Hello all,
I'm keen to put down a good hearty belgium style ale and wanted to know what works and what doesn't, or any recipe's you are willing to share if you have attempted something similar. I'm aiming for 20 - 25 liters at around 10 - 12%. I don't mash so this will just be kit(s) with sugars, malts, hops and yeast. I would love to end up with something similar in body to Chimay Grand Reserve but a little stronger.
Any suggestions or advice will be a great help as this is the first time i've attempting something like this.
Cheers.
Recipe for a strong dark ale?
Re: Recipe for a strong dark ale?
T-58 would be the go for the yeast (Ross' Belgian Yeast) unless you have access to a liquid Abbey yeast. Just use piles of liquid malt with a dark lager kit base (Bock kit or the like) and flavour with a bit of EKG or Styrian. I would use up to 15% Dextrose as well as 200g Dark Brown sugar with 3-400g of honey after the boil. Also, I would not recommend going any higher than 8-9% ABV.
For a 21L batch something like
Dark Lager kit
1.5 kilo LLME
500g LDME
1 kilo Dex
400g Honey
200g Dark Brown Sugar
If you can do a 6L boil with just the 1.5 kilo tin of LLME and the LDME and about 20g EKG or Styrian for 20 min.
For a 21L batch something like
Dark Lager kit
1.5 kilo LLME
500g LDME
1 kilo Dex
400g Honey
200g Dark Brown Sugar
If you can do a 6L boil with just the 1.5 kilo tin of LLME and the LDME and about 20g EKG or Styrian for 20 min.
Re: Recipe for a strong dark ale?
G'day Rob,
I've recently made a strong Belgian as follows:
Brewcraft Belgian Ale
1.5 kg LDME
200 g crystal grain
500 g candi sugar
15 g Styrian goldings - boiled 10 mins.
Whitelabs yeast - WLP 500
Boiled up the malt and candi sugar in about 3 ltrs of water for an hour, steeped grains for 30 mins and added this to the boil. Made to 18 litres, finished at around 7.7%.
It's only been bottled for 2 weeks, but it's already very tasty. I know you're supposed to leave these types of beer to 'mature', but i don't think that's going to happen in this case
I've recently made a strong Belgian as follows:
Brewcraft Belgian Ale
1.5 kg LDME
200 g crystal grain
500 g candi sugar
15 g Styrian goldings - boiled 10 mins.
Whitelabs yeast - WLP 500
Boiled up the malt and candi sugar in about 3 ltrs of water for an hour, steeped grains for 30 mins and added this to the boil. Made to 18 litres, finished at around 7.7%.
It's only been bottled for 2 weeks, but it's already very tasty. I know you're supposed to leave these types of beer to 'mature', but i don't think that's going to happen in this case
Re: Recipe for a strong dark ale?
you could give this a try perhaps:
http://www.homebrewandbeer.com/forum/vi ... =11&t=7076
started it on November 3rd 2007, it's still in Secondary now. will age much better in bulk than in bottle - and it might end up kegged anyway, haven't decided yet.
quite drinkable now, but will benefit from further aging still.
http://www.homebrewandbeer.com/forum/vi ... =11&t=7076
started it on November 3rd 2007, it's still in Secondary now. will age much better in bulk than in bottle - and it might end up kegged anyway, haven't decided yet.
quite drinkable now, but will benefit from further aging still.
