The Pumpkin Dilemma So this beer has become something of a brewing tradition for my wife and I. Most people go to the pumpkin patch every year pick out the one they want, carve it up and throw a candle in it. My wife and I follow a similar pattern only we throw are pumpkin in the mash-tun and see what happens. (Pictured Left) This may seem like a novel concept but in fact it is not. Pumpkins were actually used in colonial days as an essential ingredient in many beers. So why pumpkin in the modern age?..... It's portable, people like pumpkin at Halloween, Thanksgiving, and some people like pumpkin pie at Christmas dinner.
Last years pumpkin beer featured a 10 pound pumpkin and roughly a page of different spices. I have heard that instead of using a real pumpkin that Libbys pumpkin pie filling can be used. I have also given thought to adding some biscuit grain this year to give the crust sensation to the pie. What do you guys think?
Adding the biscuit grain sounds very interesting, I think you should give that a try. I also love that you use a whole pumpkin. Libby's is probably easier, but it's cool to take it all the way from gourd to ale.
ReplyDeleteI think it sounds absolutely hauntingly delicious! ;-) I like the idea of the biscuit grain, I also think adding some flaked oats would add a nice touch of a throwback to a pilgrimage pumpkin ale. I see, though, by some research that you have to have some thought behind oats in when and what to do add with them to allow enzymes to all work together.
ReplyDeleteAlso, you might end up with a little bit more sweetness from the pumpkins if you bought a few smaller pumpkins. Just a thought though, that mash-tun makes me drool as is...
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