Beer Style: Specialty Beer Family
Winter Seasonal Beers: Winter warmers, Christmas beers, and holiday treats
With the onset of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, winter warmers can be found on beer shelves everywhere. This year, make your own best version at home with some guidance from Gordon Strong.
Gordon Strong’s Winter Seasonal Beer
I’ve been making Christmas beers since my fifth batch and this version has several of my favorite ingredients and combinations, and is richly malty, complex, and spicy for the season.
Ancient Fire Mead & Cider’s 60% Of The Time clone
Ancient Fire Mead & Cider’s 60% Of The Time clone (5 gallons/19 L, bottled under cork)OG = 1.152 FG = 1.028ABV = 16% Ingredients16 lbs. (7.3 kg) wildflower honey2.5 gallons (9.5 L) 24 °Brix
Ancient Fire Mead & Cider’s Leaping Off The Ledge clone
Ancient Fire Mead & Cider’s Leaping Off The Ledge clone (5.25–5.5 gallons/20–21 L, keg carbonated)OG = 1.058 FG = 0.997 FG = 1.010 (after backsweetening)ABV = 7% Ingredients8 lbs. (3.6 kg) orange blossom
Ancient Fire Mead & Cider’s Granola Bar! clone
Ancient Fire Mead & Cider’s Granola Bar! clone (5 gallons/19 L, bottled under cork)OG = 1.131 FG = 1.020ABV = 14.5% Ingredients18 lbs. (8.2 kg) buckwheat honeyWater to 5 gallons (19 L)20 g Lalvin
Alem Bier’s Muscat Brett Saison clone
Alem Bier’s Muscat Brett Saison clone (5 gallons/19 L, all-grain)OG = 1.056 FG = 1.007IBU = 13 SRM = 3 ABV = 6.8% This saison with Brettanomyces from Alem Bier
Cervejaria UNIKA’s Catharina Sour with Strawberry & Coffee clone
Cervejaria UNIKA’s Catharina Sour with Strawberry & Coffee clone (5 gallons/19 L, all-grain)OG = 1.049 FG = 1.008IBU = 9 SRM = 3 ABV = 5.5% A unique take on
To Better Times (Farmhouse Table Beer)
To Better Times (Farmhouse Table Beer) (5 gallons/19 L, all-grain)OG = 1.035 FG = 1.007IBU = 10 SRM = 3 ABV = 3.7% This recipe was created with one purpose in mind
Crooked Nail Rustic Ale
Crooked Nail Rustic Ale (5 gallons/19 L, all-grain)OG = 1.045 FG = 1.010IBU = No hops SRM = 9 ABV = 4.6% With no hops, homemade base malt, and recycled yeast, this beer
Brown’s Brewing Co.’s Cherry Razz clone
(5 gallons/19 L, all-grain)OG = 1.064 FG = 1.014IBU = 15 SRM = 12 ABV = 6.6% Ingredients9 lbs. (4.08 kg) Pilsner malt1.75 lbs. (0.79 kg) wheat malt1.5 lbs. (0.68 kg) crystal
Flanders Red: The Burgundy of Belgium
Many people may not realize that Flanders red and brown ales actually trace their roots across the Channel to England. Find out about the history of these styles of beer, the keys to their flavor development, and how to brew one yourself.
Gordon Strong’s Flanders Red
(5 gallons/19 L, all-grain)OG = 1.050 FG = 1.010IBU = 16 SRM = 17 ABV = 5.3% Ingredients7 lbs. (3.2 kg) Vienna malt2 lbs. (0.91 kg) flaked maize12 oz. (340 g) dark
