Pumpkin beer using real pumpkin

[brufrog]

I'm doing a little story about making pumpkin beer, and commerical pumpkin beers.

I put in a Q to McAuslan about theirs, since it won at the CBA"s,. I know on their spec sheets they say they use pumpkin, but has anyone asked them or been there and learned what form they add it in?

I made pumpkin beer a couple of times using the "roast the pumpkin" technique and, if I recall correctly, adding it to the mash. I know some of the craft breweries make their pumpkin beer with lots of real pumpkin, but I suspect some just use pumpkin pie spices.

I'm pretty sure Propller roasts pumpkins. i'm sending a note to them too.

[Jayme]

I don't know the answer to the question, but am interested in what you find out! I've don't the same roast pumpkin (but with specific sweet pie pumpkins, not jack-o-lantern pumpkins). Seems like I read or heard once that Propeller actually uses giant pumpkins from some specific farm, but I could be wrong.

[Keggermeister]

I have done many pumpkin ales...

To answer your question, I always oven roast my pumpkin until the top is caramelized. I use 20 pounds for 10 gallons.
The key to not having a stuck mash is to use a 2" bed of rice hulls over the false bottom and to not stir them in.
I once had a 5 hour mash out before working that trick out.

I just use 2 average sized pumpkins.

[PEIBeerGuy]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cog_nate/s ... 400060222/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Photo set of brewing IN a pumpkin. Great stuff.

[brufrog]

Propeller uses the Howard Dill’s® world famous Atlantic Giant Pumpkins®.

But apparently they don't pre-roast them. Not sure how that works ???

[Jayme]

Propeller uses the Howard Dill’s® world famous Atlantic Giant Pumpkins®.

But apparently they don't pre-roast them. Not sure how that works ???

Hmm I guess the rumour I heard was right! Aren't most giant pumpkins actually more from the squash family? I could be making that up though. I personally prefer the small, sweeter sugar pumpkins over the larger ones used for jack-o-lanterns, I can only imagine the giant pumpkins are that much less palatable. It's very confusing they don't pre-roast... Maybe just a really long mash to convert all the starch?