BKB Winter 2008 Community Brew
Sounds good to me, but I dont know how I feel about the candy cane/peppermint flavor. It seems too Christmasie. I'm a big fan of the holiday ales, but by the time this gets to our lips, its probably too late for the holidays.
In seeing that anchor uses primarily northern brewer hops, and it is supposed to have a minty profile, that could be where the coolness is coming from, I think I am going to order up that grain bill, skip the sugar altogether, stick w/ the anise and cinnamon, wondering about small amount of sweet orange peel?
do you guys trade your brews to compare the differences in the same recipe ? or have you ever had a competition?
we talked about doing this before, but we chicken'd out due to shipping issues, we've never done a contest as a group that i know of.
OK grains are ordered, I am doing this, if anyone wants to join the experiment.
12 gal batch
13 gal boil
17.25# Marris Otter
3.25# Golden Promise
1.7# Chocolate
.75# Crystal 120
.75 Special Roast
.6# Aromatic
.6# Special B
.3# Biscuit
.3# Roasted Barley
.6# Black Patent
2oz Northern Brewer 60
2oz Northern Brewer 30
2oz Northern Brewer 5
1tsp cinnamon
2 stars anise
White labs WLP005
Still debating the candy canes, brewing it next friday, this friday- stout
While I understand the compulsion to get really fancy (confusing) with beer recpies. For a winter brew, why not try something a little more main stream. Something everyone can brew with a minimal amount of frustration. Say an "Oatmeal Stout". Even kit brewers can participate as well as AGers. There are recpies just about everywhere, and it makes a great winter beer.
just my $.02 worth
im4fishnak wrote:
While I understand the compulsion to get really fancy (confusing) with beer recpies. For a winter brew, why not try something a little more main stream. Something everyone can brew with a minimal amount of frustration. Say an "Oatmeal Stout". Even kit brewers can participate as well as AGers. There are recpies just about everywhere, and it makes a great winter beer.
just my $.02 worth
I agree, we need a brew for the little newbs and the mid level guys like myself, not just for the high rollers. Oatmeal stout sounds tasty (licking chops).
i'd rather not get fancy also, oatmeal stout does sound good.
thirsty wrote:
Forgot who had mentioned it earlier but I remember seeing a peppermint stick floating around one of these threads, the search gave me nothing. i would like to try taking a shot at formulating something close to anchor's x-mas, it changes every year and I've asked many places for a clone and no one seems to have one. I would like to formulate a base grain bill and hop profile for review, and was thinking that Anchor seems to not just have the hint of spice, but a coolness as well. Thinking some MO base, vienna, little aromatic, amber crystal, then maybe small amont of cinnamon, a couple stars of anise, and maybe some of that peppermint, any suggestions are welcome, but was thinking about a medium gravity that actually would be ready for x-mas, january-ish.
*waves hands wildly*
That was me. Here's the long and short of the nose nipper:
Light DME
E. Kent Goldings (bitter)
Fuggles (finish)
orange peel
cinnamon sticks
peppermint
ginger
all spice
I just racked to secondary and the beer tasted absolutely amazing!!
If anyone want the whole recipe and procedure, lemme know and I'll post it. I don't have it on me at this moment since I am posting instead of working 
I am wanting to make a stout next, so I will get in on this brew if we do a stout.