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This Belgian Strong Dark Ale started as a clone of Dogfish Head's Raison d'Etre several years ago and evolved with ingredient substitution and experience. It's bottle conditioned so give it time to settle and then pour carefully. The quantities below are for a double batch (42 litres post boil).

Malt
two row 14 kg
chocolate 400 g
melanoidan 250 g
C60 100 g

Other fermentable ingredients
Belgian dark candi sugar (liquid) (10 minutes) 450 g
raisin purée (10 minutes) 125 g
date purée (10 minutes) 125 g

Hops
warrior (60 minutes) 30 g
hallertauer tradition (0 minutes) 30 g

Yeast
Belgian Ardennes (Wyeast 3522) (liquid) plenty

Water
Pockwock 72 l

Procedure
mash 65° C, 60 minutes
boil 60 minutes
fermentation 20° C, 2 weeks
conditioning in bottle, 2 weeks

Specs
alcohol 8.1% ABV
bitterness 23 IBU
colour 19.5 SRM

Thanks Kyle, Nice beer. Has a bit of a cardboard flavour, but I like the dark fruit complexity and yeast character. Had the perfect amount of carb.

I didn't get any cardboard from this; maybe because I have a cold, but maybe Adam got an oxidized bottle. I'm a big fan of raisins and dates and plums, so this was right up my alley. Didn't get much in the way of Belgian yeast character off it either, which is fine because I'm not always a fan. Big and dark, with plenty of malt and just the right amount of dark fruit. I quite enjoyed this, thanks!

I'm getting some oxidization as well but the under lying beer is pretty good. Lots of nice flavors going on. Cheers.


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Definitely picking up layers of date and raisin. Always up to sample a new style and glass just about empty. More of a sipping beer in my books. Thanks for the brew.

Interesting beer, I really liked all the flavours layered into it. Thanks!

really complex. definitely tasty, slight oxidation. beer would be great aged to allow the flavors to develop. thanks for sharing Kyle. I hope you have a few in the closet.

Keith wrote:I hope you have a few in the closet.

It's on tap in my basement at the moment but I expect that the family will clear it out over the holidays.

Nice colour and head. Noticing the oxidation/cardboard flavour right away. Underneath that the dry fruit flavours are quite nice. Better on the finish.

I was going to say it had floaties but I've learned from earlier brews that it must be carb tabs which I've never tried. I get a hint of Belgian flavour with date or prune flavour. I checked and see you used raisin and date pure. This gets better as it warms. Big, tasty and interesting.

I tried really hard to enjoy this. Belgians are sometimes difficult for me to begin with. I found the alcohols to be a tad harsh and the raisins and dates pushed it over the edge for me.

Woody wrote:I was going to say it had floaties but I've learned from earlier brews that it must be carb tabs which I've never tried.

No, it more likely had floaties. No carb tabs were used.

Just drinking this now, and to be honest I didn't like it at first. But in half a glass it's grown on me. I fear by the end I'll be sad it's gone.

Thanks Kyle, it's really nice.

Late to the party again.

This is not a style I "LOVE" but this is very drinkable and I am only 2 months "ish" late.

Thanks Kyle.

S