Belgian "Hopkoning" Pale Ale

Belgian Pale Ale
(5 gallons)

9/16/2007

7 lbs liquid malt extract (John Bull Maris Otter)
1 lb crsytal 20
1/2 lb Belgian bisquit

1 oz Amarillo (60 min)
3/4 oz Centennial (30 min)
1/4 oz Chinook (10 min)

Yeast: WLP550 Belgian Ale

1.040 OG on 9/16

The Maris Otter liquid malt extract is pretty dark stuff - it looked almost like molasses - and so it's a stretch to call this a "pale" anything. I think I may have reversed my intended hop addition order; the above reflects the actual additions rather than the plan. When first kegged, this was extremely bitter - bitter rather than "hoppy" - but after a week or two in the keg it has begun to mellow, and it definitely has a Belgian characteristic, presumably the result of using the Belgian Ale yeast. It's not quite De Ranke XX, though.