Would love some feedback on this new winter brew before I start it

[CharlaineC]

Working on a new dark with the grains I have and thinking this could be a decent brew I'm trying to decide whether to use some lactose or maybe some coffee. I'm also thinking of adding either a Tbl spoon of pumpkin pie spice or some other winter spice mix. I wanted to add some heather tips to the mix but brewfather doesn't have them on the list and I'm not sure how to add them. Mind you that this is a test batch so 12 bottles only. Natural carbonation as well.

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7.6% / 15.3 °P
Recipe by
Charlaine Nordin
All Grain

Default​

72% efficiency
Batch Volume: 1 gal
Boil Time: 60 min
Mash Water: 1.22 gal
Sparge Water: 0.9 gal
Total Water: 2.12 gal
Boil Volume: 2.11 gal
Pre-Boil Gravity: 1.017

Vitals​

Original Gravity: 1.062
Final Gravity: 1.004
IBU (Tinseth): 25
BU/GU: 0.39
Color: 60 SRM

Mash​

Temperature — 149 °F — 60 min

Malts (13 oz)​

5 oz (17.2%) — Bairds Chocolate Malt — Grain — 369.7 °L
5 oz (17.2%) — Proximity Malt Crystal 120L — Grain — 89.1 °L
3 oz (10.3%) — Weyermann Carafa Special II — Grain — 412.8 °L
4 oz — BestMalz Rye Malt — Grain — 3 °L

Other (1 lb)​

1 lb (55.2%) — Briess Golden Light — Dry Extract — 3.5 °L

Hops (0.17 oz)​

0.12 oz (24 IBU) — German Perle 9.5% — Boil — 60 min
0.05 oz (1 IBU) — Cascade 5.5% — Aroma — 15 min hopstand

Hopstand at 176 °F

Miscs​

0.5 tsp — Yeast Nutrients — Boil — 15 min

Yeast​

1 pkg — Fermentis BE-134 Safale Belgian-Saison 93%

Fermentation​

Primary — 68 °F — 14 days
Secondary — 65 °F — 30 days
Carbonation: 2.4 CO2-vol

 

[IslandLizard]

Batch Volume: 1 gal

thinking of adding either a Tbl spoon of pumpkin pie spice or some other winter spice mix.

1 Tbsp is waaaay too much spice for a 1 gallon batch. Unless you want to make mulled beer, and drink it warm.

Start perhaps with 1/8 tsp and see if that fits the idea. You can always add more later, even to finished beer, if need be.
Add toward or at the end of the boil, at the 5 to 0 (flameout) minute point.

 

[CharlaineC]

Okay thanks, I'll change it to 1/2 tsp instead and use the Tblsp for the 5 gal if it come out well.

 

[CharlaineC]

What about adding heather to the tail end of the boil? about a Tblsp worth I'm thinking for the size of the batch

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

With spice additions, a 'season to taste' approach - adding the flavor just before packaging (or in the glass, as @IslandLizard ) - works well for many people.

 

[CharlaineC]

With spice additions, a 'season to taste' approach - adding the flavor just before packaging (or in the glass, as @IslandLizard ) - works well for many people.

Thank you