Holiday Beer

[PGY Tiercel]

Its been a while, but I finally have some time to make another brew. Thinking about making a "Holiday" California common. I'm using Northern brewer and Cascade hops.

Anyone made a "Holiday" ale. I'm thinking about adding some cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Any suggestions?

Here's what I went with

Graduate Steam ale
1lb, Belgian Caramunich Malt, 48L, steeped 30min at 160°
3 LBs Amber Dried Malt Briess
3.3 lbs Pilsen Light Malt, liquid
1oz Northern Brewer, 8.5AA 60min
.75oz Cascade 7.5 AA 15min
.5oz Cascade 7.5AA 1min
1.25tsp Cinnamon
1tsp Ginger
1tsp Nutmeg

[ZiggyZoomba]

I have NEVER liked spiced beer, whether it's "Holiday" ale or "Pumpkin" beer that they feel they have to throw spices in with... blech.

That said, I hope yours turns out great and that you love it. Did you make it down to Titgemeier's?

[PGY Tiercel]

I did make it down. Nice store, I'll probably be back in a couple of weeks. I bought enough for about 1 1/2 beers, so I should get the rest and start a second. Plenty of room in my basement now.

I went back and forth on spicing the beer. I've had some I really liked and some I haven't (mostly those that had a lot of pumpkin spicing). Couple recipes I saw used about 2x the amount I used. I'm hoping for a subtle underlying effect. We'll see. I tasted some of the wort. Wasn't too strong, mostly cinnamon, but I think the northern brewer and cascade hops will provide the bulk of aroma/taste.

[ZiggyZoomba]

Nice... subtle I might be able to handle!

Give me a yell next time you come down this way!

[Pete Segaard]

One thing you may want to try in a spiced beer is to make a tincture of your choice of spices steeped in vodka, then you can add it to your beer before bottling and add as little or as much as you like. The vodka does not fortify it enough to make a difference in A.B.V. either.