Favorite Holiday Recipe

[aprichman]

What's your favorite recipe to brew when the weather starts to cool and we enter the holiday season?

 

[myndflyte]

I made a pumpkin spiced ale at the end of the summer and it's probably been my favorite spiced beer this fall. I had some Pumpking and it just didn't taste as good to me.

The only thing with brewing is that you have to plan 3-6 months ahead of when you want to drink your winter warmer beer. So I got to start brewing my heavier beers in July.

 

[aprichman]

I need to increase the size of my pipeline - right now my chest freezer doubles as a fermentation chamber and kegerator so I typically brew every 2 months (2 weeks fermentation, kegs typically last 5-6 weeks). My wife kicked our keg a couple nights ago so I'm gearing up to brew this weekend. We have some company coming for Christmas and I'd like to have something ready to drink by then.

I was thinking about brewing Northern Brewers Saison de Noel but I've read some mixed reviews and it sounds like it needs some age before it's ready.

 

[AZBeer]

I've got my Christmas Porter fermenting right now. Porter with chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon & nutmeg. One of my favorites.

 

[aprichman]

I've got my Christmas Porter fermenting right now. Porter with chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon & nutmeg. One of my favorites.

Could you share the recipe?

 

[AZBeer]

Could you share the recipe?

Sure.

Couple of notes, this is the original recipe from Brewer's Friend. I have since added notes to my handwritten brew log from subsequent brews. This was one of my first BIAB recipes, so I had the efficiency a little low. Also, obviously this is a small batch recipe, so scale accordingly.

Let me know if you have any questions.

HOME BREW RECIPE:
Title: Xmas Porter
Author: Rob.n.AZ

Brew Method: BIAB
Style Name: Robust Porter
Boil Time: 65 min
Batch Size: 1.25 gallons (fermentor volume)
Boil Size: 1.75 gallons
Boil Gravity: 1.042
Efficiency: 65% (brew house)


STATS:
Original Gravity: 1.058
Final Gravity: 1.014
ABV (standard): 5.79%
IBU (tinseth): 35.11
SRM (morey): 24.71

FERMENTABLES:
2.5 lb - American - Pale 2-Row (80.6%)
0.25 lb - American - Caramel / Crystal 90L (8.1%)
3.2 oz - American - Carapils (Dextrine Malt) (6.5%)
1.6 oz - American - Roasted Barley (3.2%)
0.8 oz - American - Chocolate (1.6%)

HOPS:
3 g - East Kent Goldings, Type: Pellet, AA: 5, Use: Boil for 60 min, IBU: 8.67
3 g - Willamette, Type: Pellet, AA: 4.5, Use: Boil for 60 min, IBU: 7.81
3 g - East Kent Goldings, Type: Pellet, AA: 5, Use: Boil for 30 min, IBU: 6.66
3 g - Willamette, Type: Pellet, AA: 4.5, Use: Boil for 30 min, IBU: 6
3 g - East Kent Goldings, Type: Pellet, AA: 5, Use: Boil for 10 min, IBU: 3.14
3 g - Willamette, Type: Pellet, AA: 4.5, Use: Boil for 10 min, IBU: 2.83

MASH GUIDELINES:
Temp: 155 F, Time: 65 min

OTHER INGREDIENTS:
0.5 tbsp - Cinnamon, Type: Spice, Use: Primary
0.5 tbsp - Nutmeg, Type: Spice, Use: Primary
0.5 oz - Baker's Dark Chocolate, Type: Flavor, Use: Primary
0.5 oz - Vanilla Extract, Type: Flavor, Use: Primary

YEAST:
Danstar - Nottingham Ale Yeast
Starter: No
Form: Dry
Attenuation (avg): 77%
Flocculation: High
Optimum Temp: 57 - 70 F
Fermentation Temp: 65 F

NOTES:
Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Chocolate, & Vanilla Extract are added to primary, after fermentation is complete 5 days prior to bottling.

 

[punkrawkgeek]

I am in the midst of fermenting a red currant porter. Never made it before... But as I airlock sniff it... Man, does it ever smell good. I cannot wait to drink it. Don't know if I am going to bottle or keg it. Depends on when it is done.

 

[myndflyte]

Oh I also forgot I have an oaked oatmeal stout that should be carbed up and ready to tap for the winter.

 

[treacheroustexan]

I haven't really found a seasonal beer I absolutely love to brew yet. I am trying a chocolate porter this weekend with maple coffee added to the keg. We'll see where this goes!

 

[jtratcliff]

I'm a fan of my own Christmas Ale recipe... I've since dubbed it "Gruss vom Krampus"

I give it as Christmas gifts along with some Ed Wort's Apfelwein... and everyone is happy!

 

[triethylborane]

ayinger celebrator clone

 

[aprichman]

Thanks for the replies everyone - I decided to make a variation of Grandmas Secret Stash - an oatmeal stout with rum soaked raisins in the boil and rum soaked vanilla bean and cinnamon added before kegging.

I'm soaking raisins in a 5 year old dark rum in preparation for tomorrow's brew day.