SheppyBrew
top left corner


X-Mas Ale 2019

Brewed: 10/20/2019   Kegged: 11/05/2019
XMas2019.jpg
Every year since I started home-brewing (way back in 2009), I've brewed an X-Mas Ale to have around the holidays.

Over the years, they have been very similar base beers. They range in color from a darker amber ale to a dark brown ale. They range in ABV from around 5.5% to over 8.3%.

Most have had non-traditional beer flavoring. A couple have simply been base beers.

I've added Cherries, Honey, Almond Extract, Vanilla Extract, and Ground Cloves. 

I've added Cinnamon, and Apple Pie Spice.

I've added Hazelnut Extract, Peppermint Extract, Blueberry Extract.

One beer was Peanut Butter flavored.

I even made a smoked X-Mas Ale.

2019, I wasn't sure what to make, but at the same time that I bought the Peanut Butter Flavoring the year before, I had picked up some White Chocolate Flavoring. I figured I had it. I'd use it.

I designed the beer a bit higher in alcohol than the past couple of X-Mas Ales. A little darker than 2018, but certainly not as dark as some of the X-Mas Ales over the years.

Should be ready by Thanksgiving and will be drinking through the rest of the year.


For more about SheppyBrew X-Mas Ales, check out X-Mas Ales on my Blog

For a list of all the X-Mas Ales on this website, see X-Mas Ales 2009 - 2019

Xmas2019_Small.jpg

X-Mas Ale 2019 --- Batch 1 (242)

Style Winter Seasonal Beer Batch Size 6.50 gal
Type All Grain Boil Size   8.75 gal
Brewhouse Efficiency   70.00   Boil Time   60 minutes

Recipe Characteristics

Recipe Gravity 1.072 SG Estimated FG 1.017 SG
Recipe Bitterness 21.9 IBUs (Rager) Alcohol by Volume 7.2 %
BU : GU   0.303        
Recipe Color 19.4 SRM
Color
   
Measured OG:   1.064    Measured FG:   1.015 
ADF:   .765    Measured ABV:   6.5%

Ingredients

Ingredients
Amt Name Type # %/IBU
3.00 g Chalk (Mash 60.0 mins) Water Agent 1 -
15 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 2 80.5 %
2 lbs Munich Malt - 30L (30.0 SRM) Grain 3 10.7 %
8.0 oz Crystal, Dark (Simpsons) (80.0 SRM) Grain 4 2.7 %
8.0 oz Crystal, Extra Dark (Simpsons) (160.0 SRM) Grain 5 2.7 %
8.0 oz Crystal, Medium (Simpsons) (55.0 SRM) Grain 6 2.7 %
2.0 oz Midnight Wheat Malt (550.0 SRM) Grain 7 0.7 %
0.500 oz Magnum [12.40 %] - First Wort 60.0 min Hop 8 21.9 IBUs
1.00 Items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 mins) Fining 9 -
1.0 pkg American Ale II (Harvested) (Wyeast Labs #1272) [125.00 ml] Yeast 10 -
1.00 tsp Yeast Nutrient (Primary 3.0 days) Other 11 -
2.00 oz White Chocolate Flavoring (Secondary 3.0 days) Flavor 12 -

Mash Profile

Mash Steps
Name Description Step Temperature Step Time
Mash In Add 23.28 qt of water at 163.7 F 152.0 F 60 min


Batch sparge with 2 steps (0.79gal, 4.38gal) of 168.0 F water

Recipe Notes
Make starter a couple days in advance of brew day.
3g chalk in the mash water. This should bring Denver water profile (as defined by BeerSmith) to
Ca=67,Mg=8,Na=21,SO4=50,Cl=23,HCO3=157
Mash as instructed.
60 minute boil making additions as instructed in recipe.
Cool wort to as close to 60F as possible. Add to fermenter. Aerate wort and pitch yeast.
Ferment at 60F for 24 hours or so. Try to keep fermentation between 60 and 65 for a couple days, then let the temperature go where it want to.
After the initial fermentation is done, rack to secondary fermentor along with flavoring extract.

Brewing Record

Brew Date:   Strike Temp:  
Mash Temps:  
Pre-boil OG   (1.060 SG)   Pre-boil Vol   (8.75 gal)
Actual Mash Efficiency   Pitch Temp    
Fermentation            
Day 1: 
Day ... 
Day ... 

Click here to see previous recipes
 
Brewing Notes:
10/19/2019 esheppy
Bought ingredients on Thursday. Made starter today. Brew day early tomorrow.
10/20/2019 esheppy
Brew day today. Everything went well. OG is very low. My evaporation rate seems to be really low.
10/21/2019 esheppy
Fermentation very active. Put in blow-off tube.
10/25/2019 esheppy
1.025 68 degrees.
11/05/2019 esheppy
Kegged. Calling the fg 1.015. Added a full 4oz of white chocolate flavoring. Tastes pretty good, but maybe a bit sweet. We'll see how it turns out once it is carbonated.
11/10/2019 esheppy
Had a taste. Lots of chocolate. I like it. Pour has lots of trub.
11/15/2019 esheppy
Still needs carbonation. Still really chocolatey. Delicious.
12/01/2019 esheppy
I noticed today how much this tastes like Denver Beer Co's Graham Cracker Porter. Nice flavor for a winter warmer.
12/13/2019 esheppy
Chocolatey.
12/31/2019 esheppy
Happy New Year. Yummy. Almost gone.
01/17/2020 esheppy
Shared with work people. It was a hit.
02/23/2020 esheppy
Keg blew tonight. Good timing for Stone Soup.
Comments:
http://www.sheppybrew.com/recipes/recipe.aspx?id=161
bottom left corner
SheppyBrew Home Page