Belgian Triple step mash required?

[Bassman2003]

I looked at the brulosophy link. The only thing I would say about it is that the final gravity is 1.013. In my book that is not asking too much of the yeast and kind of a fail. I think those of use who are push a step mash would expect a final gravity of 1.008 for that same beer. Like a said in my post, 1.013 is fine, but for some that is not enough. So I do not think that comparison is a great example. Yes, the two were equal, but I would prefer to see if 1.008 was reached if they still would be equal. Those last five points are what makes the difference. Especially for a Belgian beer.

Edit, technically, the step mash had an O.G. of two points higher, so it did attenuate a little more. A small margin though.

 

[mac_1103]

Those last five points are what makes the difference. Especially for a Belgian beer.

Is it possible that we are now getting into the realm of personal taste and opinion? There are plenty of Belgian recipes with expected FG in the mid teens, even in the low twenties. Of course there are also recipes that are supposed to finish at 1.008 or 1.006.

Now I'm a guy who has been known to throw around glucoamylase like it was free (relax - not in Belgians), but maybe those last five points will make it too dry for some?

 

[Bassman2003]

In some ways it is personal opinion, but on other ways it is not. Belgian beers are known for having very high attenuation. That is not just a finishing gravity number, as the original gravity changes beer to beer. It is more of a overall "drinkability" as the monk stated in "Brew like a Monk". A lot of Belgian beers have this without being dry imho.

I mentioned 1008 as it pertained to the 1.050 helles that was brewed in the Brulosophy exbeeriment. Well attenuated does not have to drink dry. I think the key is to try to take the flabbiness out of the beer. Which a lot of homebrew has - a 1.013 helles from 1.050 is flabby for example.

 

[mac_1103]

That is not just a finishing gravity number, as the original gravity changes beer to beer.

Of course.