The Dark Monk

  • MaltyMalty
  • HerbalHerbal
  • SpicySpicy
  • EsteryEstery
Sale price$53.10
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Holy moley, your prayers have been answered. A Belgian Brown Ale for our devoted followers, this Trappist-style beer pays homage to the faithful monks who’ve been nourishing the community with their brews since the 16th Century. A heavenly balance of bitter and sweet. The trinity of caramel, coffee and chocolate from the malt meld seamlessly with the spicy esters of the Belgian yeast. Let this blessed little ale warm up a little in the glass to truly appreciate its subtle and hallowed nuances.

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Recipe Contains

1 × Lager (1.7kg)
1 × Thomas Coopers Amber Malt Extract (1.5kg)
1 × Light Dry Malt (500g)
1 × Light Crystal Malt (100g)
1 × Chocolate Malt (250g)
1 × Carbonation Drops (250g)

You'll Need

1 × 25g Willamette Hops
1 × 11.5g Safbrew T-58 Dry Yeast

Beer Style: Ale

Colour (EBC): 30
Volume: 23L
Difficulty: Advanced

ABV 6.5%

Alcohol by Volume

25 IBU

International Bitterness Units

EBC 30

Colour

This Recipe

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Ingredients

1 x 1.7kg Lager
1 x 1.5kg Thomas Coopers Amber Malt Extract
1 x 500g Coopers Light Dry Malt
1 x 100g Light Crystal Malt
1 x 250g Chocolate Malt
1 x 25g Willamette Hops
1 x 11.5g Safbrew T-58 Dry Yeast
1 x 250g Coopers Carbonation Drops

Mix

The Day Before: Line a pot (at least 4 litres) with a mesh cleaning cloth (pulled straight from the
pack).
Place all the Light Crystal and Chocolate Malt in a plastic zip-lock sandwich bag and crack them using
a rolling pin.
Add the cracked Light Crystal and Chocolate Malt and 3 litres of cold water, fit the lid and sit in the
fridge overnight.
Brew Day: Gather up the corners of the mesh cloth and lift, allowing the liquid to drain from the Light
Crystal and Chocolate Malt back into the pot.
Place the strained liquid onto the stovetop, bring to the boil and add the Willamette Hops boil for 10
minutes then remove from the heat.
Cool the liquid by placing the pot in a bath of cold water for about 15mins.
Add all the fermentable ingredients and the cooled liquid to the fermenting vessel (FV) then stir to
dissolve. Don’t be concerned if lumps of Light Dry Malt persist as they will dissolve over the course of
several hours.
Top up with cold tap water to 20 litres and stir thoroughly.
Check the temperature and top up to 23 litres with warm or cool water (refrigerated if necessary) to
start the brew at 18°C.
Sprinkle both the Safbrew T-58 Dry Yeast and brew can yeast then fit the lid.

Home Recipes THE DARK MONK

The Dark Monk

Holy moley, your prayers have been answered. A Belgian Brown Ale for our devoted followers, this Trappist-style beer pays homage to the faithful monks who’ve been nourishing the community with their brews since the 16th Century. A heavenly balance of bitter and sweet. The trinity of caramel, coffee and chocolate from the malt meld seamlessly with the spicy esters of the Belgian yeast. Let this blessed little ale warm up a little in the glass to truly appreciate its subtle and hallowed nuances.

The Dark Monk
Beer Style Ale
Flavour Profile Malty, Herbal, Spicy, Estery
Alcohol Content 6.5%
Colour (EBC) 30
Bitterness (IBU) 25
Volume 23L
Difficulty Advanced

Ingredients

1 x 1.7kg Lager
1 x 1.5kg Thomas Coopers Amber Malt Extract
1 x 500g Coopers Light Dry Malt
1 x 100g Light Crystal Malt
1 x 250g Chocolate Malt
1 x 25g Willamette Hops
1 x 11.5g Safbrew T-58 Dry Yeast
1 x 250g Coopers Carbonation Drops

1. Mix

The Day Before: Line a pot (at least 4 litres) with a mesh cleaning cloth (pulled straight from the
pack).
Place all the Light Crystal and Chocolate Malt in a plastic zip-lock sandwich bag and crack them using
a rolling pin.
Add the cracked Light Crystal and Chocolate Malt and 3 litres of cold water, fit the lid and sit in the
fridge overnight.
Brew Day: Gather up the corners of the mesh cloth and lift, allowing the liquid to drain from the Light
Crystal and Chocolate Malt back into the pot.
Place the strained liquid onto the stovetop, bring to the boil and add the Willamette Hops boil for 10
minutes then remove from the heat.
Cool the liquid by placing the pot in a bath of cold water for about 15mins.
Add all the fermentable ingredients and the cooled liquid to the fermenting vessel (FV) then stir to
dissolve. Don’t be concerned if lumps of Light Dry Malt persist as they will dissolve over the course of
several hours.
Top up with cold tap water to 20 litres and stir thoroughly.
Check the temperature and top up to 23 litres with warm or cool water (refrigerated if necessary) to
start the brew at 18°C.
Sprinkle both the Safbrew T-58 Dry Yeast and brew can yeast then fit the lid.

2. Brew

Place the FV in a location out of direct sunlight and ferment at 18C to 22C.
Fermentation should take around 7 to 10 days.
On day 10 check the specific gravity (SG).
Check the SG again the following day and so on.

3. Bottle

The brew is ready once the SG has stabilised over a couple of days, expect about 1010 to 1016.
Gently fill clean PET bottles to about 3cm from the top.
Add 2 carbonations drop per bottle and secure the caps (use only one carbonation drop for bottles
intended to be stored for a longer period).
Store the bottles upright in a location out of direct sunlight at or above 18C

4. Enjoy

After at least two weeks, check for sufficient carbonation by squeezing the PET bottles.
Bottles kept unrefrigerated will improve as this style of beer is intended to be aged.
When ready to drink, chill the bottles upright.
Pour into clean glassware, leaving the sediment behind.
Expect the alcohol content to be approximately 6.5% ABV.

Common Questions

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