Its been a while since I last brewed, about a month now, so I decided it was time to do something for Halloween. Its an Imperial Porter with pumpkin and spices called It's the Great Pumpkin Porter, Charlie Brown!

Inspired by a recipe at BYO for a chocolate porter along with some advice from BeerAdvocate I brewed this up today:










































































































































AmountItemType% or IBU
12 lbsPale Malt (2 Row) UK (3.0 SRM)Grain83.5 %
1 lbsBiscuit (Dingemans) (22.5 SRM)Grain7.0 %
1 lbsChocolate (Briess) (350.0 SRM)Grain7.0 %
4.0 ozCrystal Dark (80.0 SRM)Grain1.7 %
2.0 ozRoasted Barley (300.0 SRM)Grain0.9 %
1.00 ozChinook [11.90%] (60 min)Hops45.9 IBU
1.00 ozGoldings, B.C. [5.50%] (0 min)Hops -
0.11 ozCinnamon Stick (Boil 30.0 min)Misc
0.55 gmCloves (Secondary)Misc
1.10 ozGinger Root (Boil 15.0 min)Misc
1.65 gmMace (Boil 15.0 min)Misc
1.65 gmNutmeg (Ground) (Boil 15.0 min)Misc
2.00 gmMace (Secondary)Misc
3.00 gmGinger Root (Secondary)Misc
3.00 gmNutmeg (Ground) (Secondary)Misc
5.50 lbRoasted Pumpkin (Mash)Misc
6.00 gmCinnamon Stick (Secondary)Misc
8.00 ozMalto-Dextrine (Boil 5.0 min)Misc
1 PkgsDry English Ale (White Labs #WLP007)Yeast-Ale


So far it smeels and tastes great with a rich chocolatey body and a slight amount of spice and pumkin in the background. The color is black as night, perfect for a good Halloween party. I mixed up a starter 2 days ago and the yeast went into the carboy and started active fermentation within a few hours of picthing

Original Gravity is 1.075
Est. Final Gravity is 1.018
Est. ABV 7.3%

To celebrate the season, I whacked off the tip of my finger — well, most of the fingernail on my index finger of my left hand — while cutting up veggies for dinner. Blood everywhere. Yay.

Let me be the first to wish you a Happy Halloween.

· beer