[jklinck]

My fiancee wants me to brew her an orange creamsicle beer. Here is a quick recipe I came up with. I'm going with a higher mash temperature and oats to give a a big creamy mouthfeel and the lactose to add some sweetness.

7.5 lbs 2-row
0.5 lb crystal 40
1.0 lb lactose
1.0 lb flaked oats
0.75oz Magnum (10%)(60)
2oz orange zest (5)
2oz orange zest (dry hop)
vanilla extract to taste after kegging
Chico yeast

mash @ 156F
OG 1.050
27 IBU

[tschmidlin]

Looks pretty good Joe.  You could always try some vanilla beans instead of the extract like Denny does for his BVIP, although you won't have as much control as the way you plan to do it.

Let us know how it turns out.

[bluesman]

Sounds good. You also might want to try blending some dried bitter orange in with the fresh orange zest to give the orange flavor a little more complexity.

...and I'll resonate what Tom said about the fresh vanilla bean pod. They really works well.

[EHall]

Fresh vanilla beans in secondary and go get a bottle of mandarin orange flavored coffee syrup. That'll get you what you're looking for.

[gordonstrong]

Mandarin oranges are sold fresh as clementines.  You can find those in most grocery stores.  If you have kids, you probably have some in your fridge.

[Beer Monger]

This is making me wonder....

Is an orange/citrus cider possible?  Has anyone tried that?  Can you make cider w/ orange juice as the base - or would you want to use Apple/Pear and flavor it after primary fermentation? 

My thinking is that an orange/creamsicle cider would be awesome. 

[gordonstrong]

I haven't heard of it before, but as long as you have the the pH in the right range to support fermentation, it's worth a shot.  My biggest concern would be that the pH would be too low.  I have to watch it with ciders for that reason, and citrus is more acidic than apples.

[Beer Monger]

That's why I'm not sure OK would work.  I don't think I've ever seen an orange (or lemmon or lime) cider. 

[tumarkin]

well, citrus ferments quite well. I've had several orange 'wines' and a great mead made with both orange juice & orange blossom honey. so no reason it wouldn't work as a 'cider.'

[Beer Monger]

well, citrus ferments quite well. I've had several orange 'wines' and a great mead made with both orange juice & orange blossom honey. so no reason it wouldn't work as a 'cider.'

Thanks for the info.  I'll have to find some OJ w/o preservatives added, check the PH & perhaps give it a try.   

[tschmidlin]

well, citrus ferments quite well. I've had several orange 'wines' and a great mead made with both orange juice & orange blossom honey. so no reason it wouldn't work as a 'cider.'

Thanks for the info.  I'll have to find some OJ w/o preservatives added, check the PH & perhaps give it a try.   

Aren't you in Seattle?  Get some Odwalla OJ at Whole Foods.  That stuff is great, but $$$.

[Beer Monger]

well, citrus ferments quite well. I've had several orange 'wines' and a great mead made with both orange juice & orange blossom honey. so no reason it wouldn't work as a 'cider.'

Thanks for the info.  I'll have to find some OJ w/o preservatives added, check the PH & perhaps give it a try.   

Aren't you in Seattle?  Get some Odwalla OJ at Whole Foods.  That stuff is great, but $$$.

Wow.  Yeah.  Odwalla would break me!  lol  I'll try Trader Joes perhaps. 

[richardt]

It isn't beer, but an "orange creamsicle" cocktail can be made using
OJ
"Whipped Cream"-flavored Vodka (Pinnacle brand)

Pinnacle also sells a whipped cream-with-mandarin/orange flavor vodka. 
One could always "fortify" a cream ale or blond ale to get the creamsicle beer effect.