Belgian Dark Strong Ale Recipe - Vrolijk Kerstfeest Ale

Recipe Info

Recipe Image

Vrolijk Kerstfeest Ale

by on
All Grain
6 Gallon(s)
8 Gallon(s)
120 min
81%
Merry Christmas in Flemish. For this coming year's Xmas beer, I want to tone down the spice a bit so I'm dropping those additions by half, 1/16oz each during whirlpool. I'm going for a Quad as the base recipe and intend on adding Cherry puree as the fruit flavoring. So... Let's Do It! Fermentables: Pilsner as the base malt, Amber for color and flavor, CaraVienna for color and flavor, a handful of Special B for flavor, Candi sugar for points mostly but color and flavor from the Dark Hops: I have Perle sitting about and it is the most Continental hop that I have Yeast: Imperial Monastic, pitch rate of 0.5L of slurry Water Profile: Chimay from Bru'n water

This recipe was cloned from Feliz Natal.

Fermentables

81% - Pilsner - BE
18
36
2
Mash
5% - Belgian Kiln Amber Malt
1
36
20
Mash
5% - CaraVienna - BE
1
34
22
Mash
0% - Special B - BE
0.1
30
180
Mash
5% - Belgian Dark Candi Sugar - BE
1
36
275
Late
5% - Belgian Clear Candi Sugar - BE
1
36
1
Late

Hops

Perle
1
Pellet
Boil
60 min(s)
8.3
15.4
Perle
1
Pellet
Boil
10 min(s)
8.3
5.6

Yeast

Imperial B63 Monastic Yeast
85%

Other Stuff

Gypsum
0
each
Mash
Calcium Chloride
0
each
Mash
Lactic Acid
0
each
Mash
Whirlfloc Tablet
1
each
Boil
Yeast Nutrient
0
each
Boil
Pumpkin Pie Spice
0
tbsp
FlameOut
Coriander
0
each
FlameOut
Lime Peel
0
each
FlameOut
Black Pepper
0
each
FlameOut
Orange or Lemon peel
0
each
FlameOut
Cherry Puree
5
lb
Secondary

Mash Steps

Ferulic Acid Rest
Infusion
113
45 min
Saccharification Rest
Direct Heat
149
30 min
Mash-Out
Direct Heat
162
10 min

Special Instructions

1.
Mash with 7.5 gallons with 1.0g gypsum, 2.2g CaCl, and 3.0mL lactic
2.
Sparge with 2.5 gallons with 1.30g gypsum, 1.0g NaCl, and 1.0mL Lactic
3.
Double the yeast nutrient
4.
Sugar will be put in last 10 minutes of boil
5.
Add 0.125oz each of pumpkin pie spice, coriander, pepper, lime peel, and orange peel at flameout
6.
Oxygenate for 1 min and again 12 hours post-pitch
7.
Integrate cherry made from frozen fruit when racking to secondary

Tasting Notes (4)

CheeseNips

Tasted on 3/28/2019 by CheeseNips

Notes:

No cherry - pours 1.5 fingers of off white head in dark orange; the head on this is the definition of pillowy. Aroma is a dense clove and light banana phenolic and toffee malt, almost a hint of copper there as well. Flavor is a much richer version of the aroma with a sweet, vanilla sort of finish. Body is thin and very soft carbonation. Overall, this beer is a lot bigger than it drinks, except in the flavor that is so dense that it seems muddled. I'm enjoying this one more now, I think, than the last couple of tries, but it doesn't make me want to come back for another. I'd say 3.5 stars but it's whole ones only so 3 stars.

CheeseNips

Tasted on 3/13/2019 by CheeseNips

Notes:

With cherry juice - pours 2.5 fingers of foam, mahogany in color. Aroma is a dense yeast phenolic, caramel sweetness, light floral, and almost a hint of chocolate. Flavor is similar to aroma though there is so much dense flavor that it almost tastes like iron-y. Mouthfeel is fairly thin but closer to medium and nucleation is sharp. Overall, the beer is pretty good but nothing special. I agree with the judging that it lacks malt flavor but I disagree entirely that it's possibly infected or has plastic flavors. These needs more malt and dark fruit flavor along with less yeast phenolic. 3 stars.

CheeseNips

Tasted on 1/28/2019 by CheeseNips

Notes:

No cherry - Pours one finger of foam that is slow to dissipate, sort of a burnt orange color. Aroma is subdued orange with yeast phenolics and a touch of booze, but not fusel. Flavor is phenolic forward, then a dense malty candy flavor with hints of copper, followed by a boozy bitterness; on subsequent sips, I can get orange and chocolate flavors. The body is on the thin side with a little nucleation sharpness. Overall, it is a very drinkable beer that tastes like a big old Belgian. It is lacking in carbonation and I was really hoping for a touch of dark fruit character. This has achieved some of my vision and with it being so drinkable I will go with 4 stars.

CheeseNips

Tasted on 1/25/2019 by CheeseNips

Notes:

With cherry juice - Pours one finger of foam that dissipates quickly, mahogany in color, slight alcohol legs when swirling. Aroma is yeast phenolic and dark fruit dominant along with a fruity booze, not fusel though; there is almost a banana bread character to this when I come back to it after a couple sips. Flavor follows nose along with the gingerbread spice definitely present, but not overpowering. Body is thin to medium, carbonation feels right in the mouth but the head is disappointing, and there is a slight warming sensation. Overall, this is a solid, high gravity beer that has potential to age into something better. I'm very pleased that it has yeast phenolic character without fusels given that the fermentor was warm to the touch. I wish it had more cherry flavor and better head retention. 3 stars.

Recipe Facts

Vrolijk Kerstfeest Ale
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
  • 6.00 Gallons Liters Batch Size
  • 8.00 Gallons Liters Boil Size
  • 120  min Boil Time
  • 1.109 OG
  • 1.016 FG
  • 21.0 IBU (tinseth) Bitterness
  • 0.19 BG:GU
  • 25.7° SRM Color
  • 81% Efficiency
  • 12.0% ABV Alcohol
  • 385 per 12oz Calories
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