Pumpkin Ale - Add pumpkin to Mash or Boil?

[Homeboy]

Just recently been out in the US and loved the spiced pumpkin ale. I have googled various recipes and come up with one for myself but not sure if I should put the pumpkin into the mash or the boil??
Im going to slice the pumpkin, cover in brown sugar and then in the oven for 2 to 3 hours then cube it but not sure when to add it.
Has anybody every brewed one??

 

[strange-steve]

Never brewed one but according to Brewing Classic Styles the pumpkin goes in the mash. As far as I'm aware the main flavours in a pumpkin beer come from the spices rather than the pumpkin itself.

 

[YeastFace]

3 years ago I made a Pumpkin Pie Porter. Added a couple of cans of Libby's to the fermenter along wih lactose, vanilla, cinammon and nutmeg.

As Steve says the flavour is mostly from the spicing and the pumpkin itself does not seem to add much flavour-wise.

 

[Homeboy]

I had read in a couple of places that the pumpkin doesn't add much flavour (and I will be adding spice to the boil) but I couldn't make a Pumpkin Ale without any Pumpkin!!
So 2 replies so far, one added it to the mash and the other into primary! Has anybody else tried it in the mash?

 

[Brew_DD2]

Have a listen to the first episode of the Experimental Brewing podcast. They cover Pumpkin beers and give some really good advice on brewing them.

 

[Homeboy]

Have a listen to the first episode of the Experimental Brewing podcast. They cover Pumpkin beers and give some really good advice on brewing them.

Thanks for the advice, How do I get to this podcast???

 

[Brew_DD2]

Thanks for the advice, How do I get to this podcast???

Do you have Spotify? If so, it's on there.

 

[Brew_DD2]

https://www.experimentalbrew.com/podcast?page=3

Or if you scroll down it's on here.

 

[Cwrw666]

Recipes I've seen have used roasted pumpkin which has a much much stronger flavour than raw or boiled pumpkin. Should add a lot of flavour to the beer.

 

[Brew_DD2]

Recipes I've seen have used roasted pumpkin which has a much much stronger flavour than raw or boiled pumpkin. Should add a lot of flavour to the beer.

That's exactly what they say in the podcast. They also ditch say to ditch the spices and use a Saison yeast to get some of the clove spicy notes.

 

[Homeboy]

Do you have Spotify? If so, it's on there.

Spotify???????? I have a VHS if that helps
Thanks for the link, will have a listen tonight.

 

[JonBrew]

As others have said the spices will add the real effect.

I've also heard that you get more flavour by using butternut squash or similar over pumpkin. As above I'd roast it too for maximum flavour.