The Great Pumpkin

Now that we've successfully birthed a batch o' brew, it would be tempting to just sit back, relax and have a homebrew. But the 2JB ethic requires us to forge ahead, and we're prepping for the second brew this weekend.

Nahum and I agreed that we wanted to up our game for our sophomore effort, but also test our ability to duplicate our initial success. So we decided to brew another batch of amber ale, but with a seasonal twist: Pumpkin Ale!

The box of ale ingredients arrived today (we've found recipes online that suggest ways to add the pumpkin & autumnal spices as you're brewing), and Nahum called with a report (no unboxing was necessary this time). Interestingly, we ordered the exact same thing from the exact same place...but not all of the included ingredients were exactly the same. Specifically, we got a Windsor brewing yeast which, according to the folks at danstar.com, should yield a slightly heavier, more complex ale than Batch Alef. Throw in some cinnamon, nutmeg and carmelized pumpkin, and we're in for a whole 'nother brewing adventure...


P.S. - I neglected to share this little nugget of homebrew goodness. Nahum's friend Jay, who consulted via phone from Florida as we were hatching our initial 2JB plans, wished us well with Batch Alef by whipping up this totally fun graphic: