I feel like the majority of my posts now start with some apology for any absence or lapse in post frequency… this post is no different. Between having started a new job recently and the fact I can’t drink a full batch of beer quickly on my own, these have become less frequent. We’ll try to be more frequent in our posts. 

With that out of the way: I’m pleased to present our latest homebrew review – “Little Fuggles.” Named so for a type of pecan, vanilla, and chocolate cookie my girlfriend’s mother makes over the holidays. She calls them, ahem, “Little F*ckers” due to the difficulty in making them. It seemed only appropriate that we play on that name, and recipe to make something that paired well with them. 

Here’s the build: 

• 6 lbs Maris Otter
• 0.5 lb Chocolate Malt
• 1 oz Fuggles (60 mins)
• 1 oz Fuggles (10 mins)
• Omega OYL-006 – British Ale 1
• 400 ml of Vodka & 4 oz Cocoa Nib Tincture (1 week)
• 400 ml of Brandy & 3 seeded Moroccan Vanilla Pods and 8 oz chopped pecans (1 week)
• Clarity Ferm 

An English dark mild seemed only appropriate. To bring it closer to the cookie’s flavor, I decided to introduce two tinctures into the mix – one, a cocoa nibs and vodka, the other, unaged brandy with pecans and Moroccan vanilla beans. 

The dark mild is a style I’ve always enjoyed. In fact, the first force-carbed beer that Wall Brew Co. made was inspired by my love for the style. I like it for many reasons, but one is that it acts as a marvelous base for adding flavors on to it. 

Admittedly, the chocolate and vanilla notes from Little Fuggles are more prominent than the pecans. While I’m a little disappointed that I didn’t capture the flavor of the cookie perfectly, I will say that we were successful in making a cookie that is not only one I’d drink while eating these cookies, but one that was clearly meant to be drank with them. 

The base alcohol content is somewhere ~3.5%, but the tincture additions probably bring us closer to 4.1% or so. It’s a nice little mild. 

As we start to see the end of winter months on the horizon, this mild can help keep warm until then. I’m usually a fan of season-denial beers, but sometimes it’s best to just embrace a Christmas cookie-themed beer a few weeks after the holiday. Try this recipe for yourself, or build on it! 

Last bit of house keeping here is the announcement that Wall Brew Co.’s Roscoe Village Brewhouse now has a beer cat! His name is Charlie and we’ll be sure to feature him extensively!