Adding Christmas spice to kit?

[H.C.]

Now that batch#1 is sitting in bottles, my SO and I were just in Wilkinson looking at the kits and wondering what to throw in the FV next. And wondering if it were possible to do a Christmassy flavoured one in time. I then saw this thread[1] and the answer would seem to be either start right now, or else no, though partly based on the idea that Xmas beers were high alcohol and need longer to sit.

That said...has anyone tried just throwing things (fruit, nutmeg, cinnamon) into the FV of a 1-can Coopers kit (for example) and getting good, Christmassy results? I've googled a bit, but have only read of people who are making the wort themselves doing such.


[1] too new to add URL, it's the Christmas beer Q topic

 

[RobWalker]

yup, lots of people do it. winter warmer is also a popular kit;

http://www.thehomebrewcompany.co.uk/mun ... p-994.html

generally you want a darker ale. add a little cinnamon, clove and allspice (both ground and whole are fine,) and that's about it! don't go overboard, you will be brewing quite a bit of it and it can be an aquired taste.

fruit is generally not such a good idea as most of it imparts a winey/hot alcohol taste early on, but it's not unheard of.