So I picked up a 12 pack of Sam Adam's seasonals last week to try some different flavors. The first few, the Cherry Chocolate Bock and White Christmas were unimpressive and the Juniper IPA was tasty but far from a real IPA, IMO.
But when I cracked one if the Old Fezziwig ales I was pleasantly surprised at how similar it was to a Holiday Cheer Beer I bottled in November. This is a recipe I built from suggestions here on HBT as well as some trial and error.
Color was almost identical. Mine had a little more clove to it while the Fezziwig was a little sweeter, but SWMBO was unable to tell them apart. Mine also came in at 7%, whereas the Fezziwig was 5.3%.
Here's the recipe for my Cheer Beer:
6 lbs. German pilsner malt
2 lbs. N.A. two row malt
8 oz. British dark crystal 90L
4 oz. Special B
4 oz. German chocolate wheat malt 350L
6 oz. oat flakes, toasted
Add 1 tsp. Cal. Chloride added to mash.
BIAB, Mash at 2 ½ gallons at 155F for 90 mins. Dropped to 149F.
Sparged to bring boil volume to 4.5 gallons.
1 oz. Cascade (7%) at 60mins.
½ oz Cascade each at 20 and 5 mins.
½ tab whirlfloc at 15
16 oz. Honey at flameout
Cooled and added water to get to 5.25 gallons.
Pitched on to S-04 cake from an Irish Red.
After 48 hours in the Primary:
Add 16 oz. Dark Candy Syrup (homemade)
Primary 10 days, add spices and oak chips in secondary.
Secondary 10 days before bottling.
Spice Blend for secondary:
Crushed spices and soaked everything for a week in Vodka.
3 allspice berries
1 oz orange peel, sweet
1 cinnamon stick
1 clove
1 oz. medium oak chips
Bottled with 4 oz. light brown sugar and 1 Tbs. molasses.
But when I cracked one if the Old Fezziwig ales I was pleasantly surprised at how similar it was to a Holiday Cheer Beer I bottled in November. This is a recipe I built from suggestions here on HBT as well as some trial and error.
Color was almost identical. Mine had a little more clove to it while the Fezziwig was a little sweeter, but SWMBO was unable to tell them apart. Mine also came in at 7%, whereas the Fezziwig was 5.3%.
Here's the recipe for my Cheer Beer:
6 lbs. German pilsner malt
2 lbs. N.A. two row malt
8 oz. British dark crystal 90L
4 oz. Special B
4 oz. German chocolate wheat malt 350L
6 oz. oat flakes, toasted
Add 1 tsp. Cal. Chloride added to mash.
BIAB, Mash at 2 ½ gallons at 155F for 90 mins. Dropped to 149F.
Sparged to bring boil volume to 4.5 gallons.
1 oz. Cascade (7%) at 60mins.
½ oz Cascade each at 20 and 5 mins.
½ tab whirlfloc at 15
16 oz. Honey at flameout
Cooled and added water to get to 5.25 gallons.
Pitched on to S-04 cake from an Irish Red.
After 48 hours in the Primary:
Add 16 oz. Dark Candy Syrup (homemade)
Primary 10 days, add spices and oak chips in secondary.
Secondary 10 days before bottling.
Spice Blend for secondary:
Crushed spices and soaked everything for a week in Vodka.
3 allspice berries
1 oz orange peel, sweet
1 cinnamon stick
1 clove
1 oz. medium oak chips
Bottled with 4 oz. light brown sugar and 1 Tbs. molasses.
