A strong, dark Belgian ale with rich malt complexity, dark fruit notes, and warming alcohol.
The target has a sulfate-to-chloride ratio of 0.7:1 (malt-leaning, balanced) - the balance that shapes how hoppy or malty the beer tastes.
| Ion | Target (ppm) |
|---|---|
| Calcium (Ca²⁺) | 80 |
| Magnesium (Mg²⁺) | 8 |
| Sodium (Na⁺) | 15 |
| Chloride (Cl⁻) | 90 |
| Sulfate (SO₄²⁻) | 60 |
| Bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻) | 90 |
Useful starting target, but recipe composition or regional interpretation can materially change the optimum. Verify mash pH and sensory balance.
Salts to add to reverse-osmosis or distilled water to reach this target, calculated by the BrewWaterSolver solver with the most common homebrew salts (calcium chloride, gypsum, Epsom salt, chalk and baking soda).
| Salt | 5 gal (18.9 L) | 20 L |
|---|---|---|
| Calcium chloride (CaCl₂) | 3.40 g | 3.60 g |
| Gypsum (CaSO₄) | 1.03 g | 1.09 g |
| Epsom salt (MgSO₄) | 1.36 g | 1.43 g |
| Chalk (CaCO₃) | 0.85 g | 0.90 g |
| Baking soda (NaHCO₃) | 0.84 g | 0.88 g |
Resulting water: Ca 82.7, Mg 8.1, Na 15.1, Cl 89.8, SO4 59.4, HCO3 89.9 ppm. Split the salts between mash and sparge water in the solver if you prefer.
With RO water and the salts above, a typical Belgian Dark Strong Ale grist is predicted to mash at pH 5.46, against a target of 5.40 (amber/brown color - balanced pH for malt character). To bring it down, add about 1.2 mL of 88% lactic acid for 5 gal (1.3 mL for 20 L).
Estimated from the style's typical color (SRM 16) without a real grain bill - enter your recipe in the solver for a sharper prediction, and always check with a pH meter.
Belgian-Style Quadrupel, Belgian-Style Strong Dark Ale - these BA styles use the same water target.