And things like Rodenbach. Lambic. De Koninck. It’s a tough thing to try and generalize.
after doing some work in the wine industry, I hope beer doesn’t fall victim to all the appellation BS.
After reading the article and excluding most on the non-list writing, as well as #5, #1-4 are all solid advice.
EDIT: after reading #4 more closely, while I agree and support step mashing, it’s not for the weak cliche arguments presented. So I agree that step mashing good but don’t agree with the authors presentation of why.
I’m not sure of the writers goal, but personally I do think too little care is spent learning about how the beers we’re trying to make are actually made.
Look back at homebrewed Belgian styles before candi syrup became available. Yes, they were close, but arguably they weren’t correct because the wrong process/ingredients were used.
And maybe someday we’ll understand that invert is as vital to British styles as candi is to Belgains…
I wouldn’t be so quick to say that Candi Syrup is the smoking gun for nailing all Belgian styles or even all the Trappist and Abbey beers. I think they make it easier for people to approximate, to a high degree, certain styles but the notion that their use is ubiquitous in the professional realm over there may be an area of shortsightedness in many people. With that said, there are probably certain beers, Westvleteren and dark strong beers of that ilk, where you really can’t nail the flavors without a dark syrup but there are plenty of beers whose color and flavor are coming from other process points and not just a huge dump of dark fermentable sugars.
I think sugar in general, in its myriad forms, is extremely important for a lighter bodied, highly attenuated beer and that seems to be the real hallmark. I’m trying to experiment with malt-focused recipes for Trappist inspired beers now and while I am trying to use malt flavors as a basis, I am still using sugars in the 12-16% range.
True. I was hoping the gist of what I was saying was coming through properly, that certain beers require certain techniques, procedures, or ingredients to be considered “to style”. Candi syrup was just the low hanging fruit to use as a generalization.
[quote]I think sugar in general, in its myriad forms, is extremely important for a lighter bodied, highly attenuated beer and that seems to be the real hallmark. I’m trying to experiment with malt-focused recipes for Trappist inspired beers now and while I am trying to use malt flavors as a basis, I am still using sugars in the 12-16% range.
[/quote]
That’s the range I typically use for a mild or bitter as well. It’s getting to the point that many craft “bitters” are getting to be unpalatable due to to high a FG. I think folks are afraid they’ll be “thin”, but a dry beer is a quaffable beer…and if you can’t have two or three Imperial pints of bitter, something is wrong.
And if it’s true that Belgain brewers took influence from the Brits way back when, that may explain why both have such an affinity for using sugars…
I’ve always heard that they were more influenced by French winemakers. But it’s difficult to know what’s apocryphal and what’s not.
And that’s the issue with how my semi-photographic memory works, I remember parts of things, but not where I heard them.
This is something I’ve been thinking about though…maybe I’ll do some research and try and see if it’s true or a myth.
It’s possible both statements are true. Look at Dupont and their likely mutated red wine yeast…
You and me both. I’ll spout things as truth without providing the basis, only to find later that what I said was partially or fully correct, even though I couldn’t remember why.
Along similar lines as above, I believe I’d heard someplace that Scotch ale was developed to emulate either doppelbock or Belgian dubbel, I cannot remember which, except that it does help to explain my extraordinary love for all three malty styles, especially considering if they originally had actually been intended to be somewhat similar in malt character. But my memory fails me, as usual. Now that I come to think of it, I wonder if it must be dubbel & Scotch ale that are related, as doppelbock is not quite the same. But it’s equally likely to be a tie between two other ones. Like a blind triangle – which of these three is not like the other, come on, can you tell which one. But I royally digress.
I got into a good conversation via PM’s with a very experienced homebrewer into the trappist/belgian styles and he said the keys for him were bottle conditioning and aging. Like 6mos minimum and a year preferably for a tripel. He also said he “does not like” the yeasts we are using and suggested culturing for optimal authenticity.
Most of the bottle dregs are not what we want to brew with…
I’m 'onna get me some Unibroue La Fin du Monde dregs for propagation in very near future.
Now will I be making a Belgian, a Canadian, or an American ale??? 
Correction: Or FRENCH Canadian!?
Get some of the Megadeth Saison (the correct name escapes me) while you’re at it. It’s way better than I expected.
Per the article, you’ll be brewing a WI beer, inspired by a Canadian beer that is inspired by a Belgian ‘style’ beer, Dave. If you don’t step mash, your mash tun and fermenter will burst into flames. ;) Actually I do like step mashing, just thought the article was pretty annoying.
And you cant brew an IPA unless you do it in England and put it on a ship destined for India.
Yeah…throw in the the Horst Dornbusch stuff I read prior to knowing any better, and I’m sure I’ve got a lot of wrong information floating around in my head.
Don’t forget the bretanomyces!
Exactly
Re: using Chico for Belgian Pale Ales. Similar advice is given in this interview of Phil Leinhart, brewmaster at Brewery Ommegang.
“Belgian pale ale strains are fairly neutral and can be hard to find. White Labs WLP515 Antwerp Ale and Wyeast 3655-PC Belgian Schelde Ale, available as seasonal strains, are both good choices. In the absence of these, a relatively clean American-ale strain is a good choice.”
Edit adding article link: Ask the Experts: Belgian Yeast Strains | Craft Beer & Brewing
The only Belgian pale ale I can think of that may use a clean yeast would be something along the lines of Leffe…certainly wouldn’t call a pale ale like Duvel clean.
My bad, I should have elaborated (I agree that culturing up blindly is risky). This is a guy that gets over there frequently. His favorite breweries/yeast were from places I never even heard of and I consider myself pretty well versed. ;D He encouraged me to try and culture up some DT dregs which he felt was a better option than commercial yeasts.
Going back to the article, I agree with most but not all points, but especially the no spice.