X-Mas Ale 2021

In 2021, it was getting pretty close to Thanksgiving, and I still had not brewed one. 

I almost considered skipping a year.

But, the desire to keep up the tradition over rode my laziness.

I had recently listened to a pod cast where they were talking about "Graf", which is a cider / beer hybrid that seems to have originated from the Stephen King series The Dark Tower. 

Yes, homebrewers are geeks!

I decided to try this concept, but rather than going with apple juice / cider, opted to try  Cherry Pomegranate juice concentrate for part of the fermentable sugars.

I really liked the resulting beer. The cherry pomegranate flavor really complimented the malty caramel of the winter warmer. It was a nice festive beer for the holidays.

On untappd: X-Mas Ale 2021

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 - 2021

X-Mas Ale 2021 --- Batch 1

Style		Winter Seasonal Beer		Batch Size		5.50 gal
Type		All Grain		Boil Size		6.57 gal
Brewhouse Efficiency		70.00		Boil Time		60 minutes

Recipe Characteristics

Recipe Gravity		1.071 SG		Estimated FG		1.017 SG
Recipe Bitterness		35.0 IBUs (Rager)		Alcohol by Volume		7.2 %
BU : GU		0.495
Recipe Color		21.2 SRM		Color
Measured OG:		1.067		Measured FG:		1.015
ADF:		76.6		Measured ABV:		6.9

Ingredients

Ingredients

Amt	Name	Type	#	%/IBU	Volume
7.60 gal	Denver, Colorado	Water	1	-	-
9.00 g	Calcium Chloride (Mash)	Water Agent	2	-	-
5.00 g	Salt (Mash)	Water Agent	3	-	-
3.00 g	Gypsum (Calcium Sulfate) (Mash)	Water Agent	4	-	-
11 lbs	Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM)	Grain	5	68.9 %	0.86 gal
1 lbs 12.0 oz	Munich Malt - 20L (20.0 SRM)	Grain	6	11.0 %	0.14 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	1.6 %	0.02 gal
2.0 oz	Midnight Wheat Malt (550.0 SRM)	Grain	10	0.8 %	0.01 gal
0.500 oz	Magnum [13.20 %] - First Wort 60.0 min	Hop	11	29.6 IBUs	-
1.00 Items	Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 10.0 mins)	Fining	12	-	-
0.500 oz	Magnum [13.20 %] - Boil 10.0 min	Hop	13	5.4 IBUs	-
1.00 tsp	Yeast Nutrient (Boil 10.0 mins)	Other	14	-	-
0.188 gal	Cherry Pomegranate Concentrate [Primary]	Juice	15	11.5 %	0.19 gal
1.0 pkg	Irish Ale Yeast (White Labs #WLP004)	Yeast	16	-	-

Mash Profile

Mash Steps

Name	Description	Step Temperature	Step Time
Saccharification	Add 30.43 qt of water at 160.1 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=140,Mg=8,Na=89,SO4=108,Cl=281,HCO3=104
Mash as instructed.
60 minute boil making additions as instructed in recipe.
Add frozen concentrate straight into the primary fermentor.
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.

Brewing Record

Brew Date:				Strike Temp:
Mash Temps:
Pre-boil OG		(1.057 SG)		Pre-boil Vol		(6.57 gal)
Actual Mash Efficiency				Pitch Temp
Fermentation
Day 1:
Day ...
Day ...