[Mr Ramsbotham]

I've been making Belgian Trappist-style ales for the past few months; a lot more fun and creativity involved than plain ales and lagers. I've got a batch I bottled two weeks ago, and tomorrow I'll be cracking one of the sample bottles I set aside for just that purpose. I'll also be brewing a concoction I intend to call "Shatanas Ers," with all kinds of fermentables, leftover HG Trappist yeast from my last batch, and a whole bunch of subtle flavors derived from various liqueuers, bourbon, and cherry wood chips. (Incidentally, the name is from Chaucer's Summoner's Tale.)

While I'm at it, I must say that I've become a devotee of yeast starter and oxygenated wort. It doesn't cost too much to infuse your wort with real oxygen; just a small investment in a diffusion stone and a regulator for the small-size oxygen canisters you can buy at Lowes or Home Depot. You get beautiful fermentations that start very quickly and provide maximum attenuation.

[JRandomFreeper]

I've been making Belgian Trappist-style ales for the past few months

I was suprised that you were doing that at this time of year, but I clicked on your name and saw that you probably aren't having 108F days. ;)

I'll be making my summer brew well into October.

/johnny

[brewer1516]

Same here. I get about 700 ml of a very healthy yeast starter going with the O2 and also use the O2 before I pitch the yeast into the fermenter. I’ve seen the airlock kick in within an hour!

[Red_Devil 232]

I have tried Belgian Trappist-style ales in the past and had mixed results. Could have been the heat down here in the south that caused the mixed results. I don’t have the means to control fermentation temps other than ice baths in the heat. Yep, pure oxygen is the way to oxygenate the wort.

Ah yes! “Shatanas Ers”! Satan’s arse - Sounds like that might be brewed with something like Jalapenos or such! Ouch in the morning!

[tired&retired]

“I’ve been making Belgian Trappist-style ales for the past few months”......

My favorites of all... The top of my favorite beer list is a Westmalle Triple. Been to the Brussels beer festival in Belgium many times to imbibe. Three hundred plus beers for three days! If you like lambics, the Bruxellensus Festival is every other year, the week after the big festival in the Grand Plus.