Adding Extra Flavor to a Pumpkin Ale

COLOSSUS · Sep 25, 2011

Hey Everyone,

This is my first post. I brewed my first batch on 9/11. I am doing a Pumpkin Ale Kit from my LHBS. I added Pumpkin Pie Spice with 5 min left in the boil and when i tasted it the other day i did not really notice much of the spice flavor. I was wondering if i could add some pumpkin pie spice to the primary today and then bottle it next weekend or if it would be better to add the pumpkin pie spice to the priming sugar when i bottle it next weekend.

SG - 1.068
Gravity as of 9/20 - 1.018

Thanks for any advice or suggestions!

Dunerunner · Sep 25, 2011

Why Not!! Allspice, Cinnamon, Nutmeg!!

Revvy · Sep 25, 2011

I would do it at bottling. You could get some pumpkin spice tea and boil it along with your priming sugar. Or you could add some whole spices and strain through a sanitized strainer.

I wouldn't recommend powdered spices at that point, as it is really hard to strain them.

I've done chilies, citrus peels, and even some spices in the boil and strained out after. I decided to add 1.5 ounces of ginger to my priming sugar boil.

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As you can see it has a nice straw color as opposed to the clear you are used to. It smelled amazingly like ginger.

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I've also done it with dried chilli peppers for my chocolate mole porter. And done citrus peels with various beers such as using orange peels in my wits.

You could do it with any dry spice, such as cloves, coriander, star anise for a licorice beer, cinnamon and even a vanilla beer. You can do with this is to add some lactose to the boil as well, since it is unfermentable, it should sweeten the flavor somewhat.

djfriesen · Sep 25, 2011

Putting it in your priming sugar might be better as it ensures sanitation. I would think it would mellow out pretty well in bottle conditioning.

COLOSSUS · Sep 25, 2011

Ok, I think I'll will add a few cinnamon sticks and pumpkin pie spice to the priming sugar. I am thinking about priming with brown sugar. How much would I use for a 5 gal batch?