Alaskan Winter Ale

[rodwha]

I've liked everything I've had from them. I saw this and decided to give it a try not knowing what it really is. It states they used spruce tips. It tastes like it has blueberries in it too. It's a very strange but good beer.

Anyone tried this? Know what these flavors are from?

 

[rodwha]

Anyone?

 

[Hanso]

I have not had the beer. After a little research my best guess is that the flavors are from both the spruce tips and the pacific northwest hops. Likely also uses English yeast because it is an old ale, so that might contribute a bit of fruit flavor.

 

[wstev]

I've drank many cases of Alaskan winter, as I lived in Juneau (where it's brewed) for a couple years. And it's wonderfully delicious! I would also love to get the recipe for it. I think one could almost make it by modifying an IPA recipe. It tastes a little sweeter then you average IPA but about as hoppy. With the distinctive spruce tip taste. Mmmmmm.
I found a copy cat kit on Alaskan Amber, I'm planning on brewing it next week, Fridays are my brew days. And this week I'm brewing Brewers Best Weizenbier.

 

[SEndorf]

Absolutely love this beer. It's on my brew list. Found this clone recipe. Not sure how good it is.
The spruce tips give it a unique flavor but are kinda pricy. Found them here

 

[rodwha]

Those are pricey, as well as a large bag. You'd need to make 2 batches to use them all.

I've been using Brewtoad since they took over Hopville. I compared a known recipe devised on Hopville that turned out with a higher OG (most did), and found Brewtoad's closer to what was observed. Have you noticed it's accuracy or lack of?

 

[wstev]

AAARRGGHHH!!! i wish i knew how to mash! Im almost tempted to just order all the ingredients for the Alaskan Winter just so I get my butt in gear and learn how to mash! but im not sure its something I wanna learn with one of my top all time fav beers. But I guess then id just know how much I messed up when I taste the end product

 

[Hanso]

Proceed with confidence.

 

[SEndorf]

Haven't made a brewtoad recipe yet. I like the recipe section here on HBT because they get a lot of feedback. (On some of those other recipe database sites, anyone can put up a cat pee recipe.)
Of course, the best method is the grain bill from the brewery if they choose to share it. To my knowledge Alaskan Brewing doesn't reveal their ingredients. Here's what we do know:

OG: 1.066
ABV: 6.4% (So the FG should be 1.017)
Bitterness: 22 IBU
Color: 13 SRM

_________
wstev, dig in! So many resources on mashing. I'm not that experienced yet... Really.. If I can do it.....
What Hanso said......

 

[rodwha]

I don't bother reading other's recipes anywhere else really. Just here and beer kits from MoreBeer.