Overview

This is a beer I’ve made a couple of times now and while I haven’t gotten it to come out the same every time, it’s always good. This version doesn’t pack as much heat as prior batches but it produces a really meringuey head and has a great pepper aroma to go with the warmth. It’s malty and the hops don’t overpower the pepper flavor.

One key to this when I make it is the water. Each batch I do is made with distilled or RO water and a Burton-like added salts profile. The result is clean and clear with no off flavors.

Overview

This is inspired by the beer style that sold me on beer: loosely based on Bavarian-style wheat beer, mashed with decoct-and-boil technique and fine-tuned water chemistry, as well as a steady, lower ale fermentation temperature to ensure development of a good balance between the characteristic phenols and esters that the style is known for.

This twist on the style includes flaked oats to add some body, allowing a higher ratio of barley to wheat. Does it comply with the Reinheitsgebot? No. Do I care? Also: no.

Overview

A bit bigger than the usual pumpkin ale, this is an Imperial Pumpkin Ale brewed with traditional seasonal spices and real pumpkin in the mash, giving the beer a full body and foamy head. Spices are very prominent on the back of the palate. Deep, opaque amber color.

Grain Bill

• 6.6 amber LME
• 5 canned pumpkin
• 1 chocolate malt
• 1 crystal malt (60 deg Lovibond)

Spice Blend

• cinnamon sticks
• allspice
• whole cloves
• nutmeg

Hop Schedule

• 28g Willamette, 5min

Yeast

Safale S-05 (American Ale)