Pumpkin Ale

[vp1839]

I am new to this forum so first and for most hello.

I have brewed two homebrews in the past and decided to get a little holiday spirit and make a pumpkin beer.

I got the kit from midwest supplies and it asks for 30oz of pumpkin purée.

I guess my question is has anyone used this kit and how much pumpkin did you use?

 

[Derek2k3]

I personally haven't brewed this (I'm brand new too, fermenting my first batch now) but I found this thread, had some good info about that particular kit:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f37/just-brewed-midwest-supplies-pumpkin-ale-208562/

Google/forum search is your friend, there are a bunch of helpful topics on this site.

 

[vp1839]

Thanks

 

[dcodd87]

I just brewed it and it is currently bottling. I used close to 90oz of pumpkin. I did 30oz with the grain steeping. 30oz with the boil. 30oz in the fermenter. I've cracked 2 bottles so far and it has a wonderful pumpkin flavor

 

[Transamguy77]

I made a double batch of that last year and used 120oz in each batch, I baked it with brown sugar and cinnamon for an hour at 350, it turned out quite delicious.

I would recommend adding more top off water if you put pumpkin in your fermentor, I ended up loosing about 2.5 gallons to pumpkin trub. I would also recommend a secondary to help with keeping the pumpkin out of the bottles

I also added more pumpkin pie spice at bottling since I didn't taste much at that time. I still have some left and had one a few weeks ago 10 months later and still quite good.

 

[edmanster]

i used pumpkin puree last year but this year im gonna use squash.. i here it taste more like pumpkin in a beer then pumpkin.. i also made one the year before with just pumpkin spice and no pumpkin which tasted more like pie

 

[h22lude]

I have brewed a pumpkin ale using just spice and it turned out awesome. I actually just had one from last years batch and it is amazing.

I haven't tried with actual pumpkin but it seems like it is more hassle than anything. Pumpkin doesn't add much flavor by itself...from what I read. Makes sense though. Have you tried pumpkin by itself? Doesn't really have a flavor.

 

[jonmohno]

Sorry but i think not adding pumpkin because of lack of flavor is somewhat a myth. Ive used more than average pumpkin and have noticed a pumpkin veg taste. My last pumpkin beer really proved this for me which i added 2X more than the last few i did. I also believe they are generally better in bigger beers also,just my opinion i guess. Could be yeast too,but generally adding more pumpkin(mash or boil), and im shure even the mythiest people may notice "something", shure spice is more prominant in flavor but you can still get texture and flaovor with real pumpkin. I wouldnt brew a pumpkin beer without pumpkin unless i just wanted a spiced holliday ale. Pumpkin is a vegtable just enhanced with spices. A little molassis or carmalization and vanilla is nice too.
Its kinda like making a beer with maize(flaked corn) if you notice this taste then you should be able to notice a "real" pumpkin taste. Damn,now i think i want a pumpkin that i put in the fridge after sitting in the basement since last season.

 

[edmanster]

Sorry but i think not adding pumpkin because of lack of flavor is somewhat a myth. Ive used more than average pumpkin and have noticed a pumpkin veg taste. My last pumpkin beer really proved this for me which i added 2X more than the last few i did. I also believe they are generally better in bigger beers also,just my opinion i guess. Could be yeast too,but generally adding more pumpkin(mash or boil), and im shure even the mythiest people may notice "something", shure spice is more prominant in flavor but you can still get texture and flaovor with real pumpkin. I wouldnt brew a pumpkin beer without pumpkin unless i just wanted a spiced holliday ale. Pumpkin is a vegtable just enhanced with spices. A little molassis or carmalization and vanilla is nice too.
Its kinda like making a beer with maize(flaked corn) if you notice this taste then you should be able to notice a pumpkin taste.

+1 it does have a faint vegetable flavor :rockin:

 

[jonmohno]

Right,it reminds me of Braggot and using honey also,certain amounts and you start getting "not so beer like" so there is a range you can work with. I made great Honey Ale using 30% honey, I also think I stategically used the right complimentary hops for honey enhancement. Some hops are like that.
To the OP I think going 45 oz pumpkin purree would be better but really up to 90 oz. Just prepare for a mess,and or loss of volume.

 

[dcodd87]

I used the 90oz of pumpkin and it gives it a slight pumpkin flavor. BUT big BUT, the aftertaste is nice pumpkin pie flavor.

I also baked the canned pumpkin with cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice

 

[amandabab]

At the very least double the midwest kit pumpkin to 2 cans (60oz). 90oz and going 6 gallons for a finished 5gallons is better.
the kits gravity is based on 5 gallons with 1 can of pumpkin.

 

[vp1839]

At the very least double the midwest kit pumpkin to 2 cans (60oz). 90oz and going 6 gallons for a finished 5gallons is better.

Sounds good to me thanks everyone.

 

[RauelDuke]

I made that kit last year and put in 90oz of pumpkin with some extra pumpkin pie spice and a little brown sugar. It was amazing, but I lost about 2.5 gallons of my volume.

 

[vp1839]

I think what I will do is 30oz with the hop boil. 30oz at the normal scheduled time. And 30oz during 1st ferment. Then when I transfer into 2nd ferment i will add distilled water to even out the 5gal

Will that work?

 

[amandabab]

I think what I will do is 30oz with the hop boil. 30oz at the normal scheduled time. And 30oz during 1st ferment. Then when I transfer into 2nd ferment i will add distilled water to even out the 5gal

Will that work?

adding water might work.
I do it as a partial massh (not the midwest kit) 60oz in the mash, 30oz in the boil
I just expect a lot of loss, start with six gallons and wait and wait to rack it.
this years pumpkin is already in the primary.

 

[Bito401]

Has anyone used vanilla extract with this kit?

 

[vp1839]

Has anyone used vanilla extract with this kit?

Maybe I will try that. Brew day is tomorrow! I'll keep you guys posted.

 

[vp1839]

So update!

Put 30oz in during steep. Then I put 30oz with 5min left and I added 30oz of pumpkin pie mix with the other 30oz. And I added 2 tsp of vanilla extract with 2min left

 

[amandabab]

So update!

Put 30oz in during steep. Then I put 30oz with 5min left and I added 30oz of pumpkin pie mix with the other 30oz. And I added 2 tsp of vanilla extract with 2min left

That should do it.

 

[vp1839]

12 hrs into first ferment and it's bubbling like crazy!

 

[vp1839]

Quick update.

I let it sit in the primary for 2 weeks and just transferred it to the secondary fermenter and added a gallon of water that I lost.

In 2weeks I'll be ready to bottle!

 

[Bito401]

Brewed this on 8/5. Bottled yesterday. I used about 90oz of pumpkin. Baked Pumpkin @ 350 for 45 minutes with Cinnamon and Few drops of vanilla extract on it. added about half at 30 minutes left in the boil and the rest at 5 minutes. Taste Test yesterday seemed like it was lacking spices. Well see how it turns out at the end of september.

 

[vp1839]

Bottle day! Yielded 52 bottles!

Did my reading and it was spot on with the receipt kit sheet.

Did a little tasting before carbo and it taste pretty darn good

 

[SixStrings]

Good to hear. I'm curious as to whether you'll be able to detect any pumpkin flavor as opposed to just the spices once it's all carbed up.

 

[vp1839]

Before the carb I it tasted like pumpkin with a slight pumpkin pie aftertaste

 

[vp1839]

I have noticed that there is a sediment issue. I made sure not to get any into the bottling bucket. Does anyone know why?

 

[SixStrings]

Pumpkin beers seem to be notoriously hazy - especially if the the pumpkin is added during the boil - so they usually benefit from a longer than average clearing time. I'm planning to let mine go 2 weeks then another 3+ to clear/cold crash.

 

[vp1839]

Pumpkin beers seem to be notoriously hazy - especially if the the pumpkin is added during the boil - so they usually benefit from a longer than average clearing time. I'm planning to let mine go 2 weeks then another 3+ to clear/cold crash.

Yeah... I should have racked it minimum a month to fully clear. Rookie mistake!

Now I know for next time and hopefully this will help others not make the same mistake I did

 

[edmanster]

I used pumpkin puree again this year but I don't want it to clear.. made it at a 7srm this time and want it hazy (no finnings) so it should be the color of a bright pumpkin and pop when the light hits it

Edit: oh and tried to base it off of firestones pale 31 because it was the most orange colored beer I could think of at the time just with my twist