Stocking Stuffer Spiced Ale

 
Ah, the holidays. Time for family, food, and festive beer. Enter Stocking Stuffer Spiced Ale.
 
Brewed as a dark American brown ale, Stocking Stuffer was spiced with freshly ground cinnamon, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, ginger and vanilla.


Grainbill:
9.0 lb American 2-row
1 lb Crystal Malt 80°L
.5 lb Oat Flakes
.5 lb Chocolate Malt
.5 lb Victory® Malt
.25 lb Aromatic Malt

Hop schedule:
1.0 oz Glacier (5.5%) - boiled 60 min

Yeast:
1.0 ea Fermentis US-56 Safale US-56

Three weeks after bottling, the spiciness was a little strong. But as the holidays drew closer, everything mellowed out into a pleasantly sippable winter warmer.

Stocking Stuffer pours a deep brown with thin tan head. Hold it up to bright light and a reddish glow shines though. The aroma is a potpourri of earthy spices and roasty malt. Tasting reminds you of the holidays. Like taking a bite of a gingerbread cookie. A spicy bouquet upfront, toasted bread flavor in the middle, lingering sweetness at the end, followed by warmth from the more pungent spices.

Though I’m not likely to have more than one of these in a sitting, Stocking Stuffer is a tasty, warming holiday treat and a recipe I’ll continue to tinker with.
 

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