Seasonal Beer Recipes
These are recipes for a few of the darker or stronger beers which I make, such as winter beers and porters. I don't make them too often, because I wouldn't say that they're suitable for everyday drinking (although some might disagree). I prefer ordinary bitters to drink on a daily basis.
Big Lamp
This is a very nice winter beer, based on the recipe for Big Lamp Brewery's 'Old Genie' in Graham Wheeler's book, 'Brew your own Real Ale at Home'. Old Genie is far too strong (7.4% ABV) for everyday drinking for me, so I've reduced the strength to a more modest 6.4%.
Specifics
- 38 IBU
- 1058 OG
- 6.4% ABV
- 75 minute mash
- 90 minute boil
- 68°C mash
- 12.3 litres mash water
| Pale Malt | 4618g | (78%) |
| Crystal Malt | 533g | (9%) |
| Black Malt | 178g | (3%) |
| Cane Sugar | 592g | (10%) |
| Progress | 6% A/A | 60g | 90 mins |
| Goldings | 5% A/A | 15g | 15 mins |
Cutthroat Porter
The recipe for this delicious porter can be found on Brew Your Own's website. It is a copy of Odell's Cutthroat Porter, and the BYO recipe, which is one of the nicest porters I have ever tasted, was provided by the owner, Doug Odell. I have made a few minor modifications in my version, mainly to match my equipment and in order to increase the output to 5 imperial gallons.
Specifics
- 43 IBU
- 1052 OG
- 5.2% ABV
- 75 minute mash
- 60 minute boil
- 68°C mash
- 12.8 litres mash water
| Pale Malt | 4551g | (81.81%) |
| Carapils | 253g | (4.55%) |
| Crystal Malt | 190g | (3.41%) |
| Amber Malt | 126g | (2.27%) |
| Munich Malt | 126g | (2.27%) |
| Chocolate Malt | 253g | (4.55%) |
| Roast Barley | 63g | (1.14%) |
| Northern Brewer | 8% A/A | 22g | 60 mins |
| Fuggles | 4.5% A/A | 55g | 60 mins |
| Goldings | 5% A/A | 14g | 1 min |
| Goldings | 5% A/A | 7g | At run off |
| Northern Brewer | 8% A/A | 7g | At run off |
Old Grumpy
This is based on a recipe of the same name in Graham Wheeler's 'CAMRA Guide to Home Brewing'. At this strength I only make 2 gallons (9 litres). You'll need to collect about 12 litres from the mash tun to allow for evaporation and trub loss in the boil. It's a lovely warming winter beer. After bottling it's stored away for a year or two to mature.
I recently drank my last bottle of this which was nearly 6 years old and it was lovely. Time to make some more!
Specifics
- 55 IBU
- 1075 OG
- 8.1% ABV
- 75 minute mash
- 90 minute boil
- 68°C mash
- 8.1 litres mash water
| Pale Malt | 2677g | (70%) |
| Crystal Malt | 460g | (12%) |
| Roast Barley | 76g | (2%) |
| Flaked Wheat | 306g | (8%) |
| Cane Sugar | 306g | (8%) |
| Goldings | 5% A/A | 51g | 90 mins |
| Goldings | 5% A/A | 9g | 15 mins |
Old Thumper
This is a similar beer to Ringwood's Old Thumper. In the past I've tried reducing the strength to my normal beer strength of around 4.8% ABV but I prefer it at a similar strength to the original.
Specifics
- 32 IBU
- 1058 OG
- 75 minute mash
- 100 minute boil
- 68°C mash
- 14.2 litres mash water
| Pale Malt | 5536g | (90%) |
| Crystal Malt | 246g | (4%) |
| Flaked Wheat | 370g | (6%) |
| Progress | 6% A/A | 32g | 90 mins |
| Goldings | 4.3% A/A | 23g | 90 mins |
| Goldings | 4.3% A/A | 21g | 15 mins |
Valhalla
This beer is based on one of the same name in Marc Ollosson's book, 'Real ales for the home brewer'. All of the beers in the book are apparently clones of commercially available beers, but I'm not sure what beer this is meant to be a copy of. It's certainly very nice, a sweet, dark, smooth tasty beer. I don't make this one as often as I'd like, mainly because my local homebrew shop doesn't regularly stock amber malt or wheat malt.
Specifics
- 38 IBU
- 1052 OG
- 5.2% ABV
- 75 minute mash
- 90 minute boil
- 67°C mash
- 12.8 litres mash water
| Pale Malt | 4460g | (80%) |
| Amber Malt | 334g | (6%) |
| Crystal Malt | 334g | (6%) |
| Wheat Malt | 334g | (6%) |
| Roast Barley | 111g | (2%) |
| Progress | 6% A/A | 58g | 90 mins |
| Fuggles | 4.5% A/A | 11g | 15 mins |