Three months ago, we pulled our 12th picks from the Jar of Destiny, continuing our homebrewing challenge . Mike has the first beer to hit the tasting table: a Trappist Single. This lesser-known style, categorized as 26A in the 2015 BJCP guidelines, is the beer monks brewed for themselves rather than for sale. It’s a lower-alcohol, noticeably bitter brew that stands apart from Belgian Blondes and Doubles while hinting at the dry, fruity qualities of a scaled-down Tripel. Here’s how we brewed it and what we thought of the final product.

Bring on the Brother Beer!

The Recipe: Simplicity with Precision

To capture the essence of a Trappist Single, Mike kept it simple:

Water Adjustments
Start with spring water (low mineral content).
Add:
2 grams of gypsum
1 gram of calcium chloride
1 gram of magnesium chloride
Lactic acid as needed for pH adjustment (~5.2 target).

Grain Bill
94% Dingemans Belgian Pilsner Malt (~5.3 lbs / 2.4 kg)
6% Carapils Malt (~0.34 lbs / 0.15 kg)

Hops
1 oz Styrian Goldings (2.8% AA) @ 60 minutes
6 grams Nugget (14.8% AA) @ 60 minutes (to boost bitterness)
1 oz Styrian Goldings @ 10 minutes

Yeast
Fermentis BE-256 (Abbaye)

Mash Schedule
Mash at 149°F (65°C) for 75 minutes (for high fermentability).
Ramp up to 168°F (76°C) for 15 minutes.
Sparge as needed to collect pre-boil volume.

Boil
Boil for ~65–70 minutes.
Add hops as scheduled.

Fermentation
Ferment at 65°F (18°C) for 3 days in a cool environment.
Allow the temperature to rise naturally to ~70°F (21°C) to finish fermentation.
Primary fermentation: ~3 weeks.

Carbonation
Highly carbonate the beer for a light, effervescent mouthfeel.

Results
OG: 1.048
FG: 1.009
ABV: ~5.5%
IBUs: 38–40

Our Trappist Single Tasting Notes

The beer poured a pale yellow with a soft, billowy head that left fantastic lacing. The aroma was earthy and floral, with hints of geranium and subtle yeast esters. On the palate, the beer delivered a crisp, dry finish with light orange peel notes and just a whisper of Belgian spice. While the bitterness and dryness hit the marks, we felt the fruity esters could have been more pronounced. Adding a touch of Citra or Cascade in future batches might coax out that elusive fruit character.

Overall, this Trappist Single is incredibly drinkable—a true session beer with classic Belgian touches. It may not be a home-run replication of the monastery brews, but it’s a solid double. Stay tuned for the next Jar of Destiny beer as we continue this challenge!

Brew ON!