Pumpkin Ale Extract Kit

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by CCW, Aug 22, 2014.

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  1. CCW

    CCW Initiate (0) May 14, 2012 California

    I am doing a pumpkin ale extract kit to have ready for Halloween/thanksgiving this year. I've been reading a lot about people adding fresh roasted pumpkin and pumpkin pie spices. I'm debating whether or not to do this as I've never brewed this kit before. My gut is telling me to brew the kit as is so I can get a baseline for the test and to see what; if anything, I should add later. My main worry is overdoing it with the pumpkin pie spices. Thoughts?
     
    #1 CCW, Aug 22, 2014
  2. ipas-for-life

    ipas-for-life Savant (1,041) Feb 28, 2012 Virginia

    I would brew as is. Taste it when you get ready to bottle and add more spice then if you think it needs it.
     
    #2 ipas-for-life, Aug 22, 2014
    PapaGoose03 likes this.
  3. ssam

    ssam Pundit (997) Dec 2, 2008 California

    Are you sure you want 5 gallons of pumpkin ale? I'm not a huge fan.
     
    #3 ssam, Aug 22, 2014
  4. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I have read where commercial brewers add just a little bit of pumpkin so they can say that the beer contains pumpkin, although that little bit is meaningless as far as the flavoring of the beer is concerned. I am going to guess that most commercial brewers don't add any pumpkin. It's only the pumpkin pie spices that you need to add, so do like ipas-for-life says, taste before bottling and add more spice as needed.
     
    #4 PapaGoose03, Aug 23, 2014
    JackHorzempa likes this.
  5. CCW

    CCW Initiate (0) May 14, 2012 California

    Sounds like a plan. Gonna brew as is and go from there. Has anyone had the smashing pumpkin ale from northern brewer?
     
    #5 CCW, Aug 23, 2014
  6. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    "I am going to guess that most commercial brewers don't add any pumpkin." That is my guess as well.

    Cheers!
     
    #6 JackHorzempa, Aug 23, 2014
    PapaGoose03 likes this.
  7. ipas-for-life

    ipas-for-life Savant (1,041) Feb 28, 2012 Virginia

    It was one of the first kits I made. I thought it was good not great. It's an amber ale that is a little more balanced than a lot of commercial pumpkin beers. My guess is you will probably want to add more spice at bottling.

    I made my own extract recipe last year and it turned out a lot better. Closer to Shlafly's pumpkin.
     
    #7 ipas-for-life, Aug 23, 2014
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