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Author Topic: New Recipe for Belgian Quad Ale - Please Critique  (Read 4160 times)

Offline denny

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Re: New Recipe for Belgian Quad Ale - Please Critique
« Reply #15 on: October 02, 2014, 02:26:42 pm »
Just for comparison, here's the quad I did for my 400th batch...http://www.candisyrup.com/uploads/6/0/3/5/6035776/dennys_400th_-_variation_002x.pdf
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

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Offline nolinenowait

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Re: New Recipe for Belgian Quad Ale - Please Critique
« Reply #16 on: October 02, 2014, 02:32:01 pm »
Thanks Denny, that looks great!  Have you tried this yet?

Offline Joe Sr.

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Re: New Recipe for Belgian Quad Ale - Please Critique
« Reply #17 on: October 02, 2014, 02:50:11 pm »
Have you ever brewed with buckwheat honey?  I have.  I will not do so again.  All of the sweetness ferments out and you're left with the strong flavors of the buckwheat.  I did not like it, but was able to give it all away to someone who did.  I found the flavor to be overpowering and IIRC somewhat medicinal.  Not at all pleasing to my tastes and it may clash with the fruit flavors you're looking for.  I'd go with clover, orange blossom or wildflower honey, myself.

I also would recommend against the roasted barley for this style.

I say keep it a quad, not a dubbel, and check out Denny's 400th.  I brewed that recipe for my 40th (birthday, not batch) and was quite pleased.  Served it on tap and only got to age a small handful of bottles.  It's on the "brew again" list.
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Offline nolinenowait

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Re: New Recipe for Belgian Quad Ale - Please Critique
« Reply #18 on: October 02, 2014, 02:55:56 pm »
I like buckwheat honey but have never brewed with it.  Thanks for the suggestion, I'll go with one of your suggestions instead. I'll remove the barley as well. 

Offline Joe Sr.

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Re: New Recipe for Belgian Quad Ale - Please Critique
« Reply #19 on: October 02, 2014, 02:57:10 pm »
The flavor was REALLY strong.  I was surprised.
It's all in the reflexes. - Jack Burton

Offline nolinenowait

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Re: New Recipe for Belgian Quad Ale - Please Critique
« Reply #20 on: October 02, 2014, 03:05:55 pm »
This looks like it'll be my official brew:

Malt/Grain:
3 lbs Red wheat malt
1lb Munich malt
.25 Special b malt
.33 Aromatic Malt
6 lbs DME (extra light)
2lb D-180

Boil:
1 oz Hallertau @ 60 minutes
1 oz Tettnang @ 20 minutes


1lb Clover Honey (added to chilled wort at 110F)

Extras:
2lb Frozen Fig Puree (add to primary after initial fermentation has died down)
Soaked Pinot Noir Oak Cubes added to secondary

Yeast:
Wyeast 3522


Offline nolinenowait

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Re: New Recipe for Belgian Quad Ale - Please Critique
« Reply #21 on: October 02, 2014, 03:43:41 pm »
How much of an alcohol increase will the honey deliver?  Without the honey and figs it should be about 10 abv. 

Offline Joe Sr.

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Re: New Recipe for Belgian Quad Ale - Please Critique
« Reply #22 on: October 02, 2014, 03:48:07 pm »
I think one lb in one gallon gives you +/- 38pts.  It's also pretty much 100% fermentable.

I might be a bit off and others who are more accurate can correct me.  But that's my recollection.
It's all in the reflexes. - Jack Burton

Offline kmccaf

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Re: New Recipe for Belgian Quad Ale - Please Critique
« Reply #23 on: October 02, 2014, 04:19:06 pm »
Have you ever used buckwheat honey in something before? I love the stuff on its own, but I'd be concerned about a lb overpowering the rest of the fermentables. I'd go with the d180 instead.
Kyle M.

Offline nolinenowait

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Re: New Recipe for Belgian Quad Ale - Please Critique
« Reply #24 on: October 02, 2014, 04:19:47 pm »
I agree, I decided to go with clover honey.

Offline kmccaf

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Re: New Recipe for Belgian Quad Ale - Please Critique
« Reply #25 on: October 03, 2014, 08:13:59 am »
I apologize for repeating the question about buckwheat honey. I did not see there were more posts on a second page. Frankly, I think I would just go with raw sugar instead of clover honey. While I think buckwheat would be too strong, I also think clover would be too weak and add nothing. Sugar is much cheaper :D.
Kyle M.

Offline Joe Sr.

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Re: New Recipe for Belgian Quad Ale - Please Critique
« Reply #26 on: October 03, 2014, 08:27:41 am »
That's a good point, but I the inspiration was to brew a beer with honey, figs, etc.  So leaving it out might not fit the OPs goal.

You could add it late, or even to the secondary to preserve as much honey flavor and aromatics as possible.

Or maybe use sugar and a little honey malt.  I'm not sure that honey malt = honey flavor though.
It's all in the reflexes. - Jack Burton

Offline HoosierBrew

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Re: New Recipe for Belgian Quad Ale - Please Critique
« Reply #27 on: October 03, 2014, 08:34:40 am »
I'd drop honey altogether - it'll get lost behind the dark fruit and D180.  Personally, I'd either use another lb of fig puree or another lb of D180 in place of the honey.
Jon H.

Offline morticaixavier

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Re: New Recipe for Belgian Quad Ale - Please Critique
« Reply #28 on: October 03, 2014, 08:45:53 am »
you can use a smidge of chamomile to get a honey like flavor. although some folks find it disagreeable.
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Offline denny

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Re: New Recipe for Belgian Quad Ale - Please Critique
« Reply #29 on: October 03, 2014, 09:22:45 am »
Thanks Denny, that looks great!  Have you tried this yet?

Oh, yeah....brewed it in 2011 with the intention of aging it at least 5 years.  Didn't make that, but  still have 4 bottles left!  ;)
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

www.dennybrew.com

The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell