What should I brew for October?

[conebone69]

First time brewer and want to get into brewing my own beer. Need some ideas on what to brew for drinking in early October. Looking for a kit, either extract or mini mash for now more along the lines of an Ale. Probably too late for a Lager?

 

[BriarwoodBrewer]

Look at Northern brewer online. They have some great kits to choose from at a great price. I would suggest buying the yeast at your LHBS. That way you can control the traveling temps. I am brewing a smashing pumpkin ale and a brown ale for Sept/Oct.

 

[frazier]

Helles Belles man, brew what you like to drink. Does it matter what month it is? (Not to me it doesn't)

 

[Pommy]

Yeah brew what you like to drink mate If it was me I'd think a nice porter should go down nicely in the fall

 

[Diver165]

I just got into brewing so I haven't brewed in October. But I have drank a helluva lot of beer over the years and as the temps get cooler my taste for beer darkens.

So if it were up to me, I'd brew up a Porter, Stout or something dark. I had a nice brown ale brewed up and hoped to have some saved for October. But it had problems...it was so damned tasty I couldn't stop myself.

 

[headfullahops]

I'd go for another brown ale or a porter.

 

[jtupper]

IMHO too many october beers revolve around pumkin, spice, etc. I believe, Its time to bring the creativity back into beer. So we know some things;

Lawnmower = Summer = Light
Porter/Stout = Winter = Dark
October = Pumpkin Cliche

Lets see if we can come up with something new?

Perhaps a happy balance. So Here is the brainstorm-
Oak, Vanilla, Red Ales, Black Ales, Cherry, Peach, Molasses, Apples, Ambers, Dunkles, etc.

Btw...Being new to brewing I would do ales before even thinking of lagering. It takes equipment, time, and know-how. Get the process down first with ales, then procede. just my 2c

Good luck, & happy Brewing

 

[BigErn]

Spiced hard cider... it wont be ready in October but It will be very tasty once its done.

Other than that though just brew what you enjoy drinking. Im an IPA year round kind of guy.

 

[stblindtiger]

I just finished brewing a Red Hook ESB "clone" for my second brew.

6.6 lbs light malt extract syrup
4 oz crystal malt
4 oz chocolate malt
4 oz roasted barley
1.5 oz Northern Brewer for bittering
1 Oz Cascade for Finishing
Nottingham Yeast (Any ale yeast)

I love Pale ales too, and from what I've read... ESB's are what American Pale Ales originated from. One of my friends loves them, and I tried one recently and liked it, so I figured I'd give it a shot for my second brew.

Steep the grains in a muslin bag for 20 minutes in 2 gallons of 150-160 degree water. Bring to boil, then take off heat. Add all the pre-warmed extract syrup, stirring until mixed. Bring back to a boil. Add 1/2 the Northern Brewer hops @ 60, the other 1/2 @ 30. Then with 10 minutes left, turn off the heat, add the Cascade hops and cover.

After the 10 minutes are up chill it as fast as you can! Once chilled, I strained it into 3 gallons of water getting rid of most of the trub (not all, but most of it). Poured some back into the brew pot, then back again into the fermentor. Did that a few more times to really get some air into it. Took a gravity reading (Mine was about 1.051), then pitched the yeast dry on top. It should end up being about 6-6.5 % alchohol if I calculated it right...

It is now in my fermenting refridgerator with a temperature control holding steady @ 65 degrees.

The smell of the chocolate malt was AWESOME in the beginning, and my house is currently full of boiled wort smell. I tried the sample, and it was real smooth... kind of smokey but obviously very sweet with all that extract syrup. I'm hoping this one goes well, and I CAN wait to taste it! I'm going to let it sit in the fermentor for probably 3 weeks, then bottle it and let it sit for 2 to 3 more.

My goal is to be opening this brew for the first time come October and enjoying it with some fresh Venison filets.... we'll see about the deer, but I'll definitely be able to enjoy this one!

 

[tagz]

At the end of August the 2010 hops should be flowing. You could do a harvest ale.

 

[SevenFields]

Im doing a nice German Alt for Oct, then your token Pumpkin Beer

 

[jgaepi]

A pumpkin ale if you like pumpkin foods. You will enjoy and friends will enjoy. Probably the most sought after beer in stores during October.

 

[iron_city_ap]

If this helps give you any ideas, in the next couple days I'm going to be bottling a stout and an amber. Next up is either a graff (think cider) or an IPA, I'm a little undecided.

 

[munklunk]

IMHO too many october beers revolve around pumkin, spice, etc. I believe, Its time to bring the creativity back into beer. So we know some things;

Lawnmower = Summer = Light
Porter/Stout = Winter = Dark
October = Pumpkin Cliche

Lets see if we can come up with something new?

:

How can pumpkin ever be a cliche? It's once a year, for cryin out loud! Nothing screams Fall like cool weather, the return of football and pumpkin beer. I always strive to make the best pumpkin possible every year, and some type of spiced ale to accent the weather. Also, its always nice to break open a nice aged batch of Apfelwein for the cold season.

 

[lumpher]

How can pumpkin ever be a cliche? It's once a year, for cryin out loud! Nothing screams Fall like cool weather, the return of football and pumpkin beer. I always strive to make the best pumpkin possible every year, and some type of spiced ale to accent the weather. Also, its always nice to break open a nice aged batch of Apfelwein for the cold season.

i like breaking open a pumpkin ale, but here in texas, there is no cool weather. we're a bunch of idiots who live in 90+ temps. strangely, i also have a few gallons of apfelwein

 

[Boyd]

Cheesefoods caramel cream ale.

 

[Justibone]

i like breaking open a pumpkin ale, but here in texas, there is no cool weather. we're a bunch of idiots who live in 90+ temps. strangely, i also have a few gallons of apfelwein

I wouldn't say you're idiots... the temperature is about the only thing I ever had to complain about in Texas. My sister lives near Dallas, but if I moved to Texas I'd go to Austin. Notable for the college town atmosphere, Riverwalk, unbelievable music scene and -- Austin Homebrew Supply!

The other thing that sucks about Texas -- hail. It really is bigger, A LOT BIGGER, in Texas.

 

[Tdawg]

I just brewed a pumpkin ale last week and kegged my Octoberfest Lager today! I brewed it at the begining of July.

I think an Octoberfest would be a perfect choice for...well...October! You can do an Ale version.

 

[brad26]

I just brewed a pumpkin ale, going to open it on Halloween, you could try that, if you like pumpkin ale that is (I personally love them). You could also try an Oktoberfest Ale, that would be prefect for chilly October nights, or a spiced porter, I think I'm going to start that one next week, see how it is mid-October. All depends on what you like!

 

[Germelli1]

Isn't there a beer with "oktober" in the name?

I kid.

I am personally a fan of brown ales and lately sierra nevada's tumbler has been hitting the spot!

 

[tvtoms]

I've never had a pumpkin flavored beer. But my birthday is in mid October, so I'm thinking of just trying to have a variety of styles hanging around and have my own little 'fest around here!