X-Mas Ale 2020

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. One had white chocolate flavoring.

I even made a smoked X-Mas Ale.

2020, I asked my wife (aka the SheppyBrew Beer Model) what she would like the X-Mas Beer to be. She told me her favorite was the chocolate peppermint flavored X-Mas Ales.

Looking through my LBS website, I saw they had Chocolate flavoring. They also had "Peppermint Leaves". I decided to go with the "Happy Wife. Happy Life" philosophy, and go with the chocolate peppermint flavoring with these ingredients. 

I designed the beer to hit 7.2% abv. A little darker than 2019, but certainly not as dark as some of the X-Mas Ales over the years.

I brewed this later in the year than I probably should have, so it won't be ready by thanksgiving, but should be a great beer to enjoy over the winter holidays.

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

X-Mas Ale 2020 --- Batch 1 (272)

Style		Winter Seasonal Beer		Batch Size		6.00 gal
Type		All Grain		Boil Size		7.09 gal
Brewhouse Efficiency		70.00		Boil Time		60 minutes

Recipe Characteristics

Recipe Gravity		1.069 SG		Estimated FG		1.017 SG
Recipe Bitterness		33.5 IBUs (Rager)		Alcohol by Volume		6.9 %
BU : GU		0.488
Recipe Color		19.2 SRM		Color
Measured OG:		1.067		Measured FG:		1.014
ADF:		79		Measured ABV:		7

Ingredients

Ingredients

Amt	Name	Type	#	%/IBU	Volume
8.29 gal	Denver, Colorado	Water	1	-	-
10.00 g	Calcium Chloride (Mash)	Water Agent	2	-	-
6.00 g	Salt (Mash)	Water Agent	3	-	-
3.00 g	Gypsum (Calcium Sulfate) (Mash)	Water Agent	4	-	-
13 lbs	Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM)	Grain	5	79.4 %	1.02 gal
2 lbs	Munich Malt - 30L (30.0 SRM)	Grain	6	12.2 %	0.16 gal
8.0 oz	Crystal, Dark (Simpsons) (80.0 SRM)	Grain	7	3.1 %	0.04 gal
8.0 oz	Crystal, Medium (Simpsons) (55.0 SRM)	Grain	8	3.1 %	0.04 gal
4.0 oz	Crystal, Extra Dark (Simpsons) (160.0 SRM)	Grain	9	1.5 %	0.02 gal
2.0 oz	Midnight Wheat Malt (550.0 SRM)	Grain	10	0.8 %	0.01 gal
0.500 oz	Magnum [11.20 %] - Boil 60.0 min	Hop	11	20.6 IBUs	-
0.500 oz	Magnum [11.20 %] - Boil 35.0 min	Hop	12	12.9 IBUs	-
1.00 Items	Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 10.0 mins)	Fining	13	-	-
1.00 tsp	Yeast Nutrient (Boil 10.0 mins)	Other	14	-	-
1.0 pkg	American Ale II (Wyeast Labs #1272) [124.21 ml]	Yeast	15	-	-
4.00 oz	Chocolate Flavoring (Primary 10.0 days)	Flavor	16	-	-
1.00 oz	Peppermint Leaves (Secondary 3.0 days)	Flavor	17	-	-

Mash Profile

Mash Steps

Name	Description	Step Temperature	Step Time
Saccharification	Add 33.17 qt of water at 160.4 F	152.0 F	45 min
Heat	Heat to 160.0 F over 10 min	160.0 F	15 min
Mash Out	Heat to 170.0 F over 7 min	170.0 F	10 min

If steeping, remove grains, and prepare to boil wort

Recipe Notes
Make starter a couple days in advance of brew day.
Water salts bring Denver water profile (as defined by BeerSmith) to
Ca=147,Mg=8,Na=101,SO4=107,Cl=313,HCO3=104
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.
Add chocolate flavoring to primary.
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, "dry hop" peppermint leaves for a couple of days in primary fermentor.

Brewing Record

Brew Date:				Strike Temp:
Mash Temps:
Pre-boil OG		(1.061 SG)		Pre-boil Vol		(7.09 gal)
Actual Mash Efficiency				Pitch Temp
Fermentation
Day 1:
Day ...
Day ...