We’re back at it with another entry in the Jar of Destiny Challenge, and this time, we brewed a Belgian Pale Ale from the 2015 BJCP guidelines, specifically category 24B. This is the second beer from the 11th of our random picks, and we’re excited to share how it turned out. Belgian Pale Ales are a unique style, balancing some of the expected fruity esters and spicy phenolics of Belgian yeast with more restrained hop bitterness and malt sweetness. In this video, we’ll dive into the recipe, talk about the brewing process, and share our thoughts on the final beer.

Oooh Belgian Pale Ale

Recipe

Batch Size: 3.5 gallons
Style: Belgian Pale Ale (Category 24B)
Original Gravity (OG): 1.052
Final Gravity (FG): 1.009
ABV: ~6%
IBU: Medium (unspecified exact value)
Color: Amber (darker than typical Belgian Pale Ale)

Grains:
Dingemans Pale Ale Malt: 83% (approximately 5.6 lbs or 2.54 kg)
Caravienne Malt: 17% (approximately 1.1 lbs or 0.50 kg)

Hops:
Styrian Goldings (60 minutes): 21 grams
Styrian Goldings (5 minutes): 14 grams

Yeast:
Wyeast 3522 Belgian Ardennes (liquid yeast)

Process:
Mash Temperature: 152°F (66°C) for 60 minutes

Fermentation Temperature: 68°F (20°C)
The beer started fermenting within 8 hours, and the yeast produced a clean profile with balanced esters and phenols. If looking to reduce yeast character slightly, fermenting cooler or under slight pressure might be beneficial.

Starting Gravity (OG): 1.052
Final Gravity (FG): 1.009
ABV (Alcohol by Volume): ~6%

Belgian Pale Ale Tasting Notes

On tasting, this Belgian Pale Ale delivers what we were hoping for: a beautiful amber color, subtle yeast esters, and a balanced blend of malt and hop character. The nose has hints of yeast and floral hop aromas, but the real star here is the malt bill. Caravienne brings a nice brown bread and biscuit quality, with just a touch of brown sugar sweetness. The yeast esters are there, but they’re not overwhelming—everything is in harmony. There’s a touch of sulfur on the aroma, likely due to the beer being a little young.

As the beer warmed up, the flavors continued to meld together, and the balance between malt, hops, and yeast became even more apparent. The beer has a smooth finish and medium body, and at 6% ABV, it’s drinkable but still has enough heft to be satisfying. I think this one will only improve with a little more conditioning time. In a couple of weeks, as the yeast drops out, it should clear up and become even more refined. Overall, this is another strong addition to the Jar of Destiny series.

Brew ON!