Belgian Strong Golden Ales
What You Need To Know
Often categories are firmly associated and nearly defined by a single product, and such is the case with Belgian Golden Strong Ales and the iconic Ale, Duvel. To those who have tasted a glass of Duvel, the experience is indeed a memorable one. As the name suggests, these are strong Ales and they demand a healthy dose of common sense and moderation when abiding. This style is a close cousin to the Abbey or Trappist Tripel while being a good bit drier, less fruity, and with a crisp finish. This style is an excellent aperitif although it can perform nicely after dinner and with cheese. The color is pale to deep to gold and slightly cloudy as most are bottle conditioned. The aromas and flavors feature a perfect balance of fruit and spice (most often reminiscent of apples with coriander and white pepper). While dry, semi-sweet malt notes are omni-present as would be expected with a Beer of this strength (more malt equals more sugar which becomes more alcohol). Despite the high alcohol strength, roughly 8-10% abv, the best examples of this style mask the alcohol well behind a wall of intense, complex flavors and textures never feeling “hot” on the palate. The classics of this style should be considered a “must try” and will serve to offer context and understanding to Belgian Beers at large.
Classic Examples of the Style
Duvel, Belgium
Unibroue "La Fin du Monde", Canada
Hapkin, Belgium