Beers For Christmas

[CanadianBrewGal]

So I've done a few 5 gallon brews now; all of them relatively easy kits (Brewer's Best Kolsch, Brewer's Best Milk Stout, a homemade hard apple cider and brewing my first all grain Farmhouse Saison this weekend).
I would like to have a variety of beers available for friends and family to try over Christmas holidays so I'm thinking of doing a few 1 gallon kits (I feel more comfortable doing kits at the moment.) I'm not picky between extract and all grains just looking for something to add variety and most importantly will be drinkable by Christmas.
Cheers!

 

[EarthwormJim]

Iknow you said you like kits, but this recipe has worked really well for me. Just buy the extract/grains and piece it together. Not over powering with the spices and cherrys, but enough for that holiday feel. I save the steeped cherries for baking the Christmas goodies.

 

[CanadianBrewGal]

ABV 8.6%?!? - that looks like a one and done beer (drink 1 and I'm done lol)
Thanks for the recipe - maybe we'll give it a try

 

[EarthwormJim]

Yeah, most of the Christmas/winter beers tend to be higher abv and heavier mouthfeel, a little something to warm you up. Around here a lot of holiday beers built on strong Belgian bases. I also like Denny's Imperial Vanilla Bourbon Porter but the Bad Santa makes me think of the holidays more with the spices, and it isn't as heavy. You could always scale the extract/grain back to get something you can have a couple of or maybe leave out the maple syrup. I dont know that it adds much to the flavor since most of it will ferment and excluding it would subtract from the cost.

I have seen a Christmas recipe on here called Holly something. Looks interesting, but I've never brewed it.

 

[Northbank]

I'm working up to an Oatmeal-Cream Double Stout this weekend for the holidays. Should be thick and sweet ......

... I started with kits. Quickly downloaded a copy of BeerSmith and started playing with recipes. The software made me a lot more comfortable freestyling and I am NOT a big beer knowledge guy.

 

[davisc1513]

I want to do this for Christmas as well. Give "variety 6 packs" as gifts. 3 beer styles per 6 pack. It's a good sentimental touch to gift giving. And you enjoy making it! (and make more so you can have some too) but don't pitch it to the wife that way.

 

[CanadianBrewGal]

I want to do this for Christmas as well. Give "variety 6 packs" as gifts. 3 beer styles per 6 pack. It's a good sentimental touch to gift giving. And you enjoy making it! (and make more so you can have some too) but don't pitch it to the wife that way.

Well I am the wife so not only does my hubs get delicious homemade beer but the most work he has to do is lift brew pot for me.

But yes, exactly what you said is what I would like to do a nice little variety six pack to give to friends and family over the holiday season.

 

[davisc1513]

I've been pushing my wife to learn how to brew. She will learn one day. With our 18 month old and one due Dec. 27th and me about to start a new job I don't know when ill even have the time!

 

[tracyk]

Something that would be good is a single trappist ale or some sort of amber ale. This is completely different from the ones that you have listed above and it would definitely be ready for the Christmas holidays. Another good one would be a Blue Moon Clone. I will have to agree that Denny's Imperial Vanilla Bourbon Porter is great, but it could also be a one and done beer. Maybe just a simpler porter or a twist on a different type of cider. Cider House kits has some excellent twist on different ciders.