

1) Caramel Quadruple @jack13
2) Spiced Cherry Dubbel @j1laskey
3) Spiced Dunkel Weizenbock
4) Juniper Rye Bock @yoop89
5) Fruitcake Old Ale
6) Saffron Tripel @rsquared
7) Christmas Gruit @calandryll
8) Honey Ginger IPA @jerbrew
9) Crabapple Lambicky Ale @JAReeves
10) Gingerbread Ale @theothermillion
11) Spiced Bourbon Stout @grampamark
12) Abbey Weizen @Funky Frank

 

[Funky Frank]

Yeah, a specialty produce distributor here in Los Angeles sold me 6#, $60. I spent an evening peeling and coring, and I froze them to mush them up a bit.
View attachment 717336

Nice! There is so much variation in crabapples that everyone could brew the exact same base beer and use their local crabapples and the beers would still be wildly different. Here are the ones I was going to use. I’ll probably thaw a pack of them and do a 1 gal batch. I’ll send you a bottle if it turns out alright.

 

[jack13]

So if everyone is fine with combining the 2 groups this is what the current group would look like. This would leave one more opening to be filled. I will take either one that is left.

Let me know what you think and if you have any questions or concerns.

1) Caramel Quadruple @jack13
2) Spiced Cherry Dubbel @j1laskey
3) Spiced Dunkel Weizenbock
4) Juniper Rye Bock @yoop89
5) Fruitcake Old Ale
6) Saffron Tripel @rsquared
7) Christmas Gruit @calandryll
8) Honey Ginger IPA @jerbrew
9) Crabapple Lambicky Ale @JAReeves
10) Gingerbread Ale @theothermillion
11) Spiced Bourbon Stout @grampamark
12) Abbey Weizen @Funky Frank

Works for me. Thanks.

 

[grampamark]

I’m fine with a single group, as well.

 

[TBC]

Bump this up! There is still one spot available.

 

[jack13]

Brewed the Caramel Quad today. Forgot to get a photo of the caramel, but...

 

[jack13]

Racked the Quad to secondary for a few months at 58F (unless someone has another suggested temp).

 

[sfrisby]

Came across this thread tonight. I participated for a couple years, about a decade ago. Glad to see the tradition continues. Even more organized today then it was then. Ha!

 

[blantonj00]

Just saw this thread so just joined HBT - will plan to make the Fruit Cake Old Ale - would like to join this year's exchange if the group approves - thanks

 

[TBC]

Just saw this thread so just joined HBT - will plan to make the Fruit Cake Old Ale - would like to join this year's exchange if the group approves - thanks

Welcome. I will put you down for the fruitcake old ale. Make me look good.

 

[TBC]

Okay group. We are full! If someone has changed their mind let me know. I’m not in a hurry to get through summer but I am looking forward to late November/early December!

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

1) Caramel Quadruple @jack13
2) Spiced Cherry Dubbel @j1laskey
3) Spiced Dunkel Weizenbock @TBC
4) Juniper Rye Bock @yoop89
5) Fruitcake Old Ale @blantonj00
6) Saffron Tripel @rsquared
7) Christmas Gruit @calandryll
8) Honey Ginger IPA @jerbrew
9) Crabapple Lambicky Ale @JAReeves
10) Gingerbread Ale @theothermillion
11) Spiced Bourbon Stout @grampamark
12) Abbey Weizen @Funky Frank

 

[j1laskey]

Hey hey everyone!

Quick question, I was looking over the recipe that was posted for the spicy cheery dubble from last year's group an the hop additions seem to be missing. I don't own a copy of Mosher's book, but could someone who owns it, or someone who has brewed this beer in the past give a suggestion to a hop schedule that works for this beer?

Cheers!

 

[rsquared]

Hey hey everyone!

Quick question, I was looking over the recipe that was posted for the spicy cheery dubble from last year's group an the hop additions seem to be missing. I don't own a copy of Mosher's book, but could someone who owns it, or someone who has brewed this beer in the past give a suggestion to a hop schedule that works for this beer?

Cheers!

The book says 1.25 oz Norther Brewer (7%) at 90 minutes

 

[j1laskey]

thank you very much!!!

 

[JAReeves]

Brewed the Crabapple Lambicky Ale yesterday. Looks like it hit Imperial status, pre-souring. The stepped-up starter had it humming along after only 15 minutes in the fermenter. The sour culture should take it close to 1.000 (unless they tap out at the alcohol content), so it looks like about 13%.

 

[yoop89]

Looks like it hit Imperial status, pre-souring

Woohoooo excited to try this one!!

Ill be brewing 2 batches of the Juniper rye bock in the next couple weeks. Ill be sure to update here with progress as well.

 

[j1laskey]

If you’re wondering what yeast the Spiced Cherry Dubble will be fermented with, well you’re looking at the dregs in the bottom of this bottle. Cheers !

 

[fourfarthing]

Hey hey everyone!

Quick question, I was looking over the recipe that was posted for the spicy cheery dubble from last year's group an the hop additions seem to be missing. I don't own a copy of Mosher's book, but could someone who owns it, or someone who has brewed this beer in the past give a suggestion to a hop schedule that works for this beer?

Cheers!

Send me a pm. I made this two years ago.

 

[passedpawn]

Hey hey everyone!

Quick question, I was looking over the recipe that was posted for the spicy cheery dubble from last year's group an the hop additions seem to be missing. I don't own a copy of Mosher's book, but could someone who owns it, or someone who has brewed this beer in the past give a suggestion to a hop schedule that works for this beer?

Cheers!

IBUs should be 29, so if you're using software should be easy to dial in. Here's what I did in 2017. I did two batches. The first, with real cherries, was WAY too tart. I think that was a dumper. Then I made it with cherry juice and it came out much better. Read notes below 17 Jun 2017

My notes from make:

Hops:
1.25 oz Northern Brewer (7%AA) 90 Min

[27MAY] 1.095 (before cherry juice added) brewed, but OG not reached. Continued boil next AM.

[06JUN] 1.038. Fat sticky krausen on top. This one might need some help. Hmmm.... Going to bump the temp up a bit. Cherry juice has not been added yet.

[11JUN17] 1.023. Not too sweet, which is good. One more week to see if it can come down a bit more. Alcohol is noticeable. Pretty good flavor. Not cloying, which is a relief!

Could blend with Rev 1 of this beer to 1) reduce body, and 2) get cherry flavor. But probably won't. Will make final decision next week, when I will need to start crashing all the beers in the fridge.

[17JUN17] 1.017. Wow. 10% now. Added 32 oz black cherry juice to bucket (ignore cherries in recipe, used pure sweet (not tart) cherry juice). Nothing to the other one, which wasn't measured.

[20JUN17] 1.019. Either I measured wrong last time, or the cherry juice added two points. Don't know. I think I'll start crash tonight. Cherry juice is just right. I can taste it, but it is not powerful. Beer seems extremely spicy due to, presumably, the high alcohol.

[21JUN17] starting cold crash with gelatin

[22OCT] bottled.

 

[j1laskey]

2021 bubbling. We’ve all brewed long enough to see what’s happening here. WLP530

 

[TBC]

Just checking in! How is everyone making out. It will be here before you know it. I’ve acquired everything for my brew. I’m off until next Friday so I plan on brewing a Double NEIPA and the Spiced Dunkel Weizenbock Next week.

if for some reason you can’t commit let me know.

1) Caramel Quadruple @jack13
2) Spiced Cherry Dubbel @j1laskey
3) Spiced Dunkel Weizenbock @TBC
4) Juniper Rye Bock @yoop89
5) Fruitcake Old Ale @blantonj00
6) Saffron Tripel @rsquared
7) Christmas Gruit @calandryll
8) Honey Ginger IPA @jerbrew
9) Crabapple Lambicky Ale @JAReeves
10) Gingerbread Ale @theothermillion
11) Spiced Bourbon Stout @grampamark
12) Abbey Weizen @Funky Frank