Lower ABV Belgian style pale / blonde

[marshbrewer]

I really like triples, and Belgian Strong Golden Ales. In fact tonight, I'm even enjoying a bottle of Leffe Blonde, which I suppose is the Carling if the Belgian Ale world

But I don't enjoy the hammering that ales north of 7% give you if you fancy a few. So, how possible is a lighter, say 4.5% beer of this style? For me, the characteristics that my untrained taste buds look for in these beers is the yeast spice and or banana, with a light malty background. Can you get this in a lower ABV beer? What about going all malt, and dropping the sugars they normally use, would that work or would it be too malty? Should I just scale it all down and keep the malt / sugar? Questions questions. Has anyone else tried something like this?

 

[prog99]

I’ve had a lower alcohol duvel before that they did on draught and it was pretty good so it is possible.

 

[samale]

I am only starting to look at Belgian beers. Saison historically were low abv, like a pale ale

 

[strange-steve]

What you're talking about sounds to me like an enkel or patersbier. Have a look here: Patersbier: The Lawnmower Beer of Trappist Monks | American Homebrewers Association

 

[MickDundee]

There are 2 recipes in the GH book - a Belgian Pale which is either 5% or 5.5% and a patersbier.

 

[Hanglow]

Have a search for a Westvleteren blond or petit orval clone.

Petit Orval is basically just a watered down orval, so just try orval with a reduced grainbill

 

[marshbrewer]

Thanks for all the suggestions; it looks like a Patersbier is on my to brew list!