The Great Cthulu Imperial Pumpkin Ale

[mashani]

I saw this image, and it inspired me to make a pumpkin (spice only, no actual pumpkin) beer. Because I have not made one for like... years... and I've been brewing with lots of spices lately so why not.

I think I'll borrow this image and use it for my label.



So this is like a strong dark British ale, but with pumpkin pie spice and some sweet orange peel.

For 3 gallons:

Steeped:

1# Simpsons Medium British Crystal (it's 50-60L but tastes very different then what we call 60L in 'Merica, it's more malty and less caramel/sweet)
2oz British Chocolate Malt
2oz Special B Malt

Added:

6# MoreBeer Extra Light LME (1# up front, 5# late addition @10)

1/3oz German Northern Brewer @60 (10% AA)
1/2oz Willamette (5.1% AA) @30
1/2oz Goldings (4.4% AA) @30
1/2oz Willamette (5.1% AA) @5
1/2oz Goldings (4.4% AA) @5
1/2oz blend of my home made pumpkin pie spice blend & left over sweet orange peel I had @5 (around 1.5 tsp or so of the spice, the rest orange peel)

OG was 1.081
IBUs should be in the 40s

Cooled, pitched full pack of very fresh Mangrove Jack M07 British Ale yeast.

It should be really good about this time next year LOL.

[The_Professor]

Cthulhu is running for President:

[mashani]

If Cthulhu wins, I will sacrifice a beer to the elder gods.

[mashani]

Bottled at 1.019

It is big bad, a bit sweet and quite spicy. The spices pack as much punch as something like Anchor Christmas ale which I happen to like a lot, but some people do not like much at all.

The Mangrove Jack yeast left a nice solid gelatinous trub like S-04 would have left, and it bottled very clear.

I think this will age well, and I'll likely keep some of it around for next time the pumpkins come alive.

[Ibasterd]

Sounds good. Right up my alley.

[mashani]

Popped my trub bottle. FWIW, this stuff is really good right now. :burp: At least if you can handle the spice load of Anchor Christmas (as opposed to say Great Lakes Christmas which is much mellower) then you would like this. I like it a lot. I'd make this again next year.

If using jarred spices it might be a lot mellower. Stuff I used was ground by me from whole spices just minutes before I used it here. So it's full on fresh.