Belgian Style - Belgian Pale Ale

As Pale as the Moon

The Belgian Pale Ale is a top fermented beer. The color is gold to copper and it can have a caramel or toasted malt flavor. The style is characterized by low but noticeable hop bitterness, flavor and aroma. The Belgian Pale Ale is inspired by British pale ales, which are very sessionable. 

Specifications
OGOriginal gravity in Plato
11 - 14°
AFGApparent final gravity in Plato
2.5 - 3°
EBUEuropean Bitterness Units
20 - 30
ABVAlcohol % by volume
4 - 6%
EBC
10 - 20

Ingredients

Extract yield: 
± 80%

Ingredients

Brewing Process

Programmed infusion process; pH 5.3

  1. 60 ‘ at 63 °C
  2. 1’ at 78 °C;  sparging at 80 °C
  • boiling: 60 min;
  • first hop:  5 min; 
  • second:  50 min; 
  • third: Whirlpool;

 

Rest of process

  • Whirlpool or centrifuge
  • Fermentation for 7 days at 17 - 20 °C
  • Yeast collection
  • Maturation or secondary fermentation for 1 week at 7 – 10 °C
  • Conditioning for 1 week at 0 - 1 °C
  • Remove the sediment.
  • Bottling
  • Refermentation in the bottle: 10 – 15 days at 21 – 22 °C (warm dark room)

 

Remarks: 

The amount of sugar is in relation with:

  1. residual sugar from main fermentation
  2. residual CO2
  3. the desired CO2 content e.g. 6‐7 g / lit. CO2

The amount of hop is also related to the isomerisation yield in the brewery.

Disclaimer: 

This recipe is a guideline provided by Dingemans Maltings. Some modifications may be required depending the used ingredients and the technological conditions of the brewery. Dingemans cannot be held responsible for the final beer quality.