Xmas Brew - Hop Advice

[bob downe]

Hi,

I'm thinking of doing a Xmas brew on Monday using this recipe

4.5 Kg Maris Otter Pale Malt
250g Crystal Malt – 60 EBC
150g Wheat Malt
75g Roast Barley
50g Chocolate Malt


but steeping nutmeg, cloves, oranges, cinnamon after the boil to give a warming dark brew. I'm a bit stuck on what hops to use though.

In my freezer I have :-

East Kent Gouldings
Fuggles
Challenger
Bobek
Amarillo
Cascade (small amount)

Not had much experience on recipe building (This will be AG #6) and don't want to screw up my Xmas beer.

Has anybody got any advice on what may be the best hops to use. Also, would it be best to add the spices etc after the boil or towards the end of the boil?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[Tony]

Hi Bob
If it were me, I'd use the goldings as the bittering hops at the start of the boil and the fuggles it at 15 mins then another lot at 80C for aroma.

Something like 50g Goldings at 90, 30g Fuggles at 15 mins and another 20g at 80C

That should give you somewhere around 30IBU using nice traditional hops in a nice traditional christmas brew. I'd put your spices into the last 10 mins of the boil.

Good luck with it!

 

[Dieseljockey]

looking good Bob....keep us posted....maybe photo's of the brewday..

 

[bob downe]

Thanks guys.

I'll give that hop schedule a shot. I thought the traditional hops would be the best bet. Just wasn't sure if the other varieties may have added something.

Will keep you updated.

Thanks.

 

[craigite]

what quantities of the spices do you use, or anyone else :hmm:

Just that Im brewing a nice dark brew for Xmas as I type, while watching moto2, and fancy adding spices to my brew.