Victory and Reflection

“Thanks, Tiggy, you always had my back,” DrHans whispered with a soft smile. The battle with the wild yeast was over, and the Haunted Harvest Pumpkin Ale was safe, thanks to the CY115 yeast.

“Wild yeast can be a real battle, but with the right yeast, you always have a fighting chance.”

As he turned off the lights in the brew shed, stepping out into the cool autumn air, the forest seemed eerily still. But as DrHans closed the door, the wind picked up, rustling the leaves in the distance. He paused for a moment, glancing towards the shadows of the trees.

Somewhere out there, in the depths of the Swedish forest, the wild yeast still lurked, waiting for another chance to invade his brews.
With a knowing smile, DrHans whispered, “Not tonight, not tonight.”

The end, or is it…

“But remember, brewers—whether you’re brewing in a haunted forest or in the comfort of your home, always keep an eye out for the wild yeast. They might be closer than you think.”
– DrHans

🎥 Watch the full story come to life in the “Night of the Living Wort” story video here: [Story Video Link].
🎸🔥 Want more? Check out the epic Halloween music video for “Night of the Living Wort” 

The Haunted Harvest Pumpkin Ale Recipe

🎥🍺 Before you dive into the Haunted Harvest Pumpkin Ale recipe, watch how the brewing horror unfolded in the story of “Night of the Living Wort” 
🎶👻 And don’t miss the horror-metal anthem that accompanies it! Check out the music video for “Night of the Living Wort” 

You can also download the recipe on my Buy Me A Beer Page

Ingredients:

• Malt Bill:
  • 4.5 kg (9.9 lbs) Pale Ale Malt
  • 450 g (1 lb) Caramel/Crystal Malt 60L
  • 450 g (1 lb) Munich Malt
  • 230 g (0.5 lbs) Flaked Oats
  • 230 g (0.5 lbs) Biscuit Malt
• Hops:
  • 28 g (1 oz) East Kent Goldings (60 min)
  • 14 g (0.5 oz) East Kent Goldings (10 min)
• Yeast:
  • Angel Yeast CY115 (British Ale Yeast)
• Spices & Additions:
  • 1 can (425 g / 15 oz) Pumpkin Puree (in the mash)
  • 2 tsp Ground Cinnamon (10 min)
  • 1 tsp Ground Nutmeg (10 min)
  • 1 tsp Ground Ginger (10 min)
  • 1/2 tsp Ground Clove (10 min)
• Nutrients:
  • Angel Yeast BrewNutri-Z (add at boil)

Mash Schedule:

1. Mash at 66°C (151°F) for 60 minutes.
2. Mash out at 76°C (169°F) for 10 minutes.
3. Sparge with water heated to 76°C (169°F) until you reach your pre-boil volume.

Boil:

1. Boil the wort for 60 minutes.
2. Add hops and spices at the indicated times.
3. Add BrewNutri-Z into the boil with 10 minutes left.

Fermentation:

Standard Fermentation:

• Primary fermentation at 18°C (64°F) for 2 days.
• Start ramping temperature 0.5°C (1°F) every 12 hours up to 20°C (68°F), hold for 1 day.
• Set temperature to 22°C (72°F), hold at 22°C for 2 days or longer until final gravity is stable.
• Cold crash at 2°C (35°F) for at least a week before packaging.

Alternative Pressure Fermentation:

• Primary fermentation at 21°C (70°F) for 2 days.
• Start ramping temperature 0.5°C (1°F) every 12 hours up to 20°C (68°F), hold for 1 day.
• Set temperature to 22°C (72°F), hold at 22°C for 2 days or longer until final gravity is stable.
• Increase temperature to 25°C (77°F) for 1-2 days to ensure full fermentation.
• Cold crash at 2°C (35°F) for at least a week before packaging.

Carbonation:

For those fermenting under pressure, you can naturally carbonate the beer using a spunding valve. Use the CO2 Calculator to set your desired carbonation level:

• CO2 Calculator
• Watch the CO2 Calculator Video

Tasting Notes:

Expect a rich pumpkin ale with warming spices and a pleasant malt sweetness balanced by light bitterness from the East Kent Goldings hops. The Angel Yeast CY115 provides a clean fermentation with slight fruity esters that complement the spices perfectly.