Gulden Draak | Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.
Brewed by:
Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.
Belgium
vansteenberge.com
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 10.50%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
Dark Triple Ale brewed with caramel malt and re-fermented with Bordeaux wine yeast
Added by BeerAdvocate on 12-19-2001
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers
Ratings: 4,088 | Reviews: 1,372
2.87/5 rDev -32.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
3.45/5 rDev -18.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
L: Pours a nice, bright amber. Substantial streaming carbonation. Pours a fairly thick but quickly dissipating tan foam.
S: Barley, raw honey. Interesting smell.
T: Very strong and rich flavour with almost a syrupy sweetness to it, almost like a liquer. An interesting flavour but the sweetness alongside the harshness of the high alcohol percentage is overpowering.
F: Medium body, washes down ok but again the high alcohol percentage makes this a bit harsh to drink.
O: Interesting to try, and perhaps this is simply a matter of the style of the beer, but the strong alcohol percentage and overbearing sweetness was a bit too harsh for my tastes. Based on the other reviews here it's accomplishing what it sets out to do, but it's just not for me.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
L: Pours a nice, bright amber. Substantial streaming carbonation. Pours a fairly thick but quickly dissipating tan foam.
S: Barley, raw honey. Interesting smell.
T: Very strong and rich flavour with almost a syrupy sweetness to it, almost like a liquer. An interesting flavour but the sweetness alongside the harshness of the high alcohol percentage is overpowering.
F: Medium body, washes down ok but again the high alcohol percentage makes this a bit harsh to drink.
O: Interesting to try, and perhaps this is simply a matter of the style of the beer, but the strong alcohol percentage and overbearing sweetness was a bit too harsh for my tastes. Based on the other reviews here it's accomplishing what it sets out to do, but it's just not for me.
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4.46/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.29/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.3/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.83/5 rDev +13.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.73/5 rDev +11.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.22/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Has a very good taste to it smell good as well I would drink it again
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Has a very good taste to it smell good as well I would drink it again
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4.33/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.68/5 rDev +10.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
amazing
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look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
amazing
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4.23/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours a dark plum-brown with a finger of khaki foam on top. Head retention is good, but leaves only a thin veil of foam over the top with dense lacing left behind. Aroma is plum, caramel, toffee, raisins, clove, and yeast spice. It smells like a kitchen full of holiday baking goods with a vat of warming dark Belgian beer in the corner. Flavor profile is plum, caramel, molasses, raisins, clove, and yeast spice - again. Lovely sugary flavor profile that doesn't come off as overly sweet. Mouth feel is a touch fizzy and harsh, but carries an otherwise velvety feel within a medium-thick thickness. Overall, great beer overall with sugary sweet characteristics poking out without being overwhelming or unbalanced. It hides its 10% ABV while still coming off strong and hearty.
Served in a Chimay chalice from a 750mL bottle.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours a dark plum-brown with a finger of khaki foam on top. Head retention is good, but leaves only a thin veil of foam over the top with dense lacing left behind. Aroma is plum, caramel, toffee, raisins, clove, and yeast spice. It smells like a kitchen full of holiday baking goods with a vat of warming dark Belgian beer in the corner. Flavor profile is plum, caramel, molasses, raisins, clove, and yeast spice - again. Lovely sugary flavor profile that doesn't come off as overly sweet. Mouth feel is a touch fizzy and harsh, but carries an otherwise velvety feel within a medium-thick thickness. Overall, great beer overall with sugary sweet characteristics poking out without being overwhelming or unbalanced. It hides its 10% ABV while still coming off strong and hearty.
Served in a Chimay chalice from a 750mL bottle.
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4.49/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Very dark caramel color. Thick creamy body with almost champagne like carbonation,overall really nice feel. Aroma is a mix of malt and bananas, yeast, some dried dark fruit. Taste is very similar, dried fruit comes on stronger in taste than aroma. A bit sweet and heavier on the fruit including banana than malt or yeast. Overall a really nice ale, would definitely seek this out again
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Very dark caramel color. Thick creamy body with almost champagne like carbonation,overall really nice feel. Aroma is a mix of malt and bananas, yeast, some dried dark fruit. Taste is very similar, dried fruit comes on stronger in taste than aroma. A bit sweet and heavier on the fruit including banana than malt or yeast. Overall a really nice ale, would definitely seek this out again
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4.27/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.68/5 rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
At 10.5% I expected a lot of alcohol taste, but honestly, I found it quite smooth, creamy, and drinkable. It's been a few years since I last sampled this fine brew, but I am quite happy I decided to try it again.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
At 10.5% I expected a lot of alcohol taste, but honestly, I found it quite smooth, creamy, and drinkable. It's been a few years since I last sampled this fine brew, but I am quite happy I decided to try it again.
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4.69/5 rDev +10.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Have no idea how old this was but I did age it an extra 18 months from when I bought it. Poured into a tulip at cellar temp:
L: Nice frothy head above a murky, caramel copper body
A: bananas, Brown sugar, cherries, Belgian yeast
F: sweet and creamy yet well balanced. Carbonation held up well with age. Nice slow sipper, has a brandy sweetness to it as well.
T: Brown sugar, chocolate, slightly fruity, Belgian yeast, mild booze, cinnamon, and baked bread
O: I really enjoyed this and could've probably continued aging it for another 3 years. Much better than any Rochefort or St. Bernard I've had. This is a real treasure and for $5 a 11.2oz bottle you really just can't go wrong with it.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Have no idea how old this was but I did age it an extra 18 months from when I bought it. Poured into a tulip at cellar temp:
L: Nice frothy head above a murky, caramel copper body
A: bananas, Brown sugar, cherries, Belgian yeast
F: sweet and creamy yet well balanced. Carbonation held up well with age. Nice slow sipper, has a brandy sweetness to it as well.
T: Brown sugar, chocolate, slightly fruity, Belgian yeast, mild booze, cinnamon, and baked bread
O: I really enjoyed this and could've probably continued aging it for another 3 years. Much better than any Rochefort or St. Bernard I've had. This is a real treasure and for $5 a 11.2oz bottle you really just can't go wrong with it.
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4.39/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.85/5 rDev +14.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.27/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.11/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Wow look at that head it's like a full two inches! Perfect topping for this dark copper dream.
Smells like banana and fruit
Tastes very sweet lots of malt and honey and dark fruits.
Mouthfeel is not too thick mild carbonation.
Overall it's got a quality a little like mead but not as thick.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Wow look at that head it's like a full two inches! Perfect topping for this dark copper dream.
Smells like banana and fruit
Tastes very sweet lots of malt and honey and dark fruits.
Mouthfeel is not too thick mild carbonation.
Overall it's got a quality a little like mead but not as thick.
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3.84/5 rDev -9.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Had this one cellared, drank it eight months after its best before date. Then again, the best before date seems to claim that this beer expires two years after its bottling, which is a very careful estimate for a beer of this caliber. Lovely dark brown colour with a steady layer of foam that leaves nice lacing. Interesting smell of malt, wine, cinnamon, caramel and alcohol. The smell definitely has a vineous profile. The taste has fruit flavours like sweet apple and sour cherry. It has also reminiscent of brandy. Cinnamon is still there, but the alcohol is omnipresent here. It does mix well with the other flavours, but the entity is a tad too sweet and boozy for me. It's easy to drink though, and the alchohol gives a nice warming feeling. Derspite the strong alcohol presence, this beer doesn't lose its character, which is nice.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Had this one cellared, drank it eight months after its best before date. Then again, the best before date seems to claim that this beer expires two years after its bottling, which is a very careful estimate for a beer of this caliber. Lovely dark brown colour with a steady layer of foam that leaves nice lacing. Interesting smell of malt, wine, cinnamon, caramel and alcohol. The smell definitely has a vineous profile. The taste has fruit flavours like sweet apple and sour cherry. It has also reminiscent of brandy. Cinnamon is still there, but the alcohol is omnipresent here. It does mix well with the other flavours, but the entity is a tad too sweet and boozy for me. It's easy to drink though, and the alchohol gives a nice warming feeling. Derspite the strong alcohol presence, this beer doesn't lose its character, which is nice.
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3.52/5 rDev -17%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
alcohol and hops overpower
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
alcohol and hops overpower
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3.95/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Have seen this a hundred times at my local craft shop but simply never picked it up until now. At $5 for the single I'm hoping for a solid brew.
Look - Ruby red with a brown twinge. Finger of off white head an ample carbonation on the appearance.
Smell - Cherry apple pie is the first thing that comes to mind. A fair bit of that typical belgian yeast as well.
Taste - Again, A mixture of cherry, baked bread, apples, with a moderate kiss of alcohol.
Feel - Very alcoholic and moderate bodied with a high level of carbonation.
Overall - At the price point I was hoping for better but this is still a solid, slow drinking and tasty belgian. Like a much smoother and less cloying dubbel for comparison. On a 2 degree Fahrenheit Michigan night, it's pretty nice for the warming effects. May change ratings as I finish the bottle if I feel a warmer brew experience is drastic enough from the experience fresh out of the fridge.
EDIT UPDATE : The flavors retained much the same but I must admit that this beer became aeons smoother as it warmed and that fact coupled with the ABV warrants a few changes in the ratings.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Have seen this a hundred times at my local craft shop but simply never picked it up until now. At $5 for the single I'm hoping for a solid brew.
Look - Ruby red with a brown twinge. Finger of off white head an ample carbonation on the appearance.
Smell - Cherry apple pie is the first thing that comes to mind. A fair bit of that typical belgian yeast as well.
Taste - Again, A mixture of cherry, baked bread, apples, with a moderate kiss of alcohol.
Feel - Very alcoholic and moderate bodied with a high level of carbonation.
Overall - At the price point I was hoping for better but this is still a solid, slow drinking and tasty belgian. Like a much smoother and less cloying dubbel for comparison. On a 2 degree Fahrenheit Michigan night, it's pretty nice for the warming effects. May change ratings as I finish the bottle if I feel a warmer brew experience is drastic enough from the experience fresh out of the fridge.
EDIT UPDATE : The flavors retained much the same but I must admit that this beer became aeons smoother as it warmed and that fact coupled with the ABV warrants a few changes in the ratings.
1,120 characters
Gulden Draak from Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.
Beer rating:
4.24 out of
5 with
4,088 ratings
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