When to brew a pumpkin ale

[trevelynzx]

let me lay out the facts of this thread:

1. pumpkin beer IS delicious. those of us that like it appreciate it more for the characteristics of the season in which it’s enjoyed, vs the actual execution of pumpkin in beer.
2. you don’t need actual pumpkin in the beer. just the idea, or illusion, of pumpkin is better.
3. following #2, don’t use pumpkin. use butternut squash, cubed, roasted with brown sugar. even that use sparingly just so you can say there’s a fall gourd involved. feel good about your once-a-year accomplishment as you brew an otherwise delicious boozy amber ale.
4. aim as close as you can for Southern Tier’s Pumking. anyone who disagrees with this point hates pumpkin beer.

 

[trevelynzx]

let me lay out the facts of this thread:

1. pumpkin beer IS delicious. those of us that like it appreciate it more for the characteristics of the season in which it’s enjoyed, vs the actual execution of pumpkin in beer.
2. you don’t need actual pumpkin in the beer. just the idea, or illusion, of pumpkin is better.
3. following #2, don’t use pumpkin. use butternut squash, cubed, roasted with brown sugar. even that use sparingly just so you can say there’s a fall gourd involved. feel good about your once-a-year accomplishment as you brew an otherwise delicious boozy amber ale.
4. aim as close as you can for Southern Tier’s Pumking. anyone who disagrees with this point hates pumpkin beer.

oh BTW, IMO. a good amber ale at ~8% requires at least 6 weeks in the ferm. soooo start early september, mid sept at the latest, to enjoy finished product (hopefully a dead ringer for Pumking) per #4 above) in season.

 

[Bramling Cross]

I think it depends on your gravity.

A big spiced beer, let's use a vanilla porter as an example, has a lot going on. It's going to need some time to meld it's flavors together, right? By contrast, a lighter gravity spiced beer tends to lean into its spicing a bit more and is best consumed young because spices tend to fade.

 

[pvtpublic]

Considering that you can't make masterpieces out of trash, unless you go into a modern art gallery, wait until the sugar pumpkins, acorns, butternuts, etc. are at their peak. Find them local, and the quality of them will help you make something you'd be proud to repeat.

 

[Beermeister32]

let me lay out the facts of this thread:

1. pumpkin beer IS delicious.

A “fact” ???

 

[GoodTruble]

Some pumpkin beers are good. Many are not.

But you can say the same about almost any beer style or category.

 

[bobeer]

I'd treat it like any other ale. The spices fade faster than other adjuncts but it sounds like it won't sit for that long so you should be good there.

I like to roast the mashed pumpkin in the oven until it caramelizes then add it to the mash. I've never gotten a stuck mash with pumpkin and I use a false bottom in an igloo cooler. I've added the pumpkin to the boil too. Didn't really notice any difference. Usually add spices in the whirlpool and at kegging time.

Good luck

 

[The Mad Brewer]

So here is what im going to do, I will cook the pie pumkin i got a bit top soften it, then i will cube it small, roast it with brown sugar, i have a enzyme (read that it will help break it down and not make it sticky) sorry off the top of my head i cant remeber what its called. And add some pumkin to the mash and some to the boil. the pumkin i add to the boil will be in a bag. I plan to add some molasses to the boil and some Vanilla vodka at the end.

 

[GoodTruble]

With any luck, I'll be brewing my pumpkin wee heavy this weekend. =c)

 

[doug293cz]

So here is what im going to do, I will cook the pie pumkin i got a bit top soften it, then i will cube it small, roast it with brown sugar, i have a enzyme (read that it will help break it down and not make it sticky) sorry off the top of my head i cant remeber what its called. And add some pumkin to the mash and some to the boil. the pumkin i add to the boil will be in a bag. I plan to add some molasses to the boil and some Vanilla vodka at the end.

What do you expect to get from the pumpkin in the boil?

Is the enzyme by any chance "Glucabuster" (actually a mixture of at least three enzymes)?

Brew on

 

[The Mad Brewer]

What do you expect to get from the pumpkin in the boil?

Is the enzyme by any chance "Glucabuster" (actually a mixture of at least three enzymes)?

Brew on

yes i believe that is the enzyme.

added body n flavor, im a bit of a rebel when i brew,