Thinking About the Holidays

As the "Summer Without Sun" winds down, my thoughts turn to Holiday Beer. I served Charlie's Holiday Cheer at last year's company Christmas party, and the boss offered to buy the ingredients for this year's batch. I also want to brew Hookarms Dark Holiday Ale again. That one, I'll have to pay for.

I don't think I will make any changes to Charlie's Holiday Cheer. But I am going to change Hookarm's Dark Holiday Ale. The last time I made it, I used three vanilla beans added at the end of the boil, then strained out and 1 tsp cardemom. I am going to omit the cardemom. After a little Googling, I ran across a couple other ways to add the vanilla:

Option 1: Add more chopped vanilla in secondary fermentation.

Option 2: Cut the bean lengthwise, scrape the insides with a knife blade, and add both the husks and the interior matter into a glass. Top off with just enough vodka to cover it all, and let it sit for a day. Then add to my secondary fermenter.

Option 3: Soak 4 oz. of American Oak Chips in 8 oz. of Bourbon for a few days with two chopped vanilla beans while the beer is in primary, then adding it to the secondary fermenter.

There are drawbacks to all of these options. I want a smooth, dark beer with just a hint of roasted malts and a lot of vanilla in the finish. Option 3 let's me add bourbon to the flavor, which I like, but I don't know that I want in this.

Ahhh. Decisions. Decisions.

Peach Wheat Tasting notes

I sampled the Peach Wheat the other day. Note to myself: This brew doesn't need priming sugar! The combination of wheat beer and peach extract produced a super carbonated beer!

AHS Peach Wheat

Appearance (0-4): Orange-gold with amber highlights. Creamy, white head has a reddish cast to it. Is it peach colored? Is it my imagination? Head dissipates rapidly. 2 points.
Aroma/Bouquet (0-4): Peach aroma dominates. Sweetish smell reminds me of peach cobbler, or maybe peach ice cream. 3 points.
Taste: Hop/Malt Balance (0-4): Malts and hops are definitely second fiddle to the peach flavor. There is a bit of hop bitterness that makes it through. A slightly sour taste makes me wonder if I have a contamination issue, or if the peach extract is slightly sour. 3 points.
Aftertaste (0-3):Aforementioned sour taste, followed by slight peach flavor. Hop bitterness on the back of the tongue. 2 points.
Mouthfeel (0-3): I think it's just right. 3 points.
Overall Impression (0-3): Peaches and wheat beer are a sure sign of summer. Too bad it's not clear and it's overcarbonated. 2 points
Total: 15 points

Peach Wheat

My cousin, Satan (as in "Get thee behind me...), once brewed an American Wheat beer. He added fresh peaches to the beer while it was in secondary fermentation, and made a pretty tasty little beer that was perfect for summer. I made it the next year, using a kit from St. Patrick's of Austin. As Spring finally comes to the Texas Hill Country, I thought I would make it again.

My first step was to order and American Wheat kit from Austin Homebrew Supply and a 2 ounce bottle of peach extract, which is added at kegging time. I placed the order On Wednesday morning, and the package will arrive today. I will brew it tomorrow!