Do you want to brew one of the 12 beers of Christmas?

[rhoadsrage]

gclay, that sounds good. I will switch out the caramel quad for yours.

 

[KFH]

In that case, put my down for the abbey weizen.

 

[Horace]

Well, once the list here gets finalized, we can all get cracking and ensure our beers are ready to ship by the deadline and ready to drink by Christmas.

Placed an order this morning. The problem is with, well, the internet! Too much information . . . . I'm just going to brew the recipe and let the chips fall.


Edit: I should explain, I don't have the book but from everything that I have read a Lambic Ale should sit on fruit for 6-12 months. Ship the first week of December and this will be sitting on fruit for a little over four. Add to that bottle time.

 

[KFH]

Placed an order this morning. The problem is with, well, the internet! Too much information . . . . I'm just going to brew it by the book and let the chips fall.

I'd do the same thing, but I'll be moving soon (I'll finally get to use propane! YAY! I'm free of the shackles of my Godawful apartment stove!) and I'll need to reorganize and expand my brewery a bit. Luckily, that abbey weizen donesn't take a whole lot of time to finish up, so I've got breathing room.

 

[usfmikeb]

Since we're all bottling, we should be able to ship a couple weeks after bottling. Can't we do it in October?

 

[Willum]

So nobody called the "Spiced Dunkel Weizenbock" yet? If not I will do it.

 

[Horace]

I have been thinking about the best way to ship. I'm considering bottling in plastic, any thoughts?

 

[Beezy]

I have been thinking about the best way to ship. I'm considering bottling in plastic, any thoughts?

Eh I might try plastic. Just for the ones sent out tho.

My recipe is shaping up nicely. Going to brew in like September as the brown ale being low in alc and low in hops... Dont want it sitting around forever.

 

[biochemedic]

There is a sticky somewhere (I think), or at least a couple threads on shipping...generally, you should individually wrap the bottles in bubble wrap, and double plastic bag them, then there should be some tight fitting padding material around the bottles inside the box.

I would avoid plastic...Plastic may decrease the breakage issue, but if you package properly, it shouldn't be an issue. Plus, plastic could cause some issues with aging. I plan on aging at least 1 bottle of each.

This sort of flows into the issue of whether or not these beers will be ready for this christmas/holiday period or not...as previously noted, many of these recipes really should have been brewed earlier in the year for optimal timing, but hey, this is what we got... Personally, I'm willing to give it a go, and also willing to redo the experiment next year, but starting in January or Feburary! And at any rate, as I said, I plan to age at least 1 of each.

This then goes to the issue of how many to send -- I vote for 3...48 beers in the 2 cases-ish that you get from a 5 gal batch leave plenty of extras to sample along the way for the brewer of each recipe.

In terms of date to send, I think anytime in October or early November should be fine if people start brewing in the next few weeks (and we really should). For me, I'm going to brew the week after next, so figure about 3-4 weeks in primary, then bottling (I rarely do a secondary). I should be ready to ship by mid September at the latest...the bottle conditioning can continue at your houses as well as it can at mine...

rhodesrage...what's the current tally/list of assignments?

Oh, and if anyone needs one of the recipes, PM me or rhodesrage and we can PM it back to you....

 

[Beezy]

Shipping could get crazy sending 2 cases of beer out. I wouldn't be opposed to 2 tho as like you say some of them need more time. Maybe drink them at christas and then save some for when the timing is more optimal.

 

[spyder2723]

I think if we can do 3 each that would be awesome. I know shipping is gonna be a bit of a hassle but it will still be fun. I am getting my ingredients tomorrow and should have the beer fermenting this weekend. With the Fruitcake Old Ale my plan is to primary it for 3ish weeks, the secondary with the fruit for another 2ish weeks then bottle. So I should be good to send by whenever.

I am also planning on aging at least 1 of each beer for consumption next year. And with three bottles I can still go back for seconds if one is really good, while saving 1.

 

[Zamial]

As for shipping I have 2 concerns.

1) shipping cost. I agreed to this based on a guesstimate of $5 per participant. I would be willing to go over that amount slightly but I feel that someone needs to hammer this out. IE. What will fit into what box for "X" price through FedEX or UPS. I think the limit/target should remain at $5.00. This would be a $55 shipping total + boxes, pack materials, ect. If that means we can ship 2 that is fine, if that means we can ship 4+ that is fine as well as long as we are all on the same page...

2) Time frame. IMO we need to set a date no later than Thanksgiving because of freezing weather conditions here in the North.

 

[Beezy]

As for shipping I have 2 concerns.

1) shipping cost. I agreed to this based on a guesstimate of $5 per participant. I would be willing to go over that amount slightly but I feel that someone needs to hammer this out. IE. What will fit into what box for "X" price through FedEX or UPS. I think the limit/target should remain at $5.00. This would be a $55 shipping total + boxes, pack materials, ect. If that means we can ship 2 that is fine, if that means we can ship 4+ that is fine as well as long as we are all on the same page...

2) Time frame. IMO we need to set a date no later than Thanksgiving because of freezing weather conditions here in the North.

I am with you sir.

 

[Horace]

Shipping the second week in November shouldn't be a problem, it would give the Crabapple Lamibic a solid three months on fruit.

USPS Flat Rate boxes, medium, are $10.95. Don't know how that compares to UPS/Fedex but it can't be too far off. I think we'll be closer to $100 for shipping than $55 . . .

 

[Willum]

Here is what I came up with for mine. I think this style of beer deserves a decoction. I plan on putting it in the primary for 30 days, then secondary in the keg for at least 60 days as per the recipe's guidelines for 3-5 months of aging.

Recipe: Spiced Dunkel Weizenbock
Style: Weizenbock
TYPE: All Grain


Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Batch Size (fermenter): 5.00 gal
Boil Size: 6.50 gal
Bottling Volume: 5.00 gal
Estimated OG: 1.070 SG
Estimated FG: 1.010 SG
Est ABV 7.9%
Estimated Color: 12.6 SRM
Estimated IBU: 28.1 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 72.00 %
Boil Time: 90 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amt Name Type # %/IBU
5 lbs Wheat Malt, Ger (2.0 SRM) Grain 1 38.5 %
4 lbs Munich Malt (9.0 SRM) Grain 2 30.8 %
2 lbs Pilsner (2 Row) Ger (2.0 SRM) Grain 3 15.4 %
1 lbs Wheat Malt, Ger (2.0 SRM) Grain 5 7.7 %
0.50 oz Tettnang [4.50 %] - Boil 30.0 min Hop 7 5.4 IBUs
1.50 oz Tettnang [4.50 %] - Boil 90.0 min Hop 6 22.7 IBUs
1 lbs Caramel/Crystal Malt - 60L (60.0 SRM) Grain 4 7.7 %
1.0 pkg Abbey Ale (White Labs #WLP530) [35.49 ml Yeast 11 -
0.17 oz Anise, Star (Boil 0.0 mins) Spice 10 -
0.50 oz Orange Peel, Sweet (Boil 0.0 mins) Spice 9 -
1.00 tsp Caraway (Boil 0.0 mins) Spice 8 -
2.00 oz Candied Ginger (Primary 14.0 days) Spice 12 -


Mash Schedule: Decoction Mash, Triple
Total Grain Weight: 13 lbs
----------------------------
Name Description Step Temperat Step Time
Acid Rest Add 26.00 qt of water at 98.2 F 95.0 F 45 min
Protein Rest Decoct 7.23 qt of mash and boil it 122.0 F 60 min
Saccharification Decoct 9.06 qt of mash and boil it 148.0 F 15 min
Saccharification Decoct 3.92 qt of mash and boil it 156.0 F 15 min
Mash Out Decoct 6.72 qt of mash and boil it 168.0 F 10 min


Notes:
------
1lb of wheat malt, toasted 30 mins @350

Converted 1.0 tsp (4.7g) of Star Anise to 0.17 oz

 

[biochemedic]

Shipping the second week in November shouldn't be a problem, it would give the Crabapple Lamibic a solid three months on fruit.

USPS Flat Rate boxes, medium, are $10.95. Don't know how that compares to UPS/Fedex but it can't be too far off. I think we'll be closer to $100 for shipping than $55 . . .

You absolutely can NOT ship beer by USPS...got to use UPS or similar. Pack it well as prev posted and if they ask you're sending yeast samples or marinade

 

[spyder2723]

So just some quick checking on UPS and FedEx, about $15 to go from CO to PA. Assumed a package weight of 5 pounds, and PA seemed to be the furthest. This results in a total shipping cost of $165 for 11 shipments.

 

[Horace]

You absolutely can NOT ship beer by USPS...got to use UPS or similar. Pack it well as prev posted and if they ask you're sending yeast samples or marinade

Sorry, I was using the price for an example because it was easy not the service provider. My Bad.

Edit; After looking at spyder2723 post, it appears it wasn't a very good example. Either way I brew next weekend.

 

[Beezy]

So just some quick checking on UPS and FedEx, about $15 to go from CO to PA. Assumed a package weight of 5 pounds, and PA seemed to be the furthest. This results in a total shipping cost of $165 for 11 shipments.

Honestly I am probably going to have to bow out. I will still make the beer but this time of the year is not typically kind to me. 50 bucks I could probably swing but the wife would kill me spending more than that on shipping.

 

[Willum]

So just some quick checking on UPS and FedEx, about $15 to go from CO to PA. Assumed a package weight of 5 pounds, and PA seemed to be the furthest. This results in a total shipping cost of $165 for 11 shipments.

I got $10.00 for NJ to CHI for example. Maybe luck with have it that some of us are geographically close enough to meet up and exchange?

 

[spyder2723]

I got $10.00 for NJ to CHI for example. Maybe luck with have it that some of us are geographically close enough to meet up and exchange?

Yeah if a couple people are close to exchange then that would help out a bunch. The $15 amount I think is the worst case for shipping across country.

 

[Willum]

Yeah if a couple people are close to exchange then that would help out a bunch. The $15 amount I think is the worst case for shipping across country.

I am in either way, I just don't want to brew it and then half the people decide to not do it. So I think people should prepare for the worst case and either deal with it or drop out now.

 

[spyder2723]

Well I bought all my ingredients today, and I am in.

 

[Beezy]

I am in either way, I just don't want to brew it and then half the people decide to not do it. So I think people should prepare for the worst case and either deal with it or drop out now.

Yeah exactly. Get someone else for the gingerbread. I don't want to be that guy. Still brewing it but it's going to be too hard for me to ship all those bottles. Facing facts.

 

[Zamial]

I did some leg work... IMO Fed Ex is out for sure. It is a $10 minimum (even though they do not say that) and the average cost to ship 1 or 2 bottles would have been $15 dollars. Unless UPS has much better rates (I am guessing it will be close to FedEX.) I will have to drop out as well. I can afford $50-$70 for shipping but over $100 will be a no-go and I believe the average to do this is going to be $150 just in shipping. If someone else can check with UPS and report back what they find that would be great!

 

[usfmikeb]

I'm in, and will be making the Spiced Cherry Dubbel regardless.

 

[Willum]

UPS NJ to CA for 5lb = $16.67. This would be the worst case since it is across the country.

 

[KFH]

Here's the recipe I plan on using for the abbey weizen. I've made this one one before, but made a couple small mistakes, so I'm hoping I can do better the second time around.

16E Belgian Specialty Ale

Batch Size: 5 gallons
Recipe Type: All-Grain
Brewhouse Efficiency: 75%
Original Gravity: 1.057
Final Gravity: 1.013
Apparent Attenuation: 76%
ABV: 5.7%
IBUs: 20
SRM: 4
Primary Fermentation: 12 days at 68F
Secondary Fermentation: 8 days at 68F
Boil Length: 90 minutes

Ingredients

7 lbs German Pilsner Malt (56%)
5 lbs German Wheat Malt (40%)
8 oz Rice Hulls (4%)

2 oz Tettnang Hops [3.2%] (90 min)

0.25 oz Chamomile Tea (flame out)
0.25 Coriander Seed, Crushed (flame out)

Belgian Abbey II (Wyeast 1762)

5 oz Corn Sugar (2.9 Volumes CO2)

Mash Profile

Single Infusion Batch Sparge
153F for 60 minutes
1.25 qts of water per lb grain

 

[usfmikeb]

So, do we still have all 12 beers covered, or have we lost some folks due to postage concerns?

 

[Beezy]

You need a gingerbread ale. Sorry guys.