Looking for a belgian dark (strong) ale on par with something like Unibroue's Chambly Noire or Maudite.
So anyone got any tips or a direction to look?
So anyone got any tips or a direction to look?
Looking for a recipe or kit
- Thread starter Fisher kel Tath
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A dubbel would be closer to Maudite (Damned), but would probably be sweeter. Chambly noir, I doubt there'd be a kit for anything like it. That's essentially a stout brewed a little stronger and with Belgian style yeasts (I think might be different yeast for primary and for carbonation).
The problem with trying to copy Unibroue is that some of theirs are closer to real Belgian styles (like La Fin du Monde, which is basically a blonde triple), but many of theirs are styles unto their own (as far as I know), like my personal favourite Trois Pistoles.
The problem with trying to copy Unibroue is that some of theirs are closer to real Belgian styles (like La Fin du Monde, which is basically a blonde triple), but many of theirs are styles unto their own (as far as I know), like my personal favourite Trois Pistoles.
Trois Pistoles, Maudite, and Noire de Chambly are my top 3 beers. However haven't been able to find pistoles in like 3yrs for some damn reason.
Maybe because they have to export to you? What blows me away about Unibroue is that they're able to get their production so high, their price so low, and still maintain a pretty high quality.
I mean, I have had better dark Belgian style beers than the ones Unibroue does (from Belgium), but I haven't had better blondes in my opinion, and the ones that I'm calling better I think I paid more like $18-$25 for a 750ml bottle, whilst Unibroue is usually under $7 per bottle.
I mean, I have had better dark Belgian style beers than the ones Unibroue does (from Belgium), but I haven't had better blondes in my opinion, and the ones that I'm calling better I think I paid more like $18-$25 for a 750ml bottle, whilst Unibroue is usually under $7 per bottle.
I had La Fin du Monde and didn't really like it, but that could be because of what I had before it ((Delirium Tremens)The beer, not the condition).
Main reason looking for a kit/recipe is so I can brew it as my main beer, as a six pack can usually last me a month or two...a batch should last me 6 months minium so might as well be good beer
Main reason looking for a kit/recipe is so I can brew it as my main beer, as a six pack can usually last me a month or two...a batch should last me 6 months minium so might as well be good beer
La Fin du Monde's not my favourite any more either, I can't say I liked Delirium much better though, it seems just like a sweeter version of the same to me, not my cup of tea.
It might of been Nocturnum, it was a dark beer...and generally switching light to dark doesn't work well
It might of been Nocturnum, it was a dark beer...and generally switching light to dark doesn't work well
The one I had was definitely a blonde triple, not sure what the name was other than Delirium.
Hrm, I wonder...
Trying a stout kit with a belgian strain sounds interesting, problem is figuring out the hopping, as Noire has IBU of 12.
Sad thing is you find a lot of clone Unibroue recipes on google, but then never anyone commenting on how the recipe turned out...
Trying a stout kit with a belgian strain sounds interesting, problem is figuring out the hopping, as Noire has IBU of 12.
Sad thing is you find a lot of clone Unibroue recipes on google, but then never anyone commenting on how the recipe turned out...
That's my one beef with all of Unibroue's stuff is the low hop bitterness/taste/aroma. If I was trying to clone them I'd probably at least triple or quadruple the hop additions. That's just me though.
Ah, well then certainly don't follow my lead!!!
I would just toss some hops in the boil, maybe 1oz for only 10 minutes. Use an IBU calculator to figure out exactly how much and how long based on what kind of hops you're using.
yea, I can enjoy beers regularly up to aroun 35 IBU, but higher than that I have to be in the mood.
Also decided to look for a clone recipe of another beer I had once and never saw again New Hollands Dragon's Milk
It depends a lot on the beer. Unibroue has so much sweetness and fruityness that I think most of their beers would be better balanced with more bitterness.
Some beers are up around 40IBU but you'd never know it because they're also so sweet, whereas a 40IBU lager might be very bitter.
Generally I like at a minimum 30IBUs, and even more important than the bitterness is the hops flavour and aroma, even if it's just a hint I really like to have at least some.
Some beers are up around 40IBU but you'd never know it because they're also so sweet, whereas a 40IBU lager might be very bitter.
Generally I like at a minimum 30IBUs, and even more important than the bitterness is the hops flavour and aroma, even if it's just a hint I really like to have at least some.
FWIW, 12 IBU is going to be barely perceptible even in a dry beer. You could add between 8 & 15 IBU and probably never tell the difference; 20 you might be able to notice as more bitter than 12. I would not add less than about 8-10 IBU, just to make sure you get the preservative quality.
If you want to not really be able to tell the hops are there, I would pick a nice low-alpha hop and add a small amount near the beginning of the boil. You'll drive off the aroma and low-alpha hops tend to be gentle in flavor.
A stout with a Belgian yeast sounds fun. You'll want to ferment on the warm side to get the characteristic Belgian-y flavors. I haven't had that Noire beer from Unibroue, but I really like Maudite. They also made Trader Joe's holiday beer last winter, I picked up a 750 for $5 and it was very good.
If you want to not really be able to tell the hops are there, I would pick a nice low-alpha hop and add a small amount near the beginning of the boil. You'll drive off the aroma and low-alpha hops tend to be gentle in flavor.
A stout with a Belgian yeast sounds fun. You'll want to ferment on the warm side to get the characteristic Belgian-y flavors. I haven't had that Noire beer from Unibroue, but I really like Maudite. They also made Trader Joe's holiday beer last winter, I picked up a 750 for $5 and it was very good.
Noire is much better than Maudite to my tastes, and a little lower ABV. Going really dark and strong is Trois Pistoles, which is a little stronger, and my personal favourite. Really dark beer shines when those bright fruity yeasts come into play - I realy wish I could find something similar in a dry yeast, but so far the closest is S-33 which is far far different, S-33 is all banana, Unibroue's yeasts are all apple to my nose.
