Can you copy that over to me? Curious to this process as well. Thanks
And now I'm overdue for a few notes on the tasting I had last week(?)
Gingerbread ale
@Ultryx :
I really liked the combination of flavors in this and thought that the use of spices (type and qty) were well done. Everything played nicely together and reminds me of a spice cake. Something that tastes spicy but in a way I couldn't specifically describe each spice. That being said, I did like the lightness of the beer but think that if it was just a little bit bigger and had a touch more residual sweetness that it would have been a different beast, kind of like adding a delicious icing to that spice cake. Very enjoyable.
Honey Ginger IPA
@JAReeves :
The aroma of this was enticing. I got a lot of spicy/sweet caramelized ginger on the nose. The color was rather dark for how I usually like my IPAs so I was initially a bit hesitant. However, the first sip disintegrated those thoughts and the beer was pleasantly balanced between hops and ginger providing spice and bitterness. I thought the level of sweetness complimented the ginger flavor. I drank this one pretty quick.
Dunkel Weizenbock
@grampamark :
I might just try to work something like this into my fall rotation of brewing. The color and clarity was beautiful. The aroma versus flavor was a great contrast. The nose was almost all star anise with a background of other spices and a bit of sweetness, but the flavor was an awesome amalgam of everything. I was a little nervous that it was going to taste like licorice from the smell, but I was wrong. The anise is there and quite the star (see what I did there?) but subdued by the other spices and the base beer. This one made it hard not to grab this recipe for next years' exchange, but I've been wanting to do that cherry dubbel for a while. I guess I'll have to do this one for me.
Cranberry Lambicky Ale
@RPh_Guy :
Seeing that this was brewed on December 12, 2020 and I drank it on January something 2021 puts so many questions in my head. You'll have to send me that PM for the modern process. Now, to the beer. Excellent and approachable if I had to choose two words. I wouldn't call this beer sour but tart and dry. A very refreshing beer that still hints towards winter and the holiday season. The color is gorgeous and the cranberry is there but like a splash of cranberry juice in water (or vodka) not the star but an excellent supporting character (think Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men but a little less intense). Loved the label too.
Fruitcake Old Ale
@Yeroc :
Oh man did I like this beer. I'm glad you decided on the light carbonation because that let all of those dried fruit and spice flavors rule the day. I thought that the flavors were pretty distinguishable. If I thought about dried apricot or allspice I could take a sip and find it but that by no means indicates that it wasn't harmonious. Everything blended together nicely and made me want some cake to eat along with it. I could have this beer for dessert year long. Did you follow Mosher's recipe? This is one of the few he gives a pretty thorough recipe for in his book.
Christmas Gruit
@yoop89 :
The fact that you canned these makes me want to be your friend and check out your setup. But I digress, to the beer(?)! The gruit tasted like the woods in the best imaginable way. Lots of subtle flavors everywhere. Since I haven't done much research into gruits and have no idea what the typical additions taste like, I couldn't call them out but I loved them. For something that drank pretty light I was amazed by the 10.3%. I just went and read Mosher's description the book and I'd say you nailed it from that description. Well crafted and is making me consider changing my 2021 selection to the gruit to give it a try. Did you leave out the sour cultures he suggests as an option? Which yeast did you select?
I'd say this was a great round overall and I am so happy to have tried all of your brews. Thanks for playing and I look forward to next year.