26D Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Riwaka Reserve
ABV10.5% OG1.096 FG1.019Against the style · 26D Belgian Dark Strong Ale
- ABV 10.5%, style 8.0% to 12.0%
- OG 1.096, style 1.075 to 1.110
- FG 1.019, style 1.010 to 1.024
- EBC est. 90, style 24 to 43
Grain bill
| Gladfield Pilsner Malt | 5.2 kg | 54.7% |
| Gladfield Munich Malt | 1.8 kg | 18.9% |
| Gladfield Aurora Malt | 0.5 kg | 5.3% |
| Gladfield Toffee Malt | 0.4 kg | 4.2% |
| Gladfield Dark Chocolate Malt | 0.1 kg | 1.1% |
| Dark Candi Sugar (homemade) | 1.5 kg | 15.8% |
Adjuncts
| Yeast nutrient | 5 g @ 10 min |
| Whirlfloc | 1 g @ 10 min |
Hop schedule
| Hop | 90 min | 30 min | 5 min |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hallertau Mittelfrüh 35 g | 35g | · | · |
| Riwaka 50 g | · | 30g | 20g |
Yeast
| LalBrew Abbaye | 2 packets |
Water additions
| Calcium Chloride | 4 g |
| Calcium Sulfate | 2 g |
| Magnesium Sulfate | 2 g |
| Lactic acid | — |
Tasting notes
2025-03-22
Fermentation profile
Gravity
Temperature
About This Beer
A Euroclash 2025 entry targeting 26D Belgian Dark Strong Ale: high gravity, complex, dark, and built for cellaring. The name reflects both the NZ hop character and the intention to age it.
The malt base layers Pilsner for clean fermentability, Munich for depth and colour, Aurora for bready fruit-cake complexity and Toffee for caramel warmth, with a small Dark Chocolate addition for the deep roast note and colour the style wants without dominating.
1.5 kg of homemade dark candi sugar at 10 minutes, made by caramelising cane sugar to a high temperature to develop dark fruit and toffee compounds. At nearly 16% of the fermentable load it contributes as much to the flavour as to the gravity.
Hallertau Mittelfrüh gives traditional noble bittering. Riwaka adds the NZ twist at 30 and 5 minutes, a late citrus and passionfruit lift against the dark malt.
Fermentation
Two packets of Abbaye at 19°C, held four days, then stepped a degree a day to 24°C and held through day 14. Cooled gradually to 12°C and conditioned four weeks before packaging.
The slow ramp and the long conditioning are both essential at this gravity.
Packaging and tasting
Mixed packaging on day 28, carbonated to 2.5 volumes.
Tasted at packaging: rich dark fruit with strong Belgian character and a warming finish. A beer built for time, with further ageing expected to integrate the alcohol heat and deepen the complexity.