Dave Clapsaddle, a Packaging Tech at Odell Brewing in Fort Collins, Colorado, roasts, smokes, and marinates pumpkins at his house to produce the puree that goes into Oh My Gourd. Dave doesn’t reveal exactly how he makes his pumpkin puree, but notes, “Some very simple spices are added, but very little to keep the pumpkin-pie effect at bay.”
ALL-GRAIN
OG: 1.070
FG: 1.014
IBUs: 35
ABV: 7.4%
MALT/GRAIN BILL
6.5 lb (2.9 kg) Pale malt (2-row)
6 lb (2.7 kg) Vienna malt
8 oz (227 g) Amber malt
8 oz (227 g) Crystal 120
4 oz (113 g) Crystal 80
HOPS AND ADDITIONS SCHEDULE
1 oz (28 g) Perle at 60 minutes
0.5 oz (14 g) East Kent Golding at 20 minutes
0.5 oz (14 g) Saaz at 20 minutes
0.5 oz (14 g) East Kent Golding at whirlpool
0.5 oz (14 g) Saaz at whirlpool
2 lb (907 g) marinated, fire-roasted pumpkin puree in secondary
DIRECTIONS
For the pumpkin puree: Fire roast and chop about 5 pounds (2.3 kg) of raw pumpkins, then marinate with cinnamon and nutmeg to taste and puree. Final yield should be roughly 2 pounds (907 grams) of pumpkin puree.
Mash the grains for 60 minutes at 152°F (67°C). Boil for 60 minutes, following the hops addition schedule. Whirlpool, chill, and ferment at 66°F (19°C). Add the pumpkin puree to secondary and let condition for a week or longer before packaging.
YEAST
Wyeast 1028 London Ale
NOTES
Dave says, “I have messed with adding the pumpkin at different times but have found that ‘dry hopping’ with the pumpkin helps it pop (the kettle reduces the pumpkin flavor). However, I recommend boiling the pumpkin beforehand with added water to pasteurize it and be sure to kill off any funky stuff.”