Long time lurker first time poster!
Brewed this today, went back to extract for a batch as my mashing system is in need of a serious upgrade as I'm using my boil kettle as a mash tun. Great thread thanks to all for posting (and converting).
I may be insanely naive and hopeful, but i was hoping i could bring a few bottles of this for a tasting with my inlaws on Xmas eve (first holiday with them)...however, this came out really high @ 1.095 OG (though I'm not entirely trusting of my refractometer these days, I think like all my equipment, it needs the proverbial oil change, new sparkplugs and a tire rotation).
Pitched two vials of WLP002 at 70 degrees to hopefully get it rocking soon, but I don't believe I've made a beer this big. I was thinking of doing 10 days primary, 10 days secondary (with the ginger and cinnamon), then two weeks in the bottles...that would have it 'ready' (or at least, 'carbonated') by xmas eve.
The response I'm expecting from my big beer mad men fellow posters is there is no way in hell a beer of this gravity will be conditioned well enough in 5 weeks (Sweet God thats all thats left until xmas)...maybe i just don't want to be known as the son-in-law that brings underattenuated crap to a family christmas for the the rest of my married life.
Suggestions/feedback appreciated. Cheers!