Pumpkin Beer, hey how much pumpkin?

[HarborTownBrewing]

This is a nice write-up, brulosopher.

This is a tough one, and there are probably 10 different ways to test this. I personally bake my canned pumpkin then add to the boil, rather than the mash. I added to the mash once before but I didn't like how it came out. Hard to say what kind of difference it can make.

I've always figured the canned pumpkin gives a touch of smoothness, but it's hard to say. The "pumpkin" flavor comes from the spices anyways.

 

[beereejit]

Steeped 2 cans of organic(100%) pumpkin and added pumpkin spice 1 tbsp. in last 5 min boil to an amber ale. Turned out really nice.

 

[dcbw]

I just used 8.5 lbs of roasted pie pumpkin (that's after the seeds and skins were removed) for a 5 gallon batch. Even with 1.5lb of rice hulls the sparse was awful and I just gave up recirculating since I didn't want to destroy my false bottom. I could feel the suction when I stuck a thermometer down into the mash. Turned out fine with a batch sparse though.

Last year I used about 6lbs and that worked out much better.

I like roasting the pumpkin halves open faced with brown sugar in the cavity, then dumping the liquid into a bowl and turning the halves upside down until done. Toss liquid into the boil near the end. Not sure if the brown sugar pumpkin liquid gold does anything but it sure tastes great before you add it to the kettle.

 

[ss4ivan]

I buy 10lb of baking pumpkin from the local grocery store. Cut it in half, gut the seeds, sprinkle on some spices, then bake until soft. spoon out the insides and get about 5-6lb of pumpkin. Place in a muslin bag before adding to the mash. Never used rice hulls and never had any problems. The only thing i add to the boil is spices at flameout. Fantastic beer. Mine is 1 week in the primary right now...should be ready by halloween.

 

[Zekk]

I buy 10lb of baking pumpkin from the local grocery store. Cut it in half, gut the seeds, sprinkle on some spices, then bake until soft. spoon out the insides and get about 5-6lb of pumpkin. Place in a muslin bag before adding to the mash. Never used rice hulls and never had any problems. The only thing i add to the boil is spices at flameout. Fantastic beer. Mine is 1 week in the primary right now...should be ready by halloween.

This is how I'm going to do it next time. I just roasted some canned pumpkin and tossed it in the mash. Worst sparge ever. I've made the recipe 3 times but only once with pumpkin. Using a Muslim bag sounds way easier. I just kinda like being able to tell people that yes, I did use real pumpkin.