Whacko Wife Pumpkin Witbier
Brewed: 12/9/2012 Kegged: 12/18/2012
My last few batches have been things that the Beer Model will not like, and it is about time to make something for her to have on tap. Since about September, I have been thinking about brewing a pumpkin ale, and that is something she seemed somewhat interested in. Recently, I finally converted my Whisky Wife Wit recipe to all-grain, and in a moment of insane genius, I thought that a pumpkin witbier would be an awesome combination. I had never heard of a pumpkin wit, so I thought I was being pretty original. Google says other people have had this idea, but it certainly is not a common beer style.
Coincidentally, I recently heard an interview with Gordon Strong on Beer Smith's podcasts (see Oktoberfest and Marzen Beers with Gordon Strong – BeerSmith Podcast 48). One of the things Gordon talked about in the interview was brewing a pumpkin beer. He said that he likes to use canned pumpkin in the boil rather than real pumpkins in the mash. I had planned on mashing a real pumpkin, but if canned pumpkins in the boil work for the great Gordon Strong, it is sure to be good enough for me.
We will see how it turns out.
For more about Whisky Wife Wit (the base beer), see http://blog.ericshepard.com/search/label/Whisky%20Wife
For more about Whacko Wife, see http://blog.ericshepard.com/search/label/Whacko%20Wife
| Whacko Wife Pumpkin Wit --- Batch 1 |
| Style | Witbier | Batch Size | 5.50 gal | |||
| Type | All Grain | Boil Size | |
7.76 gal | ||
| Brewhouse Efficiency | |
75.00 | |
Boil Time | |
90 minutes |
Recipe Characteristics
| Recipe Gravity | 1.052 SG | Estimated FG | 1.012 SG | ||||
| Recipe Bitterness | 15.6 IBUs (Rager) | Alcohol by Volume | 5.2 % | ||||
| BU : GU | |
0.299 | |
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| Recipe Color | 4.7 SRM |
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| Measured OG: | |
1.051 |
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Measured FG: | |
1.011 | |
| ADF: | |
78 |
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Measured ABV: | |
5.4 |
Ingredients
| Amt | Name | Type | # | %/IBU |
| 5 lbs | Pale Malt (2 Row) Bel (3.0 SRM) | Grain | 1 | 41.7 % |
| 3 lbs 8.0 oz | Wheat Malt, Bel (2.0 SRM) | Grain | 2 | 29.2 % |
| 1 lbs 8.0 oz | Oats, Flaked (1.0 SRM) | Grain | 3 | 12.5 % |
| 0.250 oz | Columbus (Tomahawk) [17.00 %] - Boil 50.0 min | Hop | 4 | 15.6 IBUs |
| 0.50 tsp | Yeast Nutrient (Boil 10.0 mins) | Other | 5 | - |
| 0.25 tsp | Cinnamon (Boil 5.0 mins) | Spice | 6 | - |
| 0.25 tsp | Ginger (Boil 0.0 mins) | Spice | 7 | - |
| 0.25 tsp | Nutmeg (Boil 0.0 mins) | Spice | 8 | - |
| 1.0 pkg | Belgian Witbier (Wyeast Labs #3944) [124.21 ml] | Yeast | 9 | - |
| 2 lbs | Canned Pumpkin (5.0 SRM) | Adjunct | 10 | 16.7 % |
Mash Profile
| Name | Description | Step Temperature | Step Time |
| Mash In | Add 12.50 qt of water at 163.7 F | 152.0 F | 60 min |
Batch sparge with 2 steps (1.95gal, 3.88gal) of 168.0 F water
Recipe Notes
Canned pumpkin in a grain bag added to the boil with about 5 minutes left. Spices added about the same time.
Brewing Record
| Brew Date: | 12/9/2012 |
Strike Temp: | |
170 | ||
| Mash Temps: | 154 down to 148 | |||||
| Pre-boil OG | |
1.042 (1.041 SG) | |
Pre-boil Vol | |
7.75 (7.76 gal) |
| Actual Mash Efficiency | 88 |
Pitch Temp | |
154 | ||
| Fermentation | |
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| Day 1: quick start 64ish | ||||||
| Day 2: 64 active | ||||||
| Day 4: 68ish still going pretty strong | ||||||
Brewing Notes
12/6/2012 Bought ingredients. Will brew this weekend. Need to remember to do starter tonight.
12/9/2012 Ginger nutmeg and cinnamon. .25 tsp each.
12/10/2012 Fermentation took off fast and is real active. 64ish on the temperature.
12/11/2012 Fermentation still going strong. Still 64ish. Last night, I noticed that I had over-cooled the Mr. Beer keg. I took out the ice jug, and this morning it has recovered.
12/12/2012 Really big orange kraussen. Still might need a blow-off tube. Temp up to 68ish.
12/19/2012 Kegged it up last night. Lots of that Belgium phenolic funk on it right now. Not sure I could taste the pumpkin at all. The pumpkin pie spices were subtle at best.
12/22/2012 Well, I tried one last night and another tonight. Tastes good, but there is no head. There is also no carbonation. Hopefully more carb will fix the head.
12/29/2012 The BrewMaster accidentally took this off CO2, so carbonation is still low. This has been corrected, so hopefully, we will have this carved soon.
1/4/2013 For some reason the carbonation is still not there. Not sure what is up with that. Beer tastes good, though.
1/13/2013 Yesterday, I blended the extra gallon with Rationalité Poison d'Ereeeek. See <a href="http://blog.ericshepard.com/2013/01/blending-sour-pumpkin-wit.html">Blending the Sour Pumpkin Wit</a>. Hopefully these carb enough (and not too much).
1/18/2013 I feel like this beer is significantly better in my New Belgium globe glass. I think I can smell and taste the spices and maybe even the pumpkin better.
1/27/2013 Really been tasting nice. The carbonation and head is awesome now. Really a nice beer. Probably won't last a whole lot longer.
2/9/2013 The Beer Model killed the keg last night.
12/6/2012 Bought ingredients. Will brew this weekend. Need to remember to do starter tonight.
12/9/2012 Ginger nutmeg and cinnamon. .25 tsp each.
12/10/2012 Fermentation took off fast and is real active. 64ish on the temperature.
12/11/2012 Fermentation still going strong. Still 64ish. Last night, I noticed that I had over-cooled the Mr. Beer keg. I took out the ice jug, and this morning it has recovered.
12/12/2012 Really big orange kraussen. Still might need a blow-off tube. Temp up to 68ish.
12/19/2012 Kegged it up last night. Lots of that Belgium phenolic funk on it right now. Not sure I could taste the pumpkin at all. The pumpkin pie spices were subtle at best.
12/22/2012 Well, I tried one last night and another tonight. Tastes good, but there is no head. There is also no carbonation. Hopefully more carb will fix the head.
12/29/2012 The BrewMaster accidentally took this off CO2, so carbonation is still low. This has been corrected, so hopefully, we will have this carved soon.
1/4/2013 For some reason the carbonation is still not there. Not sure what is up with that. Beer tastes good, though.
1/13/2013 Yesterday, I blended the extra gallon with Rationalité Poison d'Ereeeek. See <a href="http://blog.ericshepard.com/2013/01/blending-sour-pumpkin-wit.html">Blending the Sour Pumpkin Wit</a>. Hopefully these carb enough (and not too much).
1/18/2013 I feel like this beer is significantly better in my New Belgium globe glass. I think I can smell and taste the spices and maybe even the pumpkin better.
1/27/2013 Really been tasting nice. The carbonation and head is awesome now. Really a nice beer. Probably won't last a whole lot longer.
2/9/2013 The Beer Model killed the keg last night.