Thursday, August 21, 2014

Punkin' A, Taste Test

After 1 week in the bottle, it's time for a taste test.  Aromas of pumpkin, oak, rum, spices, and vanilla.  Flavors of pumpkin, oak, and spices, with a finish of rum and vanilla.  This beer has a big, smooth mouthfeel that is cut to a medium mouthfeel with the carbonation. The flavors linger a little on the palate with some residual sweetness, but gives way to a crisp dry finish. At 7% ABV, it is slightly warming but no alcohol is noticed on the nose or on the palate. I look forward to sharing this beer with friends and relatives during the upcoming holiday season.  CHEERS!

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Punkin' A, Pumpkin Beer, Bottling

It was time to bottle after 10 days in secondary.  FG 1.018 placing ABV at 7.08%.  Nice deep golden/orange color as you can see in the photo.  Aromas of oak, pumpkin, spices, rum, and vanilla.  Flavors of oak, pumpkin, and spices up front with a finish of rum and vanilla. Nice smooth mouthfeel as well. This one should benefit from a little aging allowing the flavors to develop. The oak mingles nicely with the vanilla, and spices, as well a the Bacardi Oakheart Rum. I'll post in two weeks after I check a sample.  CHEERS!  

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Pumpkin Beer, secondary

I decided to give it a taste test today since it has now been in secondary almost 7 days. Aromas of pumpkin, spiced rum, oak, and vanilla.  Flavors of pumpkin, spiced rum, oak, and vanilla, with a smooth mouthfeel. WOW! Not bad for my first attempt at a pumpkin beer. I think the vanilla beans accentuate the rum and oak very nicely. I didn't perform a gravity check as the airlock is still bumping lightly. I think I'll let it ride for another week before bottling. My wife Janell gives it a thumbs up as well! I'll post at bottling time! CHEERS!    

Monday, August 4, 2014

Pumpkin Beer, secondary

Racked to secondary today. Gravity of 1.022 placing ABV at 6.5%. The flavor is nice with the spices added at boil coming through and the mouthfeel is smooth and creamy. Esters and phenols are coming through from the Fermentis T-58 yeast. The pumpkin has been added. A dark toasted american oak spiral, cinnamon sticks, allspice berries, and whole cloves have been added that have been soaking in Bacardi Oakheart Spiced Rum. (I also added some of the rum that all was soaking in.) I scraped and chopped 3 Mexican vanilla beans and tossed them in as well. Secondary fermentation is starting up. This is my first attempt at a pumpkin beer so I decided to go all in!  CHEERS!