National Homebrew Club Ireland

General Discussions => Chit Chat => Topic started by: Dunkel on August 14, 2013, 09:12:47 PM

Title: Kwak
Post by: Dunkel on August 14, 2013, 09:12:47 PM
      My wife was in Brussels in June and brought me back a bottle of this. Obviously very touristy type of thing, with extraordinarily shaped glass complete with wooden stand. Just drinking it now; I'd call it a Belgian Golden Ale, very malty. But it's really good (to my palate anyway). Last tasted literally 15 years ago, but I'm impressed. They don't need the flashy glass & stand. Wouldn't mind having at a bash at trying a clone of this. Any recipes/ideas?
Title: Re: Kwak
Post by: HomeBrewWest on August 14, 2013, 09:33:30 PM
Quote from: Dunkel on August 14, 2013, 09:12:47 PM
      My wife was in Brussels in June and brought me back a bottle of this. Obviously very touristy type of thing, with extraordinarily shaped glass complete with wooden stand. Just drinking it now; I'd call it a Belgian Golden Ale, very malty. But it's really good (to my palate anyway). Last tasted literally 15 years ago, but I'm impressed. They don't need the flashy glass & stand. Wouldn't mind having at a bash at trying a clone of this. Any recipes/ideas?
I have yet to meet anyone who has not taken that glass out and left it on the table!
Title: Re: Kwak
Post by: imark on August 14, 2013, 09:44:24 PM
Quote from: Il Tubo on August 14, 2013, 09:16:21 PM
Nice beer alright.

There was a story about a bar (could have been B&C, Tom Goat will confirm) where to get the glass you had to leave a shoe at the bar. End of the night a load of shoes behind the bar and glasses all gone.
I think it was L Mulligans
Title: Re: Kwak
Post by: sub82 on August 14, 2013, 09:49:59 PM
Amazing beer - really malty and fruity. No idea of a recipe but would also be interested in making a demi-john worth for Xmas.
Title: Re: Kwak
Post by: delzep on August 14, 2013, 09:51:48 PM
That story is from Belgium, a pub in Gent on the main square who's name I forget now.

I have a glass which somehow made it home from Belgium in one piece.

I did a pretty good clone of this a few years ago I'll have a look tomorrow for the recipe.

Oh by the way, it's dreadful stuff way too sweet. I'm informed that belgians never drink the stugf
Title: Re: Kwak
Post by: sub82 on August 14, 2013, 10:30:03 PM
Think this is a clone recipe from our very own database!

NBC 2013 CAT 5 GOLD - Couac (http://nationalhomebrewclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,372.0.html)
Title: Re: Kwak
Post by: irish_goat on August 14, 2013, 11:19:25 PM
Quote from: Il Tubo on August 14, 2013, 09:16:21 PM
Nice beer alright.

There was a story about a bar (could have been B&C, Tom Goat will confirm) where to get the glass you had to leave a shoe at the bar. End of the night a load of shoes behind the bar and glasses all gone.

The B&C never did it as far as I know, I've only ever heard stories of bars in Belgium doing it. I always wondered how you were supposed to go to the jacks with only one shoe protecting your feet.

The beer itself is grand, nothing amazing. The gimmick of the glass is why it's so popular.

QuoteOh by the way, it's dreadful stuff way too sweet. I'm informed that belgians never drink the stugf

Belgians definitely drink the stuff, it's available all over the place. I don't think there's such a thing as too sweet over there.
Title: Re: Kwak
Post by: imark on August 14, 2013, 11:32:39 PM
Quote from: delzep on August 14, 2013, 09:51:48 PM
...Oh by the way, it's dreadful stuff way too sweet...
Couldn't agree more. It's pox! If you want to drink belgian beer this is just a gimmick!
Title: Re: Kwak
Post by: delzep on August 14, 2013, 11:59:04 PM
The Corne beers are supposed to be good and they have a gimmick glass too
Title: Re: Kwak
Post by: Dunkel on August 15, 2013, 11:22:58 AM
@ sub82  Thanks for the link

@ delzep and imark  We'll have to agree to disagree about this beer
Title: Re: Kwak
Post by: Will_D on August 15, 2013, 03:30:36 PM
I love Kwak!

Clone Beers (T&M Szamatulski) page 356 has the recipe

Must give it a go!
Title: Re: Kwak
Post by: delzep on August 15, 2013, 03:58:03 PM
My Kwak clone. If I remember it came out quite similar to the real thing...my carbonation was very low though

Kwak clone
18-B Belgian Dubbel

Extract recipe

Size: 15.0 L
Efficiency: 75.0%
Attenuation: 70.0%
Calories: 319.53 kcal per 12.0 fl oz

Original Gravity: 1.094 (1.062 - 1.075)
|================================|
Terminal Gravity: 1.028 (1.008 - 1.018)
|================================|
Color: 32.73 (10.0 - 17.0)
|=======================#========|
Alcohol: 8.76% (6.0% - 7.6%)
|================================|
Bitterness: 20.8 (15.0 - 25.0)
|=================#==============|

Ingredients:
3300 g Dry Extra Light
250 g Carared®
250 g Special B - Caramel malt
15 g Challenger (7.0%) - added during boil, boiled 60 min
1.0 ea Whirlfloc Tablets (Irish moss) - added during boil, boiled 20 min
10 g Fuggle (3.8%) - added during boil, boiled 15 min
300 g Candi Sugar Clear - added during boil, boiled 10 min
5 g Challenger (7.0%) - added during boil, boiled 1 min
1.0 ea WYeast 1762 Belgian Abbey II
Title: Re: Kwak
Post by: Weiss on August 15, 2013, 05:11:23 PM
Was in a bar in Seville last year and a local was drinking it from the glass.

I asked him what was stopping him liberating the glass and he said he had to leave his national ID card behind the bar while he was using it.
Title: Re: Kwak
Post by: Will_D on August 15, 2013, 07:07:54 PM
Offies in Holland (and probably Belgium) usually sell all the branded glassware!
Title: Re: Kwak
Post by: johnrm on August 15, 2013, 08:46:44 PM
You can get them in a 4 pack in Brussels airport as carry on.
I have 2  :)
The shoe off rule applies in my house if you want one... ::)
Title: Re: Kwak
Post by: Partridge9 on August 16, 2013, 08:28:36 PM

I love the stuff - I was given a pub crawl around Brussels by a absolute beer nut about a year ago - he brought me to a bar that serves nothing but Kwak- it was simply spectacular !
I presume you all know the story of the glass and the stagecoach drivers.
I suppose the story of kwak simply re-enforces what Dr Lyons was preaching - for a beer to be good - it needs a good story !

One of my favourite beers
Title: Re: Kwak
Post by: Dunkel on August 16, 2013, 08:32:04 PM
Quote from: Partridge9 on August 16, 2013, 08:28:36 PM

I presume you all know the story of the glass and the stagecoach drivers.

I know you're waiting for this, but no - I don't know the story!
Title: Re: Kwak
Post by: johnrm on August 16, 2013, 08:35:48 PM
All the talk of Kwak has me wanting you take off a shoe.
Title: Re: Kwak
Post by: Partridge9 on August 18, 2013, 04:05:27 PM
Quote from: Dunkel on August 16, 2013, 08:32:04 PM
Quote from: Partridge9 on August 16, 2013, 08:28:36 PM

I presume you all know the story of the glass and the stagecoach drivers.

I know you're waiting for this, but no - I don't know the story!

Basically coachmen used to bring the gentry to the pub or on a night out, they were not allowed to leave the stage coach unattended - so as the drivers waited - the coachman would have a kwak. The glass fitted perfectly into the wooden 'whip holder' on the top of the stage coach.


Its a nice story -