Day 21: Pumpkin Dunkelweizen

[BullseyeBrewing]

OG 1.084

FG 1.016
2 lbs chocolate wheat 30 min steep

9 lbs wheat DME

1 oz Cascade 60 min

10 cups (~5.5 lbs) pie pumpkin from the garden-pureed and baked. Added to boil with the Cascade.

SafBrew WB-06

Primary for 2 weeks.  When racked to secondary, added the following spice tea (ground spices in 1 cup 150F water)
2 tsp cinnamon
0.5 tsp ginger
0.5 tsp nutmeg
0.5 tsp allspice
0.5 tsp clove

sat another 2 weeks, then into the bottles.  bottle conditioned. 

This is my first time to brew with both spices and pumpkin. 

[hoppingwolf]

I thoroughly enjoyed this beer. I don't usually seek out spice beers and have lost interest in the pumpkin ale style beers that all the commercial breweries are producing from July through the fall, but you really nailed it on this one. The spice came through more in the aroma than the flavor and did not overpower the flavor contributions from the yeast and all that chocolate wheat. You also did a really nice job on the blend as I've definitely had beers where the clove or ginger overpowered the rest of the spice mix, but that was not the case with yours.

What temp did you use for fermentation?
How did you handle the pumpkin before adding to the wort? Deseed, chop, roast then puree or something different?

Thanks a lot for sharing this beer. It was really well done.

[kczar]

I have to say this spiced beer is incredible. I generally like spiced beers, or at least seek them out because I feel like certain spices can add a flavor that's unique and something to talk about and can be sometimes downright delicous. The problem is I'm often disappointed by the, as hoppingwolf said, inundation of spicy pumpkiny brews that get just overwhelm the market come fall. There's a right way and a wrong way to spice a beer and you've found the right way better than oh so many of the pros. Great job! I really enjoyed this beer.

[Kyle H.]

Very good! I agree with what has already been said. Subtle spice flavor with a nice body and a good base beer. I am usually against spice beer, but this one is spot on. Excellent yeast choice, WB-06 never disappoints. I am also curious what temperature you fermented at. Good job!