All this talk of Pumpkin Ale... Recipe Wanted!

[Orpheus]

I'm looking for a tried and true recipe for a Pumpkin Ale. The ones I have enjoyed have been quite spicy and flavorful, so the more the beer tastes like biting into a pumpkin & pumpkin spicy piece of pumpkin pie the better!

Also, I'm an extract brewer and am unable to find real pumpkins at the moment.

 

[RichBrewer]

I did an AG batch but I based it on this recipe with a few tweaks. I didn't put any ginger in it because I don't like it.

 

[david_42]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=2947&highlight=pumpkin

and several others if you search.

 

[Desert_Sky]

heres the one I did over the 4th of July. Im so pleased with it that Im sending it off to Sam Adams

The Great Pumpkin

A ProMash Recipe Report

BJCP Style and Style Guidelines
-------------------------------

23-A Specialty Beer, Specialty Beer

Min OG: 1.010 Max OG: 1.200
Min IBU: 0 Max IBU: 100
Min Clr: 0 Max Clr: 90 Color in SRM, Lovibond

Recipe Specifics
----------------

Batch Size (Gal): 5.50 Wort Size (Gal): 5.50
Total Grain (Lbs): 10.75
Anticipated OG: 1.054 Plato: 13.38
Anticipated SRM: 5.3
Anticipated IBU: 22.2
Brewhouse Efficiency: 75 %
Wort Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Grain/Extract/Sugar

% Amount Name Origin Potential SRM
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
74.4 8.00 lbs. Pale Malt(2-row) America 1.036 2
9.3 1.00 lbs. Crystal 10L America 1.035 10
9.3 1.00 lbs. Muntons LME - Wheat England 1.037 3
4.7 0.50 lbs. Cara-Pils Dextrine Malt 1.033 2
2.3 0.25 lbs. Biscuit Malt Belgium 1.035 24

Potential represented as SG per pound per gallon.


Hops

Amount Name Form Alpha IBU Boil Time
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.50 oz. Cascade Whole 5.75 11.5 60 min.
0.50 oz. Saazer Whole 4.30 7.7 45 min.
0.50 oz. Cascade Whole 5.75 3.1 15 min.


Yeast
-----

White Labs WLP008 East Coast/Alt Ale

Notes
-----

2 TBLSP Nutmeg

3 TBLSP Allspice

3 Sticks of Cinnamon


2 large cans of 100% Pure Pumpkin Pie Filling
1/2 in mash, 1/2 in boil

here it is in the primary.

 

[RichBrewer]

10-12# Pumpkin 1
1/2 in mash, 1/2 in boil

How much pumkin is that? 10-12 pounds?
I'm afraid I put too much in at over 3 1/2 pounds. (I used 2 large cans)

 

[Desert_Sky]

How much pumkin is that? 10-12 pounds?
I'm afraid I put too much in at over 3 1/2 pounds. (I used 2 large cans)

oops, I didn't change that up. It started off with 10-12#s of raw pumpkin, but we quickly changed our mind anbd went with 2 large cans of pure pumpkin pie filling.

 

[RichBrewer]

oops, I didn't change that up. It started off with 10-12#s of raw pumpkin, but we quickly changed our mind anbd went with 2 large cans of pure pumpkin pie filling.

How much finished beer are you going to get from your batch? I was hoping for 5 gallons but I seriously doubt that at this point. I may have to brew another batch.

 

[Desert_Sky]

I came out with a tad over 5 gallons. I used a strainer when racking to the primary and got most of the pumpkin out that way. And since half was in the mash, the trubb really wasnt that bad.

 

[Spyk'd]

Damn Chimone, that looks pumpkin'O'licious!


I think I have time to do one for Halloween yet. I never thought to do one until I saw your picture. Good job! I may add some more "pie" spices, but your recipe looks awesome.

 

[Desert_Sky]

Damn Chimone, that looks pumpkin'O'licious!


I think I have time to do one for Halloween yet. I never thought to do one until I saw your picture. Good job! I may add some more "pie" spices, but your recipe looks awesome.

Ok just finished bottling it. If I were to do it over again right now I would change a few things.

1. one more can of pumpkin and maybe some 6 row to the mash. Ive heard adding pectin starts the conversion of the pumpkin also. Ive lost alot of pumpkin flavor. Its still there but since I didn't convert it's starches to sugars, alot fell out

2. about 8-10 ozs of Lactose. A pumpkin cream ale would have been nice.

3. cut the nutmeg amount in half. And add more cinnamon

4. brought the biscuit up to 1/2 pound.

I cant wait to redo this one

 

[RichBrewer]

Ok just finished bottling it. If I were to do it over again right now I would change a few things.

1. one more can of pumpkin and maybe some 6 row to the mash. Ive heard adding pectin starts the conversion of the pumpkin also. Ive lost alot of pumpkin flavor. Its still there but since I didn't convert it's starches to sugars, alot fell out

That's why I let as much pumpkin into the fermenter as possible. I was hoping it would add to the flavor. The down side? I may only get about 3 or 4 gallons of beer out of it.

 

[Desert_Sky]

That's why I let as much pumpkin into the fermenter as possible. I was hoping it would add to the flavor. The down side? I may only get about 3 or 4 gallons of beer out of it.

yea, I wish I had the same amount of pumpkin flavor as i started off with. If I turned the pumpking into fermentable sugars, the aroma and flavor would still be present.

Have you heard anything about using pectin?

 

[RichBrewer]

yea, I wish I had the same amount of pumpkin flavor as i started off with. If I turned the pumpking into fermentable sugars, the aroma and flavor would still be present.

Have you heard anything about using pectin?

That is one thing I have not heard about. I would think there would be a lot of starches in the pumpkin that could be converted. May be interesting to try.

 

[hoppedup]

That is one thing I have not heard about. I would think there would be a lot of starches in the pumpkin that could be converted. May be interesting to try.

the starch conversion is why its recommended to bake the pumpkin at 350F for about an hour before a brewing with it. supposed to give it better flavor and more clarity.

 

[JeffNYC]

RichBrewer, what AG recipe did you use? Your post didn't include it. I am finalizing a recipe now:

8 lbs Pale malt
2 lbs Biscuit (for noticable biscuit flavor)
2 lbs Munich (orange color and malt)
Rice hulls
2 cans pumpkin (one in mash, one in primary)
Mt. Hood hops (~17 IBUs, although I was thinking of doubling that)
cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves (need recommendations for amounts)

Thoughts?

I just brewed a Witbier, and couldn't help notice the very wide range of spices in recipes, most notably 1 oz. coriander vs. 1 tsp. (quite a difference!) I'm looking for something more on the subtle side.

Scheduled to brew in September.

Jeff

 

[RichBrewer]

RichBrewer, what AG recipe did you use? Your post didn't include it. I am finalizing a recipe now:
Here's mine. It's the last post on the page.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=11430

I'll update this as I progress. Right now I'm leaning toward straining the pumpkin on my next batch so it doesn't go into the fermenter but I won't decide that until I rack to the secondary and see how much beer I get and how it tastes.

 

[Desert_Sky]

I'll update this as I progress. Right now I'm leaning toward straining the pumpkin on my next batch so it doesn't go into the fermenter but I won't decide that until I rack to the secondary and see how much beer I get and how it tastes.

Yea Im waiting to hear how yours turns out. If both of ours loose flavor, next time Im going to do something to convert the pumpkin so it will be fermentable.

 

[RichBrewer]

Yea Im waiting to hear how yours turns out. If both of ours loose flavor, next time Im going to do something to convert the pumpkin so it will be fermentable.

That's the beauty of Homebrewtalk.com. We can compare notes and get twice the information and twice the experience. I love it.

 

[Orpheus]

That's the beauty of Homebrewtalk.com. We can compare notes and get twice the information and twice the experience. I love it.

You're telling me! My head is fairly spinning with the possibilities for this one. When I'm ready to go I'll bake the pumpkin, and be sure to add extra spices (I like spicy!)

Those pictures look good enough to eat!

 

[hunteraw]

i have some questions about the pumpkin ale recipe on audioholics:
http://www.audioholics.com/showcase/DIY/PumpkinAleRecipe.html

great story and everything, but the 5 gallon recipe at the end makes me nervous. it seems like a LOT of spices, and after plugging it into beeralchemy, it looks like an OG of 1.068, with 75 IBU's, which seems over-hopped for a brown ale base (the typical pumpkin beer base, no?).

anyone ever try this recipe? anyone have any thoughts on it?

 

[RichBrewer]

i have some questions about the pumpkin ale recipe on audioholics:
http://www.audioholics.com/showcase/DIY/PumpkinAleRecipe.html

great story and everything, but the 5 gallon recipe at the end makes me nervous. it seems like a LOT of spices, and after plugging it into beeralchemy, it looks like an OG of 1.068, with 75 IBU's, which seems over-hopped for a brown ale base (the typical pumpkin beer base, no?).

anyone ever try this recipe? anyone have any thoughts on it?

I am also wondering about the 6-8 pounds of pumpkin. I know that they are roasting it on cookie sheets but even then that's a lot of pumpkin.
It is assertively hopped and they have added quite a bit of spices. I would say that it is too much but this is my first attempt at one of these so who knows. I intentionally reduced the bitterness in mine in order to bring out the spices and pumpkin flavor.
We all need to compair notes when we are done to perfect our beers.

 

[Desert_Sky]

I was thinking about that when we came up with our recipe. We didn't want hops to be part of the flavor or aroma at all being that we were going for a pumpkin ale. Which is why we went with cascade and saaz which are both low AA% hops.

the spices will take over the flavor which is why you hear alot of people saying how they want to give it a couple months to let it all mellow.

But as for the pumpkin, well Im convinced there is a easier way than dealing with 6-8 pounds, and then cooking the whole lot for an hour or so. Either with 6 row, or something else, you should be able to get away with using canned. It is 100% pumpkin, just easier to work with. Its just getting it to convert into fermentable sugars to retain the flavor in your beer that is the hard part. If you can convert it, then you could possibly get away with using less pumpkin and still get the flavor you want.

 

[RichBrewer]

But as for the pumpkin, well Im convinced there is a easier way than dealing with 6-8 pounds, and then cooking the whole lot for an hour or so. Either with 6 row, or something else, you should be able to get away with using canned. It is 100% pumpkin, just easier to work with. Its just getting it to convert into fermentable sugars to retain the flavor in your beer that is the hard part. If you can convert it, then you could possibly get away with using less pumpkin and still get the flavor you want.

I'll be interested to see what you find out.

 

[Desert_Sky]

well ok, maybe im just being stubborn. maybe caramalizing the pumpkin may be the way to go. I just read that article and those guys spread the canned pumpkin on a cookie sheet and did it that way. They used 6row too....hmmmmm

there has to be more on the web though.

Oh, and I really like their addition of a little bit of chocolate malt. I almost added some to mine, and Im really wishing I had. Whatever, Im just going to have to do this one again.

 

[hoppedup]

yeah without a doubt i think carmelizing/baking is the crucial step. Besides the plethera of knowledge from that audioholics article/how-to the guys at american brewmaster mentioned the same thing to me. Im brewing a pumpkin ale this weekend and im definalety going to use that audioholics link as a basic framework as far as all the boiling intervals and times for hops and spices and pumpkin of course. except im not gonna use the exact hops, and grains. and i also found some whole nutmeg and brewers cinnamon sticks

anyone making a pumpkin ale for the first time, that link is the next best thing since.... brewing beer itself! http://www.audioholics.com/showcase/DIY/PumpkinAleRecipe.html

 

[Cap'n Jewbeard]

I brewed that audioholics recipe last week, but I substituted Biscuit malt for the Vienna, and used Challenger for the bittering hop rather than Cascade.

It IS assertively hopped, but my hope is that the bitterness will provide a spine for the biscuit/spice flavors to ride on, rather than it being all about the bitterness. Ideally, the bitterness and the biscuit will be perceived simultaneously, then the hops and spices will come on and maybe the cinnamon will linger longest. That's my hope. I'm new to this.

 

[dougjones31]

Why not just use a pumpkin flavoring instead of dealing with the hassle of using whole pumpkin? Guaranteed stuck mashes if you try to mash the pumpkin. I have only had sucess by baking the pumpkin and adding it to the boil. I know this only extracts flavor and very little sugars from the pumpkin. BUT converting pumpkin starch seems to be a very hard thing to do. So why even try when you can add the Pumpkin Flavoring and a dash of food coloring when bottling. Hey....it is not all "Natural" but it does produce a damned fine Pumpkin Ale.



http://shop.bakerscatalogue.com/det...11156343264255?id=1748PUMKIN&pv=1156343264528

 

[Yuri_Rage]

Here's what I came up with, brewing today or tomorrow. It's a little higher hopped than most I've seen, but I'm hoping the floral notes of the hops complement the spice additions.

5 lbs Amber Dry Extract
1 lbs Caramel/Crystal Malt - 60L
8.0 oz Biscuit Malt
4.0 oz Wheat, Flaked
30.00 oz Pumpkin, Canned (Boil 60.0 min)
1.00 oz Cascade [5.50%] (60 min) 20.0 IBU
1.00 oz Cascade [5.50%] (20 min) 12.1 IBU
1.00 oz Fuggles [4.50%] (15 min) (Aroma Hop-Steep)
0.25 tsp Irish Moss (Boil 10.0 min)
0.50 tsp Nutmeg (Boil 5.0 min)
1.00 tsp Allspice (Boil 5.0 min)
1.00 items Cinnamon Stick (Boil 5.0 min)
2.00 items Cloves, Crushed (Boil 5.0 min)
1 Pkgs English Ale (White Labs #WLP002) - pitching on fresh yeast cake

Est OG: 1.053
Est FG: 1.015
32.1 IBU
14.3 SRM

EDIT: Added a "spice tea" to the clearing tank - 1 Tbsp Pampered Chef Cinnamon Plus steeped in 1 cup of water
FURTHER EDIT: I would've scaled the addional spices back to 1 1/2 tsp if I had it to do over again. They are just a bit too strong for me.

 

[Desert_Sky]

anyone else drinking theirs yet?

 

[iloman]

anyone else drinking theirs yet?

Nope, still need to brew it