Midnight Vespers Belgian Dark Strong Ale | Extract Recipe Kit | 5 Gallons
Make sure this kit matches your setup
The short version before the full profile, ingredients, and process notes below.
Complete the brew day:
Liquid yeast note: refrigerate promptly after delivery. In warm weather, insulated shipping protection or faster shipping is recommended.
Dry yeast update: This kit now includes 2 sachets LalBrew Abbaye Belgian Ale Yeast. It does not use liquid yeast, so yeast ice protection is not required.
Midnight Vespers Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Belgian Dark Strong Ale is the dramatic, dark-fruited side of abbey-style brewing: strong, layered, aromatic, and far drier than the color and strength suggest. The style should carry raisin, plum, dark caramel, soft spice, and candi-sugar depth without becoming heavy or syrupy.
Midnight Vespers is built around that contrast. Belgian Pilsner malt keeps the base clean, Special B and CaraAroma push dark fruit and caramel, Abbey malt adds toasted complexity, and dark candi syrup brings the deep sugar character that defines the style. 2 sachets LalBrew Abbaye Belgian Ale Yeast provides the expressive fermentation profile and dry finish.
Why Brew This Kit
This is a serious Belgian strong ale for brewers who enjoy fermentation-driven complexity. It rewards oxygenation, yeast care, patient conditioning, and a careful warm finish.
Companion version: This is the extract with grains version. If you prefer the other brew-day format, see the Midnight Vespers Belgian Dark Strong Ale all-grain recipe kit.
Beer Profile
- Style: Belgian Dark Strong Ale / Quadrupel
- Batch Size: 5 gallons
- Estimated OG: ~1.088–1.098
- Estimated FG: ~1.010–1.016
- Estimated ABV: ~9.0–10.0%
- Bitterness: Moderate, ~24–32 IBU
- Color: Deep ruby-brown
- Fermentation: Abbey ale fermentation with warm finish
Grain Milling
We automatically mill the grains included with SoCal Brewing Supply beer recipe kits so they are ready for brew day. If you want the grains left unmilled, please add that request in the shopping cart notes before checkout. We’ll do our best to support unmilled requests when packing your order.
What to Expect
Raisin, plum, dark caramel, soft spice, layered candi syrup complexity, warming alcohol, and a dry finish for the strength.
Fermentation Requirements
Pitch 2 sachets LalBrew Abbaye Belgian Ale Yeast into well-aerated wort around 64–66°F. A starter is recommended. Hold early fermentation controlled, then allow the beer to rise gradually toward 72–74°F to finish dry. Confirm stable gravity before packaging.
Detailed Kit Contents
- Briess Pilsen Light DME: 6 lbs supplied as two 3 lb packs
- Briess Traditional Dark DME: 3 lbs
- Special B Malt: 8 Ounces
- CaraAroma® Malt: 8 Ounces
- Abbey Malt: 8 Ounces
- D-240 Dark Belgian Candi Syrup: 2.5 lbs
- Styrian Golding Hops: 2 Ounces
- Saaz Hops: 1 Ounce
- 2 sachets LalBrew Abbaye Belgian Ale Yeast Abbey Ale Yeast: 1 Pack
- Large Muslin Grain Bag: 1 Large Muslin Bag
Brewing Notes
Dissolve extract off heat, add dark candi syrup late, oxygenate well, and prioritize yeast health.
Helpful Bottling & Kegging Add-Ons
- Bottling this batch? Add powdered dextrose priming sugar and use our Priming Sugar Calculator for the actual packaged volume, beer temperature, and carbonation target.
- Kegging instead? Use our Beer Carbonation Chart & Keg Serving Pressure Calculator to choose the right CO₂ pressure for your serving temperature and target carbonation.