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Old 07-07-2005, 12:44 PM
blah
 
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Belgian Abbey/Trappist Advice Requested

Trying another new recipe & style, Belgian Abbey Ale. I brew small batches
since I'm the only beer drinker in the house, so I have to adjust recipes
accordingly, I use several methods to calculate grain/grist content and SG,
hop bitterness and so forth but anyway....

(1 US gallon batch)

2 lbs Belgian Pale Malt
1/4 cup Molasses
5 oz 40L Crystal Malt
5 oz Belgian CaraVienne Malt
5 oz Belgian Special B Malt
0.25 oz 11%AA Galena Hops (Boil)
0.125 oz 7%AA Perle Hops (Flavor)
Pinch of Irish Moss
Wyeast Liquid Trappist Ale Yeast

Big Batch SG: 1.035 (Should have been upwards of 40/45 with the Molasses)
Little Batch SG: 1.015 (Again, should have been 20/25)

Single temp infusion, 5 QT sparge, 90 minute boil, cool, yeast, airlock,
nothing unusual aside from forgetting the MOLASSES!!!! GAAH!!

I also remashed the grist and took a 2nd runnings batch at a lower SG, I'm
fermenting both batches seperately and planning on blending them when
finished. Also forgot the MOLASSES!!! GAAAAH!!

Anyway, after 2 days into secondary there was almost 1 full inch of sediment
at the bottom of the fermenters, but the beer itself is still very, very
cloudy (9 days total in fermentation). I racked it into clean fermenters
but haven't checked it yet this morning. I did notice the Big Batch (1st
runnings) had a noticeably hoppy aroma to it (Galena!) and the Small Batch
(2nd runnings) had a VERY pronounced banana scent to it...very nice. I did
use the same amount of hops in both batches. There is also a significant
color difference between the two, the Big Batch is a muddy brown whereas the
Little Batch is a light sand color.

Is this cloudiness normal for a Belgian Ale? All the pictures I see of mugs
full of Abbey Ale appear to be clear with a little bit of cloudiness to it,
perhaps I haven't waited long enough and it just needs more time to settle.

Either way, this is a pretty good recipe and both runnings have a medium
body, would have been better with the MOLASSES but my time machine is in the
shop so....

Thanks!

Kent


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