Pumpkin/spice beer Question

[jslive4now]

Hello all!! New brewer with a couple brews under my belt. Need some advice please..

Halloween is almost upon us and I'd like to make a pumpkin ale. I currently have an Amber light kit I'd like to use as a base for this beer. It consist of the following...

7# light LME
4oz Crystal 40L
4oz Carapils
12oz Crystal 120L
1 oz Cascade @ 60min
1 oz Cascade @ 1 min..

Would like to use the basic spices (pumpkin spice, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves) and maybe a 15oz can of pumpkin...

Question.. I've read I should back off on the aroma hops so they don't over power or clash with all the spices.. Thoughts???

Also, how much spice should I add and when??

Thank you in advance..

Sent from my XT1080 using Home Brew mobile app

 

[lilbova3]

How much beer is this expected to make or do you want to make?

The amount of finished beer you have will dictate the amount of spices you want to add.

You probably don't need the Carapils. If you want to use it you can but Carapils usually adds head retention which is not really wanted/needed in a pumpkin beer.

I think I would stay away from Cascade hops. I'm no expert but the one pumpkin beer I just made, which was a Southern Tier Pumking clone, used Magnum and Sterling hops for bittering. One hop added at 60 mins and the other was at 30 or 15 mins. You don't want to get the pumpkin beer too bitter. Just enough to balance it all. IBU should be around 22-36ish.

 

[jdauria]

Add the spices in the last 5 minutes of the boil. Check out this recipe for suggested amounts. http://beerandwinejournal.com/pumpkin-ale-recipe/ Made the AG version last year (and brewing again tomorrow), it was pumpkin pie in a glass! You will note that that recipe uses 4 lbs of pumpkin for 5 gallon batch.

And yes, you want no aroma hops I would think. Again, the recipe I linked uses less than half ounce at 60 minutes, and that's it.

If you don't secondary, if you taste the beer at bottling or kegging day and you want more spice, you can always add then.

 

[jdauria]

Add the spices in the last 5 minutes of the boil. Check out this recipe for suggested amounts. http://beerandwinejournal.com/pumpkin-ale-recipe/ Made the AG version last year (and brewing again tomorrow), it was pumpkin pie in a glass! You will note that that recipe uses 4 lbs of pumpkin for 5 gallon batch.

And yes, you want no aroma hops I would think. Again, the recipe I linked uses less than half ounce at 60 minutes, and that's it.

If you don't secondary, if you taste the beer at bottling or kegging day and you want more spice, you can always add then.

 

[jdauria]

Oops! Sorry for the double post!

 

[myndflyte]

Add the spices in the last 5 minutes of the boil. Check out this recipe for suggested amounts. http://beerandwinejournal.com/pumpkin-ale-recipe/ Made the AG version last year (and brewing again tomorrow), it was pumpkin pie in a glass! You will note that that recipe uses 4 lbs of pumpkin for 5 gallon batch.

And yes, you want no aroma hops I would think. Again, the recipe I linked uses less than half ounce at 60 minutes, and that's it.

If you don't secondary, if you taste the beer at bottling or kegging day and you want more spice, you can always add then.

You used 4 tsp of cinnamon and it wasn't too much? Some recipes I've found only use 1 tsp per 5 gallons. Maybe I'll have to aim for the middle of that just to make sure it's not too much.

 

[jslive4now]

How much beer is this expected to make or do you want to make?

The amount of finished beer you have will dictate the amount of spices you want to add.

You probably don't need the Carapils. If you want to use it you can but Carapils usually adds head retention which is not really wanted/needed in a pumpkin beer.

I think I would stay away from Cascade hops. I'm no expert but the one pumpkin beer I just made, which was a Southern Tier Pumking clone, used Magnum and Sterling hops for bittering. One hop added at 60 mins and the other was at 30 or 15 mins. You don't want to get the pumpkin beer too bitter. Just enough to balance it all. IBU should be around 22-36ish.

This would be a 5 gal batch.. Switching hops would be no problem.. Thinking 1oz at 60min?? Guess would depend in the AA... Would removing the Carapils decrease fermentables?? Or is the small amount mainly for head retention like you said??


Sent from my XT1080 using Home Brew mobile app

 

[lilbova3]

I believe Carapils doesn't add much if any fermentable sugars.

Depending on AA for the hops will help dictate how much hops you use.

 

[CharlieW]

Could you use Fuggles Or EKG in a pumpkin Ale? Thinking about trying one and have those whole leaf hops on hand.

 

[myndflyte]

I've used/am using fuggles and east kent golden hops for my pumpkin beer and it turns out good

 

[jdauria]

You used 4 tsp of cinnamon and it wasn't too much? Some recipes I've found only use 1 tsp per 5 gallons. Maybe I'll have to aim for the middle of that just to make sure it's not too much.

No it wasn't too much, I think adding it to the boil vs just to the carboy probably mellowed it out. Though like I said, this recipe was literally pumpkin pie in a glass so you definitely knew it was there, but it did not overpower everything else.

 

[Majd]

Hi every one,
I have a question about baking the pumpkin to gelatinize the protein and caramelize the sugars. Would it be OK if I bake the pumpkins the night before and add them to the MASH cold? Or do I have to bake them the morning of the brew day and add them to the MASH hot out of the oven?
Thanks

 

[BarleyStanding]

I used a teaspoon of spice a few years ago, you could taste the spice, but it was subtle. I wanted to bump it up last year, so tried a tablespoon of spice and it was a little overpowering, totally masked the pumpkin (all 5 gal batches). This year I went with 1 1/2 teaspoons, but it is still aging, so haven't tasted it yet. I add the spice when the primary fermentation is winding down, but still moving the beer around; seems to do the trick.

I use Fuggles and EKG, around 25 IBUs, and I do add small late additions for aroma and flavor.

 

[drkwoods]

Use this spice or mix up your own..http://www.walmart.com/ip/10308055?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227000000000&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=42423897272&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=18283950120&veh=sem

I think Your recipe is decent and Amber is perfect base for this. I just made a Marzen (5gal) and added 3 teaspoons of the above Pie spice at Flame out. Its been 2 weeks in the keg and the spice level is perfect with the body of the Marzen. In the past when the spice wasnt enough, Ive added Pumpkin Vodka to the keg in proportion to a sample and dropper test to taste. Pinnacle is a good tasting one and widely available, just be sure to pull and pint and test on a sample first http://www.crownwineandspirits.com/pinnacle-pumpkin-pie-flavored-vodka-750ml/

 

[ccous]

No way would i use 4 tsp cinnamon in a 5 gal batch.