Holiday Ale Advice

[turbotime69]

I have a high gravity spiced and altered Irish Red in primary right now (OG 1.181).

To the brew I added 4 Star Anise flowers and 1 oz dried bitter orange peel.

In secondary I plan on adding some cherry puree. I'm fermenting it separately in a 1 gal bottle with some red wine yeast as I was advised this would be better for achieving a tart cherry taste. And finally I want to add cinnamon and was thinking of steeping 4-6 sticks in a couple ounces of bourbon to sterilize and pouring the whole she-bang right in.

Has anyone ever does either of these things? Advice? Am I just too zealous?

 

[sloanfamilydsm]

1.181 OG.
Holy crap, that's a 20% ABV beer!!!

I have no idea on the cherry or the other question sry.
20% ABV beer. Hope you made a starter

 

[paperairplane]

Hope you like spice. 4 star anise is a ton.

I did a milk stout and soaked 2 cinnamon sticks in bourbon - was waaaay too much. Totally dominated the beer and I'm trying to age it out.

I assume you are planning to drink this for the 2015 holidays...

 

[ZebulonBrewer]

that is a seriously high starting gravity. Have you ever brewed anything that big before? How many IBU's do you need to keep it from finishing sweet?

Anyway, bourbon AND cinnamon sounds like an interesting combo, I'd be incline to go vodka/rum unless you have a serious love for bourbon in a huuuge red 'ale'. I can't really speak to the other details. I've never used anis or bitter orange peel, only fresh-zested oranges (not a snob, just what the recipe called for)

 

[Calder]

Unless you know what you are doing, that is going to be sickly sweet.

 

[turbotime69]

Ok so the OG was 1.081, I'm dumb and read the thing wrong....Still a little above average but not as ridiculous as I thought. After looking at potential final alcohol in that 20% range I had to reassess the reading. derp.

It's now only day two and after a more vigorous fermentation that I've yet to experience the bubbling has stopped at 1.026. That reading gives an ABV of about 7.22% according to brewers friend abv calculator. This to me seems more reasonable.

Do you guys think it's stalled or thats just where it should be? Is there some way to test that?

Any thoughts more thoughts on the cherry or bourbon cinnamon now that we know its not a 20% abv beer?

 

[sloanfamilydsm]

For a high gravity beer, depending in mash temp & grain bill, 1.026 could be the final gravity. Test again in a few days & if its the same; fermentation is over.

 

[sloanfamilydsm]

I've only added 2 lbs cranberries(close to cherries) at 5 min of boil. I've done cinnamon but again, only added 2 crushed sticks in a hop bag into secondary for 2 weeks. I got good results both ways with both flavors showing up mildly. IMHO- I think 4 or more cinnamon sticks will be overpowering. You'll never know until you try!!!
I would add the "fermented cherries" to the bottling bucket to taste if I were to go that route. I do like the idea of a separate fermentation with wine yeast though.

 

[ABVIBUSRM]

ok its 1081..i was about to say a 1.181 would be great for the holiday's next year