Ideas for Baby Beer

[tennesseean_87]

My wife and I are expecting in April, and I'm wondering what sort of beer I might brew and age until the birth. I would think about a big stout or brown or little(ish) barley wine/old ale, but I'm not thinking I'll want too much of those in the spring and summer. My idea was to do a larger dubbel (trippel strength, but brown from D2). Would that be a good beer for this timeline?

What are my other options?

 

[Rambleon]

A dubbel would be good. When i found out I was going to be a father I brewed a patersbier (father's beer) and then when he was born I brewed an old ale that I swore not to touch until he is one (come December I'll tap it). So that doesn't really answer your question because I didn't have anything ready to drink when he was born but once we brought him home I didn't drink beer for a month. Tired and paranoid parents...

 

[nhindian]

Brew something big and drink one every year on his birthday

 

[Cyclman]

Dubbel sounds like the right time frame. And the high alcohol will help you get to sleep on fussy baby nights.

 

[Beernik]

Congratulations.

I did a cherry Schwartzbock for my niece's birth.

 

[dogbar]

With our second, I did a Belgian Dark Strong, because looking at all those months without drinking, that's what she wanted at the end of it. It was actually the first big beer I made and let age that long.

 

[tennesseean_87]

Thanks, all! I think I will do a dubbel, but maybe a little on the bigger side. Yeast suggestions? I'm looking for something I can wash and use for anything Belgian. 3522?

 

[DSmith]

+1 on the Belgian ideas. We're expecting our 3rd in November and have also decided to mainly focus on Belgian styles when we found out.

I'd start with fresh yeast & appropriate sized starter per Mr Malty/Yeastcalc for doing high gravity. WY3787 is hard to go wrong with IMO.

There are some great recipes here (http://www.candisyrup.com/). They diligently pursue cloning Belgian ales so it might be easier to commit to a recipe if you kind of know what it'll turn out like.

 

[vphoto]

I am due sept 22 2013 and we have a brow the should be ready around that time. Make what your wife will enjoy because it is a long wait for a beer

 

[tennesseean_87]

My wife's not a huge beer drinker, so this is more for me. Ironically, one of her favorites is SN CElebration ale, a beer I cloned and had ready just after we found out!

 

[tennesseean_87]

So I got some 3787, and brewed Belgian/APA propagation batch which is about done now. The more I think about it, though, a tripel might be a better idea for that time of year. Maybe I'll brew a quad for next winter, too, but malty and dark doesn't seem like a great spring-time drink. Will that be too long for a tripel to age before hitting it's prime? If so, when should I brew it? (5 months out, 4 months?)

 

[Yooper]

So I got some 3787, and brewed Belgian/APA propagation batch which is about done now. The more I think about it, though, a tripel might be a better idea for that time of year. Maybe I'll brew a quad for next winter, too, but malty and dark doesn't seem like a great spring-time drink. Will that be too long for a tripel to age before hitting it's prime? If so, when should I brew it? (5 months out, 4 months?)

For April/May drinking, I'd chose a maibock first. But if you want to go with a Belgian, a tripel would be great.

A tripel can easily age for a year before being at its peak, so if you make it now, it would be great in May.

 

[tennesseean_87]

Thanks! I'm not sure about my ability to lager well, and I've got the Belgian Yeast already. I think I'll go the Tripel route, though I may look at Maibock as well.