Smoked Belgian Ale recipe--opinions appreciated (1st time using Beersmith)

**climateboy** · 11-14-2008, 02:46 PM

Hi, all.

So I found this recipe for a smoked Belgian which looks great...I've been wanting to home-smoke some malt, and I'm planning a meal for the end of January which this would be a great pairing for.

A couple of questions. I took the recipe from the site and plugged it into Beersmith--my first time using it--then converted it to partial mash, then halved the volume--this is going to be an experimental batch.

Does everything look kosher? Does anyone have any suggestions on hop additions...I have some Hallertau, Saaz, Centennial, and Glacier sitting around (leftovers from other recipes).

Here's the original recipe for "St. Fumidus" from XXL Brewing Company (cool site...anyone used any of their interesting recipes?)

Min OG: 1.020 Max OG: 1.120
Min IBU: 12 Max IBU: 70
Min Clr: 2 Max Clr: 70 Color in SRM, Lovibond

Recipe Specifics
Batch Size (Gal): 6.00 Wort Size (Gal): 6.00
Total Grain (Lbs): 16.20
Anticipated OG: 1.080 Plato: 19.33
Anticipated SRM: 29.2
Anticipated IBU: 32.0
Brewhouse Efficiency: 75 %
Wort Boil Time: 90 Minutes

Grain/Extract/Sugar
% Amount Name Origin Potential SRM
61.7 10.00 lbs. Rauchmalt Germany 1.037 9
12.3 2.00 lbs. Pilsener Belgium 1.037 2
6.2 1.00 lbs. CaraVienne Malt Belgium 1.034 22
6.2 1.00 lbs. Dark Candi Syrup Belgium 1.046 150
3.1 0.50 lbs. Aromatic Malt Belgium 1.036 25
6.2 1.00 lbs. Turbinado Sugar Generic 1.046 0
3.1 0.50 lbs. Special B Malt Belgian 1.030 120
1.2 0.20 lbs. Carafa Special Germany 1.030 600

Hops
Amount Name Form Alpha IBU Boil Time
0.50 oz. Northern Brewer Pellet 9.00 15.9 First WH
0.50 oz. Northern Brewer Pellet 9.00 16.1 60 min

Extras
Amount Name Type Time
1.00 Unit(s) Whirlfoc Fining 20 Min.(boil)

...and this is what I got after plugging it into Beersmith:

Ingredients

Amount Item Type % or IBU
3.20 lb Pale Liquid Extract (8.0 SRM) Extract 44.66 %
1.09 lb Smoked Malt (9.0 SRM) Grain 15.29 %
0.88 lb Pilsner (2 Row) Bel (2.0 SRM) Grain 12.22 %
0.44 lb Caravienne Malt (22.0 SRM) Grain 6.10 %
0.26 lb Special B Malt (180.0 SRM) Grain 3.68 %
0.22 lb Aromatic Malt (26.0 SRM) Grain 3.06 %
0.11 lb Carafa III (525.0 SRM) Grain 1.47 %
0.70 oz Northern Brewer [8.50 %] (60 min) Hops 9.6 IBU
0.70 oz Northern Brewer [8.50 %] (5 min) (First Wort Hop) Hops 2.1 IBU
0.53 lb Candi Sugar, Dark (275.0 SRM) Sugar 7.35 %
0.44 lb Turbinado (10.0 SRM) Sugar 6.17 %

What do you think?

Parker36 · 11-14-2008, 02:55 PM

Saaz are good in Belgians. A few things to look out for:
1) If you are halving the recipe, make sure you don't just halve the hops, the IBUs don't convert 1-1. If you adjust your batch/boil size in beersmith, it will calculate what you need for you.
2) You may be rushing the beer a little bit with a 2 month time frame. I've never done a Belgian this quickly, but have also never done a smoked Belgian, so it may turn out great!

**climateboy** · 11-14-2008, 03:05 PM

Thanks, Parker. I did calculate the hops...just forgot to post them. Actually, how would you convert a first wort hop addition for a partial mash recipe?

I just want to make a smoked beer...it doesn't have to be a Belgian. Any suggestions appreciated.

CB