are there any homebrewers in random thoughts?

i've made two batches of beer before, and am about to get working on my third. since i'm still pretty much a newby at this, i'm still going for essentially all-extract, but i'd like to try my hand at a belgian style beer.

i've got a tentative recipe worked out already, but would like feedback from someone knowledgable as to how they think this would work out.

i have seen homebrewers brewers on other forums, but i figured random thoughts would give me faster answers, if someone's here

also, i'd be interested in exchanging recipes, especially simple but delicious recipes, with a preference for extract since i'm a beginner.

last beer i made was a pretty nice kolsch, and before that a heavy stout. this is what i'm thinking of trying for a belgian style beer:

6 lbs - Briess Pilsen Unhopped LME
3 lbs - Munton & Fison Light DME
1/2 lb - Dark Belgian Candi Sugar
1/2 lb - light brown sugar
1 oz - French Strisselspalt pellet hops
1 oz - Kent Goldings pellet hops
1 oz - Tettnang pellet hops
Belgian Strong Ale Activator Wyeast 1388

Boil the malts and sugars for 60 minutes in 3 gallons of water. Add 1 oz Tettnang and 1/2 oz Kent Goldings for the last 30 minutes of the boil. Add 1 oz Strisselspalt and 1/2 oz Kent Goldings for the last 10 minutes of the boil. Add enough cold water to bring it to 5 gallons. Ferment with Belgian Strong Ale Yeast (once sufficiently cooled, of course)

the recipe is my own creation based on what i could get from the supply shop online and guided partially by the tables for assisting in creating recipes from charlie papazian's "the complete joy of homebrewing"

i'm considering spicing it somehow as well, perhaps with some vanilla, or else some bitter orange peel and coriander. how do you think this would work?

 

My friend made a Red lager once, and He has insane red hair.. So I thought it was just a little creepy.. I want to make some beer though maybe.. My fav beer though is a Belgium White Ale. Id have to find some way of making that

 

its called a witbier. i've only ever heard blue moon call it a "belgian white ale," though the name is pretty accurate. blue moon is ok, but not the best example of the style. i'll drink it, though, i like it.

this is a totally different type of belgian style beer, though. this will be a lot heavier and a lot stronger in both flavor and alcohol (in theory, anyway)

 

i know crummyrummy homebrews

 

I hope to get round to doing this sometime.

I also hope to get round to growing my own carrots and potatoes.

 

i keep saying i'm gonna make my own beer but never do, maybe i will do it this year? maybe i will, idunno, it might happen

 

I've been looking into it, but haven't started yet.

 

Nesta, you're apparently winning the prize for posting beer related threads.

 

there's a prize?! sweet!

though i dont know, pressed rat may still have me beat

i'm also considering a double witbier, a double ipa, or a saison....

this is a tough decision

 

Heheh, what a tough life you got!:cheers2:

 

I want to start brewing mead

and maybe some cider too

 

I sleep with a homebrewer...

 

man, maybe i should find a brewing forum somewhere else for questions like this.

 

I think your recipe looks very sound, but I do have a suggestion. Even though you are doing an extract brew, you should get a pound or two of some specialty grains to add some flavor and body. You dont actually mash em, you basically make a tea with them. Before you boil or add and syrup, heat the water to 155° F and add grains, I put mine in grain bags or usually cheese cloth bundles(so you dont gotta strain em out later). Keep the wort at 155 for about half an hour. Then remove the grains , squeeze as much liquid from the bags as possible and bring the water to a boil and proceed like you were going to. If I were going by what my local store carries, I would use Aromatic Belgian 1/2 lb., Special B 1/2 lb and 1 lb of Belgian Carahell with your recipe. I would also use Wyeast Activator 1214 Trappist Ale yeast, but only because I am familiar with it and like its results. I have never used the belgian strong ale or anything NOT Wyeast activator. PM when you start drinking your brew...if it turns out, I might have to...borrow... your recipe for a batch