Hello!
What yeast would you recommend for fermenting a Belgian Strong Ale?
I like WY3787, Trappist High Gravity for the few I have brewed.
You can use any of the following (plus White Labs equivalents):
1214 - Belgian Abbey
1388 - Belgian Strong Ale
1762 - Belgian Abbey II
3522 - Belgian Ardennes
3787 - Trappist High Gravity
You can also cultivate the yeast from a bottle of Westmalle tripel or Westy.
People in Belgium also make beer with dry yeast: s-33, t-58, and the new Safbrew Abbaye.
This is a good suggestion and is thought to be the Westmalle strain. Probably my favorite Belgian yeast strain. It produces a lot of “stone fruit” esters such as plum and cherry.
So far not too stellar reviews of Safbrew Abbey ale.
True, I would stay away from all dry yeasts here (caveat: though I’m Belgian I have no personal experience with brewing Belgian strong ales. I just buy them in the supermarket if I want them :P).
Wyeast 3864 is my favorite (Canadian/Belgian = Unibroue’s yeast). It is a limited-release strain that is only available once every year or two. Coincidentally, it should be out right now.
For a golden, I’d use WY1388. For a dark, WY1762. Although 3787 would work for either.