"American Strong Winter Ale"

[EDS2K]

"American Strong Winter Ale"

Great, simple extract based winter warmer. High ABV is deceptive as the beer is actually very "drinkable" (so beware). Malty aroma, excellent initial bitterness, malty main taste, followed by encore of pleasant bitterness and subtle undertone of molasses, some residual sweetness on the finish. Not all of the fermentables are malt, so it would fail the German purity laws! For those less bothered, enjoy!

Specialty Grains
1/2 lb. Carapils
2 oz. roasted 2-row (regular base malt roasted on sheet pan at 350F for a approx 15 minutes)

Fermentable
6 lb Light DME
1 lb. dark brown sugar
5 fl. oz. mild molasses (Brits - you could use Treacle here.)

Hops
2 oz. Chinook, (Homegrown leaf), 60 minutes (suggest 1.5 oz if subbing w/pellet)
1 oz. Cascade, (Homegrown), 5 minutes
1/2 oz. Cascade, (Homegrown), 0 minutes

Yeast
White Labs WLP 002 English Ale Yeast

Notes:
30 min steep of grains (in bag) at 150F
Boiling bag for hops.
2 1/2 gal boil.
Super Irish Moss at 15 minutes to go.
Cooled and topped to 5-and-a-bit gallons (US).
7 days in primary. Two weeks in secondary. Kegged.
OG 1084 @ 77F (1086 temp corrected)
FG @ 1014 @ 64F
ABV circa 9.2%.

 

[Justibone]

How big was your starter?

Also, would you recommend this as a base for Christmas beers?

 

[EDS2K]

No starter - just dumped in the yeast phial. Worked fine.

It was definitely aimed at Christmas (this plus a lighter counterpoint beer were brewed for a party). I am not into flavored beers personally, but I am sure that bit of orange peel, etc, could really ring the festive bell!

 

[Justibone]

Wow, no starter in a 1.07+ beer...

I'm not that brave!