belgian style christmas ale

[paul7]

so i just bottled my 4th batch, heres the recipe i used. it is a windriver brewing kit(monk-e-business), and added my own spices. any and all suggestion and comments are welcome.

9.3 lbs. Gold Malt Extract, (LME)
1 Lb Belgian Light Candi Sugar,
1/2 lb. Vienna & 1/2 lb. Crystal 10°L grain blend
1/2 Lb Belgian Aromatic malt,
2 oz. Liberty bittering hops,
1 oz. Hallertau flavor hops,
1 oz. Saaz aroma hops
wyeast 1388 belgian strong ale

i added these spices to last 5 min of the boil.
1 cinnamon stick
1 tsp coriander
1/4 tsp nutmeg
>1/4 tsp ginger

1 week in primary, 3 weeks in secondary @ 67F(yes i realized now that i should have left it in primary for at least another week)


O.G. 1.072
F.G. 1.010
est abv 8.8%

this is my first batch using spices, and i was wondering what to expect, (is it enough spices, should i have added them to secondary instead, etc)

the plan is to let this age until christmas time.

ok, hit me with some comments please, thanks

 

[paul7]

feedback please?

 

[tmurph6]

I have never used spices, but I think any flavor from your spice is going to be way overshadowed by 4 oz of hops, 2 oz of which are bittering. Also, you have a lot of fermentables, so I don't think you're going to be able to taste those spices. Not sure how much spices would come through in a Belgian. The flavor profile is already complex!! Sorry for the brevity, on my phone.

 

[TANSTAAFB]

Rule of thumb, if you can identify the spices used, you used too much...you will be fine and your beer will taste great.
The yeast will contribute some Belgian funk of its own so you may never know where particular flavors come from but you will have a memorable brew.

The best advice I received regarding Belgians is to pitch low (mid 60's) and let it ramp slowly up to the mid to upper 70's. If it gets away from you, don't try to cool it as the yeast may just go dormant and leave you with a partially attenuated beer...fickle yeastie beasties them Belgians are

 

[Calder]

Didn't you drink the gravity sample? That should tell you much more than any of us what it will be like.

Personally, I'm not really a spice person. I went through a phase of experimenting with them, but I never made anything I wanted to drink more than a couple of. I don't really like any commercial versions I tasted either.

The spices will come thru. Your hops are delicate and will not be overpowering.

Spices will fade with time. If you keep it a long time, maybe they will just be subtle and be OK.

You should have fermented higher to get more out of the yeast.

You asked for comments.

 

[paul7]

thanks for the feedback!

i tried the gravity sample and it was great-couldnt taste spices, mostly hops, but i couldnt taste the alcohol either, so im pleased.

i read somewhere that i takes time for the spice flavors to come thru-is this so?

as far a fermentation temps go-i pitched at 75, but it usually cool down to room temp(67) after a few days, but i have noticed that wrapping the secondary with a blanket or towel will keep it around 70/71

how well should this age-i hear the belgian can last for over a year or even much longer-the then i read elsewhere that they peak after a few months.

any idea on how long this should age-i was planning this for christmas

 

[TANSTAAFB]

At 8.8% ABV I think this beer should cellar nicely. If you are planning to save it for Christmas next year you might consider dipping a few of the caps in wax to keep them from rusting/ oxidizing and for a nice presentation. Make sure you set a few aside to sample through the year so you can taste how it changes with time and take really detailed notes.

The hops will fade with time, not sure about the spices but they may come through better as the bitterness recedes. You may find that it just keeps getting better and you may find a point of diminishing returns, but either way you will learn something about your beer and perhaps refine your brewing schedule a little.

Brew a couple more "special" brews throughout the year and wax & cellar a few away for the holidays.

 

[paul7]

i sampled a bottle @ 1 week last night, and holy moly was i impressed, still a tid bit hoppy, but taste GREAT already, nice fruity taste, nice fine carbonation bubbles, i can only imagine how good this will be once the beer fully matures.