Gulden Draak
Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.

Gulden DraakGulden Draak
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From:
Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.
 
Belgium
Style:
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Ranked #8
ABV:
10.5%
Score:
94
Ranked #2,090
Avg:
4.24 | pDev: 11.32%
Reviews:
1,462
Ratings:
4,362
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 10, 2024
Added:
Dec 19, 2001
Wants:
  333
Gots:
  1,024
Dark Triple Ale brewed with caramel malt and re-fermented with Bordeaux wine yeast
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Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Osiris9588:
Photo of Osiris9588
Reviewed by Osiris9588 from Ohio

4.03/5  rDev -5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served from a 750ml bottle, caged and corked, and painted white, with that really cool golden dragon label. The color is a nearly opaque deep brown with an amber tint around the edges. The tan, 2-finger head is thick and creamy, showing decent retention, with considerable lacing, clinging in fluffy tufts all around the circumference of the tulip.

The aroma consists of rich caramel malts, citrus, a little clove and corriander, and a subtle floral characteristic. The well-balanced flavor profile features light citrus, subtle clove, a touch of hoppy bitterness, berries, rasins, caramel, and some chocolate--and ample, warm alcohol.

The mouth is well-rounded, not overly complex, and smooth. The sweetness nor the alcohol overwhelms the palate--thus resulting in a very drinkable brew, for those who enjoy the style. Very solid overall. And again, the golden dragon on the label is very cool.
Sep 10, 2006
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.63 by BLVBBERGIXLL from Arizona

Mar 10, 2024
 
Rated: 4.5 by mushycake from Connecticut

Mar 03, 2024
 
Rated: 4 by Nyoder

Feb 24, 2024
Photo of brianstrong2
Reviewed by brianstrong2 from Tennessee

4.81/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Other than Sint Bernardus Abt 12, this is one of the best beers I have ever had. The extremely high malt content and being a deep red tripel is unique and wonderful. Highly recommend. Of note, the aroma is a bit boozier than the feel or taste.
Feb 16, 2024
Photo of acerbictea
Reviewed by acerbictea from Wisconsin

4.75/5  rDev +12%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Dark red fruits (apples, cranberries, plums, dates, cherry), almost a little red wine. Caramel sweetness, with just enough bitterness to keep it from being cloying. Goes down INCREDIBLY easily for its 10.5% ABV. All-around excellent.
Feb 08, 2024
 
 
Rated: 3.75 by brpendergast85 from District of Columbia

Jan 16, 2024
 
Rated: 4.31 by RoyalKaiju from Kentucky

Jan 14, 2024
 
Rated: 4.19 by Budlum from Maryland

Jan 14, 2024
 
Rated: 4.08 by BillyNoonan from Ireland

Jan 12, 2024
 
Rated: 4.38 by SeanP99 from North Carolina

Jan 11, 2024
Photo of cratez
Reviewed by cratez from Canada (ON)

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
330ml bottle from a gift pack purchased at the LCBO. Expiry date of November 7, 2025. Consumed January 6, 2024.

L: Clear, dark, ruby red hue. One finger of tan coloured foam. Several strands of lacing on the wine glass.

S: Red apple, cherry, roasted malt. Some vinous red wine notes. Hints of caramel, dark pit fruit (plum) & toffee.

T: Mostly follows the nose. A bit chocolatey + touch of sour cherry.

F: Lush, silky, full bodied MF. Slightly tart upfront. Long, bittersweet, drying finish. ABV is well hidden.

O: A first class Belgian Strong Dark Ale, with genuinely novel character thanks to the red wine yeast. One of the better examples of the style, this is a "must-try" in my books.
Jan 07, 2024
Photo of Steve555
Reviewed by Steve555 from Wales

4.47/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
My first dark ted tripel. Creamy tan foam on a reddish brown body. Taste is malty, sweet caramel and cranberries with some lingering bitterness. Finish is very smooth and slightly sweet with next to no booziness. The effect is a very clean sense of inebriation and the realisation you’ve drank something special.
Jan 05, 2024
Photo of defunksta
Reviewed by defunksta from Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Pours a clear, deep amber color with a massive light tan head. SRM of 19. (4.00)

Aroma: Strong aromas of rich bread, dark red fruits, some cherry and booze underneath. (4.00)

Flavor: Strong and rich flavors of caramel mixed with dark fred fruit and Belgian spices. Plum, cherry, amber malts. Booze shows underneath and finishes sweet. (4.00)

Feel: Heavier-bodied, strong carbonation, Warm, sweet, and shows the booze a bit. (4.00)

Overall: Ranked #8 for a Belgian Strong Dark Ale, but on the bottle listed as a Red Tripel. It has rich caramel, red fruit, and shows the booze with a warming quality on the end. Very flavorful and the amber malt flavors emerge as it warms. Enjoying it so far. (Rating: 4.00)
Dec 17, 2023
Photo of Grax
Reviewed by Grax from Iowa

4.6/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Aroma is extremely complex and enticing, with a bouquet of juicy red fruits and caramelly malt. The body delivers, with a wave of creamy, juicy red fruit followed by spice and malt. Very intense and complex mouthfeel follows, yeasty, herbaceous, and delicious. Great beer
Dec 17, 2023
 
Rated: 3.43 by AGU313 from Maryland

Nov 16, 2023
Photo of nizzle8287
Reviewed by nizzle8287 from Texas

5/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Poured into a snifter at about 45F, somewhere between ruby and amber, with an off-white head with very fine bubbles that reduces to a nice film and ring around the edges of the glass. Smell is candied figs, caramel and yeast. Tastes of dried dark fruit and cotton candy, with a slight hint a hoppy bitterness. High carbonation, appropriate for the style. ABV is very hard to detect, but is all there when you stand up after finishing the glass. Overall, a spectacularly good dark triple. Just as good as Chimay blue in my opinion. Very easy to drink. I will definitely get this again!
Oct 23, 2023
 
Rated: 4.08 by Mat0720

Oct 21, 2023
Gulden Draak from Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.
Beer rating: 94 out of 100 with 4362 ratings