De Koninck Tomorrow

[TheMumbler]

An absoloute age ago I asked for advice on DeKoninck in this thread. I'm finally getting around to brewing it after work and an operation on my knee got in the way of brewing.

Going on what is in the previous thread for a 23l brewlength I'm thinking something along the lines of

3kg base (mix of Belgian Pale (1-1.5kg from memory), rest GP)
2kg Vienna

OG 1050
25 IBU from saaz

Antwerp ale yeast, past use by but seems to be culturing up fine atm.

pitch at 18 and raise it to 25 over a couple of days. Then cold secondary for a couple of weeks. How does that sound?

[Swoonara]

The recipe I came up with was the same except...
48% Lager malt
39% Vienna
8% Caramunich II
5 % Carabelge (As a replacement for Caravienne)

I reckon the Caramunich II is quite important for a malty punch plus a darker colour.
The Carabelge I'm not convinced by though!
I think mine ended up a bit too malty, but has improved after more lagering.

As an aside I was impressed by the Antwerp yeast. It has a subtle flavour that doesn't seem to mask hops. Just about to try it in a big hoppy Citra ale.

[TheMumbler]

Thanks for the recipe. I don't think I have any caramunich or caravienne but I'm hoping to get some maltiness and colour from the Belgian Pale and GP than you will have had from the lager malt. I do have carabelge.

I've been thinking about using this kind of yeast for APAs and AIPAs as well, the SF lager yeast was what I had in mind as I've used it a couple of times. The Antwerp Ale seems to have similar characteristics on paper. I'm not a fan of US05 as it doesn't flocculate well and I often bottle.

[Swoonara]

Have you used Carabelge before? Not sure what to make of it myself. I'm sure I can taste raisins, so maybe it's more like Special "B" than Caravienne

[TheMumbler]

Have you used Carabelge before? Not sure what to make of it myself. I'm sure I can taste raisins, so maybe it's more like Special "B" than Caravienne

Never used it. I have 500g from tmm which I ordered when planning some Belgian brews. I had assumed it was in the ballpark of pale crystal from the colour and description from Weyermann.