Pumpkin ale... without pumpkin!

[NewkyBrown]

If I was to make a regular pumpkin ale recipe but just used spices and no pumpkin would I end up with a decent beer? Does the pumpkin add a huge amount of flavour?

I guess it wouldn't be authentic but I really don't have the time for stick sparges/ roasting pumpkin etc.

Thanks.

 

[CBMbrewer]

Sure! It certainly wouldn't be a pumpkin ale, but it would probably be fine. Just don't overdo the spices.

 

[TzeentchPlayer]

Pumpkin adds very little flavor, BUT, you can say you used pumpkin!

The majority of the flavor comes from the spices, and I also believe you get some starch conversion from the pumpkin as well.

 

[BradleyBrew]

I have made 4 pumpkin ales over the past few years. You get the least "pumpkin" flavor from the actual pumpkin. The spices will do just fine. Why would it not be a pumpkin ale? Its not a standardized style that defines you have to use actual pumpkin... If it taste like pumpkin and its a ale then its pumpkin ale.

 

[NewkyBrown]

Cool thanks.


Time is a real issue for me when I brew (new baby) so I didn't want a 3 hour sparge!
Crazy idea but could I boil the pumpkin in separate water then use that water to mash? I could do this ahead of time. Would it be worthwhile?

 

[NewkyBrown]

I could also just call it 'Pumpkin Spice Ale'!

 

[campbelldm1]

Cool thanks.

Time is a real issue for me when I brew (new baby) so I didn't want a 3 hour sparge!
Crazy idea but could I boil the pumpkin in separate water then use that water to mash? I could do this ahead of time. Would it be worthwhile?

I did something similar. I "dissolved" canned pumpkin in simmering water that I then past through a mesh strainer. I didn't use it to mash or sparge (actually did this while mashing). I just added it to the boil. Contributed a lot of orange color.

 

[imasickboy]

I've made several non-pumpkin beers. Good stuff.

If you do want pumpkin, but don't want the pre-boil hassle of dealing with it, put it in secondary with pumpkin.