25A Belgian Blond Ale
Belgian Blonde Ale (May 2025)
ABV6.7% OG1.056 FG1.005Grain bill
| Gladfield Light Lager Malt | 3 kg | 44.1% |
| Gladfield Pilsner Malt | 1.1 kg | 16.2% |
| Gladfield Vienna Malt | 0.8 kg | 11.8% |
| Gladfield Wheat Malt | 1 kg | 14.7% |
| Harraways Flaked Wheat | 0.75 kg | 11% |
| Gladfield Rye Malt | 0.15 kg | 2.2% |
Adjuncts
| Whirlfloc | half tablet @ 10 min |
| Yeast nutrient | half tsp @ 10 min |
Hop schedule
| Hop | 90 min | 30 min | 5 min |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacifica | 20g | · | 30g |
| Riwaka | · | 20g | 30g |
Yeast
| Mangrove Jack's M31 Belgian Tripel | 2 packets |
Water additions
| Calcium Sulphate | 1 tsp in mash |
| Calcium Chloride | half tsp in mash |
About This Beer
A direct re-brew of January’s Belgian Blonde with one deliberate change: Pacifica replaces Wakatu, gram for gram. Grain, yeast, mash and boil all unchanged.
Both are NZ Hallertau-derived, so the swap keeps the beer in the same hop family while shifting its character. Wakatu is an NZ Hallertau Aroma derivative giving tropical fruit and lime; Pacifica is an NZ Hallertau Mittelfrüh cross giving orange, citrus and floral. Riwaka is unchanged alongside it.
Ninety minute boil, consistent with Belgian Blonde tradition for pilsner-malt-driven beers.
Fermentation
Two packets of Mangrove Jack’s M31 Belgian Tripel. Zero pressure until day 9, then the spunding valve closed for CO2 capture, the same template as January.
Attenuated to 91%.
Packaging
Kegged on natural CO2 captured from day 9.
Cost
$55.90 for 21.9 litres, about $2.55 a litre.
Lineage
- Belgian Blonde (January 2025): Wakatu and Riwaka
- This brew: Pacifica replaces Wakatu, everything else held
- Belgian Blonde (February 2026): the next iteration