Trappist Ale - Belgian Dark Strong Ale - Beer Recipes | Brewer's Friend
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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 9105
Belgian Brown
6 gal 9.88% 20.97 1.092 1.017
All Grain 5258
Enzo's Rochefort
170 L 10.31% 29.85 1.088 1.010
All Grain 5248
Belgian Stout
6.5 gal 6.24% 35.51 1.058 1.012
All Grain 5111
Chimay Blue
10 L 8.42% 20.54 1.086 1.021
All Grain 4965
Belgian Christmas Ale
20 L 8.74% 26.92 1.087 1.020
All Grain 4327
CNY Barleywine
18 L 13.25% 20.05 1.121 1.020
All Grain 4311
John's Westvleteren 12 Clone
20 gal 10.75% 36.22 1.095 1.013
All Grain 4272
Belgisk Quadruppel (140 L)
140 L 10.51% 27.55 1.092 1.012
All Grain 4124
Johan the fisherman - saison de noel
25 L 10.52% 23.09 1.096 1.016
All Grain 3714

Newest Belgian Dark Strong Ale Recipes

Title Size ABV IBU OG FG Color Method Views
Westvleteren 12 clone
10 L 10.21% 28.07 1.095 1.017
BIAB 29
Belligerent Monk
5.5 gal 9.25% 30.32 1.081 1.011
All Grain 21
Stone Leaf MSB
25 L 9.07% 26.61 1.078 1.009
All Grain 26
Belgian Dark Ale
1 gal 11.55% 27.58 1.090 1.002
BIAB 37
Christmas Quad
5.5 gal 9.1% 0 1.074 1.008
BIAB 30
Normalt Quadrupel v.2
40 L 10.95% 20.57 1.100 1.017
All Grain 84
JAWA 2025
5.5 gal 10.55% 28.79 1.091 1.011
All Grain 55
Dark Strong
5.5 gal 10.38% 32.89 1.094 1.015
All Grain 48
Tröegs Brewing Mad Elf clone
5 gal 8.87% 19.88 1.084 1.016
All Grain 111
0625 Quadrupel
20 L 9.24% 39.27 1.087 1.016
All Grain 133

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

Name Recipes Country Category Type Color PPG Avg. Usage Usage Range
Special B 426 Grain crystal malt 115°L
34 4% 1% - 27%
Belgian - Pilsner 330 Belgian Grain base malt 1.6°L
37 62% 7% - 100%
Candi Syrup - Belgian Candi Syrup - D-180 239 Sugar sugar 180°L
32 9% 1% - 21%
Aromatic 131 Grain base malt 38°L
33 5% 1% - 31%
Belgian Candi Syrup - D-90 128 Sugar sugar 90°L
32 7% 2% - 20%
BE - Pale Ale 119 BE Grain base malt 3.4°L
38 46% 6% - 100%
Belgian Candi Sugar - Dark (275L) 114 Sugar sugar 275°L
38 7% 1% - 20%
Cane Sugar 114 Sugar sugar 0°L
46 8% 1% - 100%
Belgian - CaraMunich 106 Belgian Grain crystal malt 50°L
33 6% 1% - 20%
Belgian - Biscuit 101 Belgian Grain roasted malt 23°L
35 4% 1% - 20%

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

Name Recipes Average AA Avg. Usage Usage Range
Styrian Goldings 259 5.5 40% 10% - 100%
Saaz 162 3.5 42% 7% - 100%
Hallertau Mittelfruh 143 3.75 43% 10% - 100%
Magnum 106 15 58% 10% - 100%
Hallertau Hersbrucker 93 4 44% 8% - 100%
Northern Brewer 86 7.8 42% 7% - 100%
East Kent Goldings 57 5 37% 6% - 100%
Tettnanger 52 4.5 46% 9% - 100%
Perle 45 8.2 43% 7% - 100%
Fuggles 36 4.5 43% 13% - 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 136 Wyeast Ale 0.12 Med-High 76% 64°F 78°F
White Labs - Abbey Ale Yeast WLP530 113 White Labs Ale High Med-High 77.5% 66°F 72°F
Fermentis - Safbrew - Abbaye Yeast BE-256 77 Fermentis / Safale Ale .11 High 82% 54°F 77°F
White Labs - Monastary Ale Yeast WLP500 65 White Labs Ales High Medium 77.5% 65°F 72°F
Wyeast - Belgian Abby Ale II 1762 47 Wyeast Ale 0.12 Medium 75% 65°F 75°F
Lallemand - LALBREW® ABBAYE BELGIAN ALE YEAST 40 Lallemand Belgian Ales High Medium 88% 63°F 77°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 Tripel M31 27 Mangrove Jack Ale n/a Medium 85% 64°F 82°F
Mangrove Jack - Belgian Ale Yeast M41 27 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 144 Water Agt Mash 15% 0% - 91%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) 83 Water Agt Mash 15% 0% - 72%
Whirlfloc 74 Fining Boil 55% 2% - 100%
Lactic acid 70 Water Agt Mash 70% 0% - 100%
Epsom Salt 60 Water Agt Mash 8% 0% - 50%
Baking Soda 46 Water Agt Mash 10% 0% - 37%
Calcium Chloride (anhydrous) 38 Water Agt Mash 18% 0% - 100%
Irish Moss 33 Fining Mash 54% 0% - 100%
Chalk 31 Water Agt Mash 6% 0% - 41%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) 28 Water Agt Other 20% 0% - 100%

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