Beer Camp Across The World: Hoppy Belgian-Style Golden Ale
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- From:
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Pale Strong Ale
- ABV:
- 8%
- Score:
- 88
- Avg:
- 3.91 | pDev: 7.93%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 105
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Feb 28, 2026
- Added:
- May 10, 2017
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 30
SCORE
88
Very Good
88
Very Good
Belgium's Duvel are the masters of the golden ale-a beer style they helped create-so it was a natural fit for our breweries to combine the style with Sierra Nevada's hop-forward fanaticism. The resulting beer is bright golden and brimming with hop flavor with a pop of bright lemon, and perfectly accented by the fruity and complex character of Duvel's signature yeast.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by cjgiant:
Reviewed by cjgiant from District of Columbia
4.09/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.09/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle dated 4/2017:
This beer pours beautifully, with a thick head that doesn't get out of control. It's fluffy and sits like meringue atop the brew. Eventually the head becomes a thin collar near the last third of the glass, but that just accentuates it's high level of golden clarity.
The yeast seems to provide a backbone, and the bottle states it is Duvel's yeast, so it also has a familiarity. I notice a slight spice and a little something else almost earthy along with the yeast's light banana esters. I am not getting the lemon as a distinct note, initially. It seems to mix nicely with the hops on a warmer beer.
The opening seems to be malt and yeast working together providing a light, clean Belgian opening. A nice soft carbonation exists. The hops make there presence shown next, spice and dry green pine needles, that mix in with the existing components more than rolling over them. I am getting even less lemon than on the nose, but I do sense that there is something cleaning up this beer going into the ending, and it may be the lemon. No bitter aftertaste, but there is a little build up of bitterness as I get past the halfway point of the glass.
A nice little twist on a the style without wringing it into something completely different. Very enjoyable beer that it didn't take long to finish, in large part due to the makeup of the beer, IMHO.
Jun 18, 2017This beer pours beautifully, with a thick head that doesn't get out of control. It's fluffy and sits like meringue atop the brew. Eventually the head becomes a thin collar near the last third of the glass, but that just accentuates it's high level of golden clarity.
The yeast seems to provide a backbone, and the bottle states it is Duvel's yeast, so it also has a familiarity. I notice a slight spice and a little something else almost earthy along with the yeast's light banana esters. I am not getting the lemon as a distinct note, initially. It seems to mix nicely with the hops on a warmer beer.
The opening seems to be malt and yeast working together providing a light, clean Belgian opening. A nice soft carbonation exists. The hops make there presence shown next, spice and dry green pine needles, that mix in with the existing components more than rolling over them. I am getting even less lemon than on the nose, but I do sense that there is something cleaning up this beer going into the ending, and it may be the lemon. No bitter aftertaste, but there is a little build up of bitterness as I get past the halfway point of the glass.
A nice little twist on a the style without wringing it into something completely different. Very enjoyable beer that it didn't take long to finish, in large part due to the makeup of the beer, IMHO.
More User Ratings:
Rated by ttoadee from Texas
4.04/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.04/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
RB transfer
Feb 28, 2026
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho
3.66/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.66/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle from 2017 Beer Camp case. Light golden body, clear. lively carbonation. Small but dense head. Nice yeasty aroma, malts and grains. Taste also favors the yeast, floral, herbal, but the grains provide a nice base from which the other things can work their magic. Taste fades, and finishes fast. Minor lingering yeasty notes.
Jun 03, 2023
Reviewed by elNopalero from Michigan
4.39/5 rDev +12.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.39/5 rDev +12.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Pours a pleasing golden color. Expressive Duvel yeast character shines on this, with a nose full of coriander, orange peel and spice. It's estery and effervescent.
Oct 25, 2018
Reviewed by StoutElk_92 from Massachusetts
4.32/5 rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.32/5 rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
12 oz. bottle dated 04/19/17
Pours mostly clear gold with a creamy white foam head. Smells like caramelized bready honey cereal grain, some musty yeasty funk, apples, pear, orange citrus, grapefruit, fresh lemon peel, banana, clean peppery clove-like spice, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Tastes like tart apples, pear juice, grapefruit, orange citrus, fresh sour lemon peel, banana, phenolic peppery clove-like spice, caramelized bready honey cereal grains, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Feels medium bodied, thick and creamy with moderate carbonation. Overall a nice hoppy Belgian golden ale.
Feb 27, 2018Pours mostly clear gold with a creamy white foam head. Smells like caramelized bready honey cereal grain, some musty yeasty funk, apples, pear, orange citrus, grapefruit, fresh lemon peel, banana, clean peppery clove-like spice, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Tastes like tart apples, pear juice, grapefruit, orange citrus, fresh sour lemon peel, banana, phenolic peppery clove-like spice, caramelized bready honey cereal grains, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Feels medium bodied, thick and creamy with moderate carbonation. Overall a nice hoppy Belgian golden ale.
Reviewed by EMV from Pennsylvania
4.24/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Duvel tulip
L: Clear light golden pour. 2 fingers of foamy white head... not as aggressive as I was expecting. Still a solid rim of lacing.
S: Lemon/citrus and yeast. Smells kinda like a Duvel.
T/F: Belgian strong pale all the way. Light malts/grains... lemon citrus, faint banana... esters, honey, and Belgian yeast. Mildly fruity and complex. Some Sierra Nevada comes through in the hops, but still Belgian forward. Light bodied... nice carbonation and great feel. The finish is citrus and esters.
O: A really nice Belgian strong golden ale... drinks a LOT like a Duvel. Great beer, but not entirely sure what Sierra Nevada contributed to this one. Would have again any time.
Feb 01, 2018L: Clear light golden pour. 2 fingers of foamy white head... not as aggressive as I was expecting. Still a solid rim of lacing.
S: Lemon/citrus and yeast. Smells kinda like a Duvel.
T/F: Belgian strong pale all the way. Light malts/grains... lemon citrus, faint banana... esters, honey, and Belgian yeast. Mildly fruity and complex. Some Sierra Nevada comes through in the hops, but still Belgian forward. Light bodied... nice carbonation and great feel. The finish is citrus and esters.
O: A really nice Belgian strong golden ale... drinks a LOT like a Duvel. Great beer, but not entirely sure what Sierra Nevada contributed to this one. Would have again any time.
Reviewed by Tone from Missouri
4.45/5 rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.45/5 rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Pours a clear gold color. 2/3 inch head of a white color. Great retention and decent lacing. Smells of wheat, sweet malt, slight Belgian yeast, floral hops, fruit esters, floral hops, slight resin, and alcohol. Fits the style of a Belgian Strong Pale Ale. Mouth feel is smooth and clean, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of strong wheat, alcohol, Belgian yeast, slight grass, floral hops, fruit, pale malt, hint of spice, and slight spicy hops. Overall, great complexity, good body, aroma, and blend.
Dec 02, 2017
Reviewed by RyanK252 from California
3.93/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Bottle poured into a Sierra Nevada Brewing Co pint glass
A: Pours golden yellow with a frothy off white head that settles to a firm layer and leaves some light lacing.
S: Citrus, fruity, floral, a touch of spice, light malt, and a little sweetness.
T: Bight, lemony, light fruity notes, grainy biscuity malt, and caramel/honey sweetness.
M: Medium body, moderate carbonation.
O: Wasn't really sure what to expect from this one as Belgians aren't typically my style, but I actually enjoyed it.
Nov 18, 2017A: Pours golden yellow with a frothy off white head that settles to a firm layer and leaves some light lacing.
S: Citrus, fruity, floral, a touch of spice, light malt, and a little sweetness.
T: Bight, lemony, light fruity notes, grainy biscuity malt, and caramel/honey sweetness.
M: Medium body, moderate carbonation.
O: Wasn't really sure what to expect from this one as Belgians aren't typically my style, but I actually enjoyed it.
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