Welcome back, and happy almost-holidays! As summer winds down, it’s the perfect time to explore fall homebrew recipes that are easy, fun, and perfect for beginners. If you’ve been wanting to try your first beginner seasonal beer, a Mulling Spice Ale is a cozy and flavorful place to start.
You’ve probably seen some of the autumn classics: pumpkin ales, mulled spice beers, maple porters, and crisp apple ales. For new brewers, these styles might sound intimidating, but they can be made with a little time, patience, and attention to detail, usually just by following the instructions closely.
Many of the spices you’ll need for this spiced ale for beginners can be found at your local grocery store or homebrew shop. Remember, a little goes a long way. Too much spice can overpower your beer, making it drinkable but not exactly enjoyable. For example, a 5-gallon batch of this mulling spice ale recipe only needs about ½ ounce of mulling spices for a balanced flavor.
The best part? None of these easy autumn beer recipes require special equipment unless you choose to invest in upgrades for ease, efficiency, or creativity. Some of the best beers I’ve ever had were simple nut brown ales with just a touch of cinnamon, proof that you can brew something seasonal without overcomplicating things.
Beginner’s Mulling Spice Ale Recipe – Easy Autumn Beer
Batch Size: 5 gallons
Style Base: Amber Ale
ABV: ~5.0%
Brew Time: 4–5 hours (plus fermentation)
Equipment kit if you are just starting out!
Ingredients
Malt Extract Amber DME
- 6.6 lb Amber Liquid Malt Extract (LME) or 6 lb Amber Dry Malt Extract (DME) (I’m a big fan of DME)
Specialty Grains (optional for extra depth)
- 0.5 lb Crystal 60L
Hops Kent Golding
- 1 oz East Kent Goldings (60 min boil)
- 0.5 oz East Kent Goldings (15 min boil)
Yeast Dry Yeast
- Safale US-05 (clean fermentation, beginner-friendly)
Mulling Spice Blend (add in last 5 minutes of boil)
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 tsp whole cloves
- 1 tsp allspice berries
- 1 tsp crushed nutmeg
- 1–2 tsp dried orange peel
If you’re nervous making these mulling spices I’ve provided a link below for pre mixed and ground bag!
Brewing Steps
- Heat & Steep
- Heat 2.5 gallons of water to ~155°F.
- Add crushed Crystal 60L in a grain bag, steep for 20 minutes, then remove.
- Add Malt Extract
- Stir in LME/DME until fully dissolved.
- Start Boil & Add Hops
- At 60 min: add 1 oz East Kent Goldings.
- At 15 min: add 0.5 oz East Kent Goldings.
- Spice It Up
- At 5 minutes remaining: add spice bag.
- Cool & Ferment
- Chill wort to ~68°F, top up to 5 gallons, pitch yeast, ferment for 2 weeks, and condition for another 2 weeks. (4 weeks total)
- Bottle or Keg
- Prime with sugar, carbonate for ~2 weeks.
Beginner Brewing Tips
- Keep spice amounts moderate for your first batch.
- Taste test before bottling; adjust next time for personal preference.
- These same spices work beautifully in hot cider or wine.
Ready to brew your first fall beer?
This mulling spice ale recipe is an easy way to learn how to brew fall beer without overwhelming steps or gear. Grab your ingredients, set aside a cozy weekend, and share your results with #MyHomebrewTrail I’d love to see your autumn creations!
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