2026 4th quarter

I hate to disappoint those expecting a HOP MONSTER of a beer, but I am going to go with my Christmas Ale.
After having a Great Lakes (Ohio not Toronto) Christmas Ale in Cleveland several years ago I set out to create something as close to it as I could.
It was a smash hit with friends and family!
The season is approaching, so the timing just makes sense.
Some are saying "dang that's disappointing", but I am sure some are saying "phewf, there's a break"

Brewfather link
https://web.brewfather.app/tabs/recipes/recipe/YxkRSqBQ9BzizWzvJgnTr0N0tPKomS

Text and representative picture if you prefer:

Break up 2-3 cinnamon sticks, grate fresh ginger root, place in a hop bag and toss in the boil when adding whirlfloc.
I am actually thinking that I will add cinnamon and ginger for a 20 minute whirlpool at 80C / 176F this time.
Not sure if that will make any difference.

users%2FGimj3uQk76Mzk9HYTQScSNHWTIW2%2Fimages%2Frecipes%2FYxkRSqBQ9BzizWzvJgnTr0N0tPKomS%2Fimg%40640-YxkRSqBQ9BzizWzvJgnTr0N0tPKomS.jpeg

Christmas Alev1​

Winter Seasonal Beer
6.7% / 16.4 °P
Inspired by "Christmas Ale" by Great Lakes Brewing Ohio. First brewed this in December of 2018, it was a smash hit!
Recipe by
Fat Bastard Brews
All Grain

Coleman Cooler Mash Tun 60​

65% efficiency
Batch Volume: 24 L
Fermenter Top-Up: 4 L
Boil Time: 60 min
Mash Water: 20 L
Sparge Water: 10.8 L @ 80 °C
Total Water: 30.8 L
Boil Volume: 23.38 L
Pre-Boil Gravity: 1.067
Post-Boil Gravity: 1.081

Vitals​

Original Gravity: 1.067
Final Gravity: 1.016
IBU (Tinseth): 32
BU/GU: 0.48
Colour: 19 SRM


Mash​

Strike Temp — 81 °C
Temperature — 68.9 °C — 60 min
Mash in with 20 L @ 81 °C

Malts (7.36 kg)​

5.89 kg (74.2%) — Rahr Pale Ale Malt — Grain — 4 °L
670 g (8.4%) — Thomas Fawcett Crystal Malt 60L — Grain — 60 °L
600 g (7.6%) — BestMalz Wheat Malt — Grain — 2.3 °L
160 g (2%) — Castle Malting Chateau Special B — Grain — 113.1 °L
40 g (0.5%) — Simpsons Roasted Barley — Grain — 600.1 °L

Other (580 g)​

580 g (7.3%) — Honey — Sugar — 1.3 °L — Boil — 10 min

Hops (73.1 g)​

16 g (16 IBU) — Magnum 11.6% — Boil — 60 min
35.3 g
(9 IBU) — Fuggles 4.5% — Boil — 20 min
21.8 g
(7 IBU) — Cascade 8.6% — Boil — 10 min

Hopstand at 80 °C
Whirlpool/Hopstand Time: 20 min

Miscs​

2.182 g — Baking Soda (NaHCO3) — Mash
7.636 g
— Calcium Chloride (CaCl2) — Mash
2.182 g
— Canning Salt (NaCl) — Mash
3.273 g
— Epsom Salt (MgSO4) — Mash
3.273 g
— Gypsum (CaSO4) — Mash
0.632 items
— Whirlfloc — Boil — 15 min
2.527 items
— Cinnamon Stick — Boil — 5 min
40.364 g
— Ginger Root — Boil — 5 min

Yeast​

2 pkg — Fermentis S-04 SafAle English Ale 75%

Fermentation​

Primary — 19.4 °C — 14 days
Carbonation: 2.4 CO2-vol

Water Profile​

Ca2+
86Mg2+
10Na+
51Cl-
153SO42-
93HCO3-
62
Recipe Inspired by:Inspired by GLB OHIO's Christmas Ale


This one, which interestingly enough will be available from GLB late next week!
View attachment 35589
Are you Fat Bastard Brews?
 
I have only ever kegged it
 
I read Christmas beer and assumed it was your bloody cranberry recipe :D you know what they say about assuming
 
I should point out that the beginning water is RO
 
You are indeed not fat. And I believe your mother was married at the time?

Surely a Mike Myers reference.
 
All righty. In that case, Tuesday will see a visit to the lhbs for ingredients.
 
@Sunfire96 If it helps, I was planning to do a 3-gal partial mash. Here's what I came up with for the malt side:
2.5 lb DME
2.0 lb pale malt
8 oz crystal 60L
6 oz wheat
2 oz special B
1 oz roasted barley
8 oz honey (late addition)

I'm hoping to brew it this weekend, but will likely use a little less DME... damn bag wasn't sealed correctly and some leaked out in the shipment (I love that all of the other bags are now sticky, too).
 
@Sunfire96 If it helps, I was planning to do a 3-gal partial mash. Here's what I came up with for the malt side:
2.5 lb DME
2.0 lb pale malt
8 oz crystal 60L
6 oz wheat
2 oz special B
1 oz roasted barley
8 oz honey (late addition)

I'm hoping to brew it this weekend, but will likely use a little less DME... damn bag wasn't sealed correctly and some leaked out in the shipment (I love that all of the other bags are now sticky, too).
Excellent, thank you!
 
I plan to brew this this weekend. I'm going to put it on top of the yeast cake from my (really Josh's) Smithwick's clone (brewed with Imperial A10 Darkness)
 

Back
Top