Homebrew Recipe
Great Lakes Brewing Co.'s Christmas Ale Clone
- Method:
- All Grain
- Style:
- Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer
- Boil Time:
- 60 min.
- Batch Size:
- 5 gal.
- Boil Size:
- 6.5 gal.
- Efficiency:
- 0
- Rating:
- Source:
- Brew Your Own
- Source Notes:
- November 2019, Vol. 25, No. 7 page 42. Part of "Winter Warmer", Christmas Ale brew special. By Cleveland tradition, the annual release of Christmas Ale effectively marks the official start of the holiday season in The Forest City.
- Notes:
- Using a 1.2 qts. to lbs. grist ratio, start the mash at 150F for at least 30 minutes to ensure beta amylase conversion. Once fully converted, increase temperature to 160F for 15 minutes to encourage alpha amylase conversion, before raising it once again to 170F for 2 minutes to end conversion. Recirculate at least 10 minutes or until clear, then sparge using water at 170F water until you collect 6.5 gallons of wort. Boil for 60 minutes, adding the hops according to the schedule. Add the honey and spices at the end of the boil to preserve as much aromatic quality as possible. Cut the fresh ginger into small pieces to maximize flavor and aroma. Chill rapidly to 66F and pitch the yeast. Oxygenate thoroughly. When fermentation is fully complete after 14 days, drop the temperature about 6F per day for four days to help clear the beer. Keg and carbonate to 2.5 volumes or prime and bottle condition.
Brew Numbers
| OG | FG | ABV | SRM | IBU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.07 | 1.012 | 7.5 | 19 | 30 |
Fermentables
| Name | Amount | % Grain Bill |
|---|---|---|
| Lager or Pilsner Malt | 10.5 lbs. | 79.25 |
| Notes: American Pilsner malt | ||
| White Wheat | 1 lbs. | 7.55 |
| Notes: Unmalted white wheat | ||
| Crystal Malt 45 | 1 lbs. | 7.55 |
| Biscuit Malt | 0.5 lbs. | 3.77 |
| Notes: Briess Special Roast 50L malt | ||
| Roasted Barley | 0.25 lbs. | 1.89 |
| Total: | 13.25 lbs. | |
Yeast
| Name | Lab | Product |
|---|---|---|
| British Ale | Wyeast | 1098 |
| Dry English Ale Yeast | White Labs | WLP007 |
| Nottingham | Lallemand |
Other Ingredients
| Name | Amount | Time | Use | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ginger Root | 0.05 oz. | 0 min. | Boil | Flavor |
| Notes: At the end of the boil. Cut the fresh ginger into small pieces to maximize flavor and aroma. | ||||
| Honey | 1 lb. | 0 min. | Boil | Other |
| Notes: At the end of the boil. | ||||
| Cinnamon Stick | 0.05 oz. | 0 min | Boil | Flavor |
| Notes: At the end of the boil. | ||||
Mash Steps
| Step | Name | Temp | Time | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beta Amylase Conversion | 150 | 30 | All Grain |
| 2 | Alpha Amylase Conversion | 160 | 15 | All Grain |
| 3 | Mash Out | 170 | 12 | All Grain |