Le Chouffe Houblon Dobblen IPA Tripel helps us brew our own Belgian Style IPA

So Karl came over and after a nourishing Chipotle run, we stopped by the beer store on our way to the home brew store in order to stock up on the intoxicating alcohol that we would need in order to make our own intoxicating beer, duh. I bought two beers of the style we were making (Belgian Style IPA), Le Freak and Le Chouffe. Karl bought a few Ommegang's. David went a little crazy and bought the Infinium and Tripel Hop Duvel among several others. Party.

Here is the recipe for David and Walker's yet to be named Belgian Style IPA (and a big thank you to Karl who had a large hand in cooking this).

Malt Extract:     Pale 6 lbs

Sugar:              Wildflower Honey .5 lbs

Grain Bill:         Caravienne Malt 4 oz

                        Carafoam Malt 4 oz

                        Aromatic Malt 4 oz

                        Biscuit Malt 4 oz               

Hop Schedule: Simcoe (12.7%) 1oz at 60 mins
                       Cascade (4.5%) 1oz at 45 mins
                       Centennial (10.5) 1oz at 30 mins
                       Cascade (4.5) 1oz at 15 mins
                       Simcoe (12.7%) 1oz DRY HOP
                       Cascade (4.5%) 1oz DRY HOP

Yeast:            Wyeast 1214 Belgian Trappist Ale
                      *(may add a second Belgian Strong Ale or Northwest Ale
                        during 2nd fermentation)


Potential Alcohol 5.5%  (although we're hoping that will change

Gravity 1.041

Balling Scale is at 10%

*This was our first time using the newly purchased wort cooler and if you're ever thinking about getting one, DO IT. It takes at least 45 - 60 mins to cool the wort down to 70 degrees using ice, but with the chiller it took about 15 minutes. Totally worth what I dropped on it. 

Karl is standing in my kitchen swiping honey like he was Yogi Bear (Karl K) and since I wholeheartedly agree with him about the beer but seeing how he is more articulate, I'm going to quote him here as my review:

 

Karl, "It doesn't have the definite characteristics of either a Belgian or IPA. It's lost in the woods between the two, but being lost in these woods is still a nice place to be." David describes it as being a 'Light IPA or Hoppy Pilsner - Two sides of the same coin.' I'll add that it's smooth and easy to drink. THE ROCK rating.