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Trappist Ale - Belgian Dark Strong Ale


A dark, complex, very strong Belgian ale with a delicious blend of malt richness, dark fruit flavors, and spicy elements. Complex, rich, smooth and dangerous.

Flavor Profile: Similar to aroma (same malt, ester, phenol, alcohol, and hop comments apply to flavor as well). Moderately malty-rich on the palate, which can have a sweet impression if bitterness is low. Usually moderately dry to dry finish, although may be up to modera

Ingredients: Belgian yeast strains prone to production of higher alcohols, esters, and sometimes phenolics are commonly used. Impression of a complex grain bill, although many traditional versions are quite simple, with caramelized sugar syrup or unrefined sugars and

BJCP Style Guide

Top 10 Belgian Dark Strong Ale Recipes

Title Size ABV IBU OG FG Color Method Views
Gouden Carolus Classic
20 L 8.41% 19.78 1.074 1.014
All Grain 10027
Belgian Stout
6.5 gal 6.24% 35.51 1.058 1.012
All Grain 5746
Belgian Brown
6 gal 9.88% 20.97 1.092 1.017
All Grain 5722
John's Westvleteren 12 Clone
20 gal 10.75% 36.22 1.095 1.013
All Grain 5655
Enzo's Rochefort
170 L 10.31% 29.85 1.088 1.010
All Grain 5613
Chimay Blue
10 L 8.42% 20.54 1.086 1.021
All Grain 5532
Belgian Christmas Ale
20 L 8.74% 26.92 1.087 1.020
All Grain 4738
CNY Barleywine
18 L 13.25% 20.05 1.121 1.020
All Grain 4587
Belgisk Quadruppel (140 L)
140 L 10.51% 27.55 1.092 1.012
All Grain 4510
Quadrupel
13 L 8.08% 25.05 1.082 1.021
All Grain 4013

Newest Belgian Dark Strong Ale Recipes

Title Size ABV IBU OG FG Color Method Views
Vierkant
20.8 L 8.99% 13.79 1.083 1.015
All Grain 36
Quad lote 292
110 L 9.19% 23.03 1.088 1.018
All Grain 64
Quad
25 L 8.85% 25.32 1.082 1.014
All Grain 157
Reserve-jul 2026
21 L 9.28% 23.59 1.086 1.015
All Grain 60
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
5 gal 9.35% 22.34 1.095 1.024
All Grain 72
Chimay Blue Clone
22 L 8.26% 29.68 1.075 1.012
All Grain 90
Belgian Strong Ale
21 L 8.96% 19.39 1.095 1.027
All Grain 118
Headache
10 gal 9.83% 31 1.092 1.017
All Grain 73
0626 Quadrupel
20 L 9.98% 38.41 1.091 1.015
All Grain 252
Avundsjuk - Belgisk quad 2026
21 L 9.68% 28.07 1.081 1.012
All Grain 131

Fermentables Used In Belgian Dark Strong Ale Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Country Category Type Color PPG Avg. Usage Usage Range
Special B 437 Grain crystal malt 115°L
34 4% 1% - 27%
Belgian - Pilsner 345 Belgian Grain base malt 1.6°L
37 62% 7% - 100%
Candi Syrup - Belgian Candi Syrup - D-180 252 Sugar sugar 180°L
32 9% 1% - 21%
Aromatic 134 Grain base malt 38°L
33 5% 1% - 31%
Belgian Candi Syrup - D-90 133 Sugar sugar 90°L
32 7% 2% - 20%
BE - Pale Ale 121 BE Grain base malt 3.4°L
38 46% 6% - 100%
Belgian Candi Sugar - Dark (275L) 121 Sugar sugar 275°L
38 7% 1% - 20%
Cane Sugar 119 Sugar sugar 0°L
46 8% 1% - 100%
Belgian - CaraMunich 108 Belgian Grain crystal malt 50°L
33 6% 1% - 20%
Belgian Candi Sugar - Amber/Brown (60L) 108 Sugar sugar 60°L
38 9% 1% - 22%

Hops Used In Belgian Dark Strong Ale Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Average AA Avg. Usage Usage Range
Styrian Goldings 273 5.5 40% 10% - 100%
Saaz 172 3.5 43% 7% - 100%
Hallertau Mittelfruh 151 3.75 43% 10% - 100%
Magnum 115 15 58% 4% - 100%
Hallertau Hersbrucker 95 4 44% 8% - 100%
Northern Brewer 89 7.8 42% 7% - 100%
East Kent Goldings 62 5 38% 6% - 100%
Tettnanger 56 4.5 46% 9% - 100%
Perle 47 8.2 44% 7% - 100%
Domestic Hallertau 37 3.9 47% 17% - 100%

Steeping Grains Used In Belgian Dark Strong Ale Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Country Category Type Color PPG Avg. Usage Usage Range
Special B 14 Grain crystal malt 115°L
34 35% 7% - 100%
Belgian - Biscuit 7 Belgian Grain roasted malt 23°L
35 26% 8% - 58%
Aromatic 6 Grain base malt 38°L
33 27% 13% - 48%
Belgian - Chocolate 6 Belgian Grain roasted malt 340°L
30 25% 2% - 60%
Belgian - CaraMunich 4 Belgian Grain crystal malt 50°L
33 36% 20% - 46%
American - Carapils (Dextrine Malt) 3 American Grain crystal malt 1.8°L
33 28% 20% - 33%
Belgian - CaraVienne 3 Belgian Grain crystal malt 20°L
34 44% 33% - 50%
German - CaraMunich I 3 German Grain crystal malt 39°L
34 41% 33% - 50%
German - Melanoidin 3 German Grain roasted malt 25°L
37 13% 12% - 13%
United Kingdom - Roasted Barley 3 United Kingdom Grain roasted malt 550°L
29 23% 6% - 33%

Yeasts Used In Belgian Dark Strong Ale Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Laboratory Type Alcohol Tolerance Flocculation Attenuation Min. Temp Max. Temp
Wyeast - Trappist High Gravity 3787 140 Wyeast Ale 0.12 Med-High 76% 64°F 78°F
White Labs - Abbey Ale Yeast WLP530 116 White Labs Ale High Med-High 77.5% 66°F 72°F
Fermentis - Safbrew - Abbaye Yeast BE-256 81 Fermentis / Safale Ale .11 High 82% 54°F 77°F
White Labs - Monastary Ale Yeast WLP500 67 White Labs Ales High Medium 77.5% 65°F 72°F
Lallemand - LALBREW® ABBAYE BELGIAN ALE YEAST 50 Lallemand Belgian Ales High Medium 80% 63°F 77°F
Wyeast - Belgian Abby Ale II 1762 48 Wyeast Ale 0.12 Medium 75% 65°F 75°F
Fermentis - Safbrew - Specialty Ale Yeast T-58 39 Fermentis / Safale Ale 0.115 High 70% 54°F 77°F
Wyeast - Belgian Ale 1214 34 Wyeast Ale 0.12 Med-Low 75% 68°F 78°F
Mangrove Jack - Belgian Ale Yeast M41 29 Mangrove Jack Ale n/a Medium 85% 64°F 82°F
Mangrove Jack - Belgian Tripel M31 26 Mangrove Jack Ale n/a Medium 85% 64°F 82°F

Other Ingredients Used In Belgian Dark Strong Ale Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Type Use Avg. Usage Usage Range
Gypsum 162 Water Agt Mash 14% 0% - 91%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) 96 Water Agt Mash 16% 0% - 72%
Lactic acid 81 Water Agt Mash 68% 0% - 100%
Whirlfloc 79 Water Agt Boil 54% 1% - 100%
Epsom Salt 69 Water Agt Mash 8% 0% - 50%
Baking Soda 50 Water Agt Mash 9% 0% - 37%
Calcium Chloride (anhydrous) 44 Water Agt Mash 16% 0% - 100%
Irish Moss 35 Fining Boil 54% 0% - 100%
Chalk 34 Water Agt Mash 6% 0% - 41%
Yeast Nutrient 31 Other Boil 28% 0% - 94%

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