Gulden Draak 9000 Quadruple
Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.
Beer Geek Stats:
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- Style:
- Belgian Quadrupel (Quad)
Ranked #23 - ABV:
- 10.7%
- Score:
- 92
Ranked #2,106 - Avg:
- 4.16 | pDev: 10.58%
- Reviews:
- 293
- Ratings:
- From:
- Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.
- Belgium
- Avail:
- Year-round
- Wants
- 128
- Gots
- 439
SCORE
92
Outstanding
92
Outstanding
Notes:
Reviews: 293
| Ratings: 1,355
4.7/5 rDev +13%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
As with most Belgians, there's a difference between getting this in a bottle and on tap. In a bottle it's great to grab to stroll along the canals of Brugges and have a nice crisp quadruple to help you on your merry way. On tap, however, its a wild ride altogether. Imagine eating a liquid pineapple.
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look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
As with most Belgians, there's a difference between getting this in a bottle and on tap. In a bottle it's great to grab to stroll along the canals of Brugges and have a nice crisp quadruple to help you on your merry way. On tap, however, its a wild ride altogether. Imagine eating a liquid pineapple.
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4.51/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Hazy and unfiltered, amber with golden highlights and visible sediment at the bottom of the glass. Fervent carbonation yields an enormous pillowy off white head with long-lasting retention and sheets of lacing.
Smells of dried sweet cherry, plum, and fig; toasted brown bread, caramel, hay, clove, oak, and red wine.
Tastes of dried sweet cherry, fig, and plum; toast and honey and caramel. Sweet upfront which leads oak tannins, red wine notes, and a bit of spice of hay and clove. No sign of the 10.7% abv! Lightly sweet but finishes dry and clean
Medium-plus creamy mouthfeel, rolling effervescent pillowy carbonation, soft and prickly.
An excellent, delicious Belgian quad! Absolutely worth buying and enjoying.
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look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Hazy and unfiltered, amber with golden highlights and visible sediment at the bottom of the glass. Fervent carbonation yields an enormous pillowy off white head with long-lasting retention and sheets of lacing.
Smells of dried sweet cherry, plum, and fig; toasted brown bread, caramel, hay, clove, oak, and red wine.
Tastes of dried sweet cherry, fig, and plum; toast and honey and caramel. Sweet upfront which leads oak tannins, red wine notes, and a bit of spice of hay and clove. No sign of the 10.7% abv! Lightly sweet but finishes dry and clean
Medium-plus creamy mouthfeel, rolling effervescent pillowy carbonation, soft and prickly.
An excellent, delicious Belgian quad! Absolutely worth buying and enjoying.
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3.77/5 rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
L: Deep hazy orange. Light comes through beautifully. Had 2-3 fingers of creamy foam on top in a tulip glass. The head takes a good moment to dissipate. Lacing is really quite nice.
S: To be honest, until it warmed about 10-15 degrees the only predominant smell was copper. Very much like your hands after handling pennies with just a tiny hint of grain. After warming you get a little bit of fruit, maybe some banana and plum. There's enough malt to notice, but not pronounced at all. Not as bready as I had expected, and lacking complexity.
T: I was rather underwhelmed. Again, very coppery until it warmed. After warming I got moderately sweet malt up front with a little caramel in the middle. Slight hint of dark fruits (raisin, plum, dates), but very faint. Alcohol is noticeable. Little bit of bitter in the finish.
F: Pleasantly noticeable carbonation and medium body. Comes out fairly creamy.
O: I think that the bottle I had may not have been the best. I'd heard good things, but the best thing about this beer to me was the initial look. In my mind, some much more complex and enjoyable quads out there. Not bad, but not near the top.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
L: Deep hazy orange. Light comes through beautifully. Had 2-3 fingers of creamy foam on top in a tulip glass. The head takes a good moment to dissipate. Lacing is really quite nice.
S: To be honest, until it warmed about 10-15 degrees the only predominant smell was copper. Very much like your hands after handling pennies with just a tiny hint of grain. After warming you get a little bit of fruit, maybe some banana and plum. There's enough malt to notice, but not pronounced at all. Not as bready as I had expected, and lacking complexity.
T: I was rather underwhelmed. Again, very coppery until it warmed. After warming I got moderately sweet malt up front with a little caramel in the middle. Slight hint of dark fruits (raisin, plum, dates), but very faint. Alcohol is noticeable. Little bit of bitter in the finish.
F: Pleasantly noticeable carbonation and medium body. Comes out fairly creamy.
O: I think that the bottle I had may not have been the best. I'd heard good things, but the best thing about this beer to me was the initial look. In my mind, some much more complex and enjoyable quads out there. Not bad, but not near the top.
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4.36/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Served in a Chimay chalice, it pours a hazy orange, opaque yet lively, with a two-finger head, creamy and frothy, with exemplary retention. Beautiful and strong lacing. The glass seen from above seems to be full of cream, as the head will not yield and is exhuberant in its texture; probably the most beautiful head I've seen.
The bouquet is assertive. Mostly dominated by fruity esters as in banana and peach, alcohol, dough, and lots of malty sweetness.
The flavor follows the nose. Scrumptious. Intense, complex. Fruity esters, banana, raisin, peach, cinnamon, clove, caramel, huge malts, dough.
Initially a huge thrust of sweetness, it is slightly balanced in the finish, where some bitterness is perceived at last. The aftertaste is long, sweet, with notes of booze and fruity esters.
The feel is overwhelming, full body, creamy as milk, with a frothy texture due to some prime carbonation.
I was not expecting much from this beer, and it was a huge surprise. Among the best texture and visuals of beers.
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look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Served in a Chimay chalice, it pours a hazy orange, opaque yet lively, with a two-finger head, creamy and frothy, with exemplary retention. Beautiful and strong lacing. The glass seen from above seems to be full of cream, as the head will not yield and is exhuberant in its texture; probably the most beautiful head I've seen.
The bouquet is assertive. Mostly dominated by fruity esters as in banana and peach, alcohol, dough, and lots of malty sweetness.
The flavor follows the nose. Scrumptious. Intense, complex. Fruity esters, banana, raisin, peach, cinnamon, clove, caramel, huge malts, dough.
Initially a huge thrust of sweetness, it is slightly balanced in the finish, where some bitterness is perceived at last. The aftertaste is long, sweet, with notes of booze and fruity esters.
The feel is overwhelming, full body, creamy as milk, with a frothy texture due to some prime carbonation.
I was not expecting much from this beer, and it was a huge surprise. Among the best texture and visuals of beers.
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3.98/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Poured from 750mL corked & caged bottle into a tulip glass.
Appearance: dark orange hue with plenty of haze and a finger of creamy white foam. Definitely lighter than I expect a "quadrupel" to be, but still, nice.
Smell: rich maltiness paired with some sweetness and a little bit of dusty tobacco & date aroma.
Taste: malty and sweet with a fair dose of rich malt character. There is a fair amount of date, raisin, and tobacco, which is a character I rather like. Not bad!
Mouthfeel: medium body with a big. floofy effervescence and creaminess. I dig it the most.
Overall: to me, this beer is a little bit too light to call a "quad". That said, it's a nicely rich beer with a lot going on. Worth a try!
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Poured from 750mL corked & caged bottle into a tulip glass.
Appearance: dark orange hue with plenty of haze and a finger of creamy white foam. Definitely lighter than I expect a "quadrupel" to be, but still, nice.
Smell: rich maltiness paired with some sweetness and a little bit of dusty tobacco & date aroma.
Taste: malty and sweet with a fair dose of rich malt character. There is a fair amount of date, raisin, and tobacco, which is a character I rather like. Not bad!
Mouthfeel: medium body with a big. floofy effervescence and creaminess. I dig it the most.
Overall: to me, this beer is a little bit too light to call a "quad". That said, it's a nicely rich beer with a lot going on. Worth a try!
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4.06/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottled and most probably bottle conditioned
More golden than Gulden , so you have an actual if burnished gold body with lots of white head
serious cream sherry aroma, booze and plenty of it with blancmange
flavour is golden syrup and lime wine gums
so light yet so substantial
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look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottled and most probably bottle conditioned
More golden than Gulden , so you have an actual if burnished gold body with lots of white head
serious cream sherry aroma, booze and plenty of it with blancmange
flavour is golden syrup and lime wine gums
so light yet so substantial
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3.83/5 rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Worked at a bar where Gulden Draak Brewmasters was almost always on tap. In that respect, the Gulden Draak 9000 marks closer to the Brewmaster's edition than the standard Gulden Draak. IMO the standard is cloyingly sweet and strong. The 9000 feels more balanced and drinkable. Gulden Draak 9000 Quadruple is more balanced and versatile than the Gulden Draak Belgian Ale.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Worked at a bar where Gulden Draak Brewmasters was almost always on tap. In that respect, the Gulden Draak 9000 marks closer to the Brewmaster's edition than the standard Gulden Draak. IMO the standard is cloyingly sweet and strong. The 9000 feels more balanced and drinkable. Gulden Draak 9000 Quadruple is more balanced and versatile than the Gulden Draak Belgian Ale.
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4.23/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours a orange hazy body, full of guts. The head is thick and creamy and you just know the retention is going to be top notch.
Aroma is sweet and alcoholic, but plenty of ripe banana and caramel going on. Very inviting!
Taste is powerful, you can definitely taste that muscular alcohol, but the malty caramel really wins the day.
A few swigs later and the lacing is holding true. The feel is solid, a little sharp at the finish, but given the strength that is to be expected.
Overall, one of the best Quads for my money. Some are either just blindingly strong or lip puckeringly sweet, the Gulden Draak 9000 is neither.
Top top brew, world class.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours a orange hazy body, full of guts. The head is thick and creamy and you just know the retention is going to be top notch.
Aroma is sweet and alcoholic, but plenty of ripe banana and caramel going on. Very inviting!
Taste is powerful, you can definitely taste that muscular alcohol, but the malty caramel really wins the day.
A few swigs later and the lacing is holding true. The feel is solid, a little sharp at the finish, but given the strength that is to be expected.
Overall, one of the best Quads for my money. Some are either just blindingly strong or lip puckeringly sweet, the Gulden Draak 9000 is neither.
Top top brew, world class.
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4.24/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
Opens with a fairly loud pop, pours a massive off white head over a burr orange hazy body. Very pretty aroma of caramel, banana & spice. Taste is slightly sweet with flavors of caramel, honey, malt & alcohol, all nicely balanced. Perfect feel. Very very nice.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
Opens with a fairly loud pop, pours a massive off white head over a burr orange hazy body. Very pretty aroma of caramel, banana & spice. Taste is slightly sweet with flavors of caramel, honey, malt & alcohol, all nicely balanced. Perfect feel. Very very nice.
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4/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I'm not the best at reviewing beers as my palate is not yet developed enough to distinguish more than a few flavors; however, this beer is a good tasting quad. It was about 18 months old yet still had a lot of carbonation, a creamy head, and a typical quad flavor.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I'm not the best at reviewing beers as my palate is not yet developed enough to distinguish more than a few flavors; however, this beer is a good tasting quad. It was about 18 months old yet still had a lot of carbonation, a creamy head, and a typical quad flavor.
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3.61/5 rDev -13.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Good but not as good as regular Gulden Draak.
L: caramel copper with creamy puddle foam that lasts entirely
A: German malt
F: medium feel barley wine
T: caramelized fruit, toffee, and chocolate
O: okay but nothing special
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look: 4.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Good but not as good as regular Gulden Draak.
L: caramel copper with creamy puddle foam that lasts entirely
A: German malt
F: medium feel barley wine
T: caramelized fruit, toffee, and chocolate
O: okay but nothing special
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4.35/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Revisited 7/21/19
A- Pours a very nice hazy amber opaque color with a nice head and lacing.
A- Aroma has resounding caramel fruity and malty hints.
M-The taste follows the nose with well balanced caramel fruity and malty flavors.
M-A medium bodied beer with a nice amount of carbonation.
O-A very well made, very well balanced beer. The beer has a very strong kick. I was pleasantly surprised.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Revisited 7/21/19
A- Pours a very nice hazy amber opaque color with a nice head and lacing.
A- Aroma has resounding caramel fruity and malty hints.
M-The taste follows the nose with well balanced caramel fruity and malty flavors.
M-A medium bodied beer with a nice amount of carbonation.
O-A very well made, very well balanced beer. The beer has a very strong kick. I was pleasantly surprised.
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3.45/5 rDev -17.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pulled from the fridge, sat for a while to warm up. No gushing.
Pours an orange gold with oodles of foam and lacing.
Smells kinda malty, sweet from the caramel as well as fruit. Maybe some candi sugar but I'm not sure.
Taste isn't exactly sweet. Bitter sweet? Fruity bitter sweet? It leans towards spicy; mostly white pepper. A hard one to describe. Atypical of the style imho.
Medium body with lively carbonation.
I bought a 4-pack for a rather high price. I reckon that the bucks would have been better spent on the regular Gulden Draak.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pulled from the fridge, sat for a while to warm up. No gushing.
Pours an orange gold with oodles of foam and lacing.
Smells kinda malty, sweet from the caramel as well as fruit. Maybe some candi sugar but I'm not sure.
Taste isn't exactly sweet. Bitter sweet? Fruity bitter sweet? It leans towards spicy; mostly white pepper. A hard one to describe. Atypical of the style imho.
Medium body with lively carbonation.
I bought a 4-pack for a rather high price. I reckon that the bucks would have been better spent on the regular Gulden Draak.
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4.25/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: Pours a hazy burnt orange , with an impressive two fingers of foam; nice retention and splashes of lacing
Smell: Caramel, plum, grape and banana spice cake tones
Taste: Caramel and spice cake forward, with the plum and grape tones developing; spicy banana bread phenols build, through the middle; a boozy aspect builds, after the swallow, with the sweeter tones melding with the fruit; vanilla lingers in the aftertaste
Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate to high carbonation
Overall: I was expecting something dark, sweet and boozy but got a much more delicate and nicely balanced beer; recommended for those who like Belgian styles
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: Pours a hazy burnt orange , with an impressive two fingers of foam; nice retention and splashes of lacing
Smell: Caramel, plum, grape and banana spice cake tones
Taste: Caramel and spice cake forward, with the plum and grape tones developing; spicy banana bread phenols build, through the middle; a boozy aspect builds, after the swallow, with the sweeter tones melding with the fruit; vanilla lingers in the aftertaste
Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate to high carbonation
Overall: I was expecting something dark, sweet and boozy but got a much more delicate and nicely balanced beer; recommended for those who like Belgian styles
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4.06/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: a muddy brown color, hazy with a large tan head.
S: cherry, and dark fruit with lots of Belgian character.
T: caramel and fruit, with loads of berries and dark fruit. Some Champaign character.
M: medium light with high carbonation.
O: just a damn fine beer.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: a muddy brown color, hazy with a large tan head.
S: cherry, and dark fruit with lots of Belgian character.
T: caramel and fruit, with loads of berries and dark fruit. Some Champaign character.
M: medium light with high carbonation.
O: just a damn fine beer.
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4.03/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Had this one the day after i had the original Gulden Draak. Like its sibling, it had been cellared until eight months after its best before date. Golden brown colour with a steady layer of foam that leaves nice lacing. Smell of overripe fruit (apricot, plume, date), vanilla, caramel and alcohol. The taste has the same flavours, with the alcohol mixing well with the other flavours. It feels surprisingly smooth in the mouth for a beer of this abv, while still maintaining its pleasantly warming effect in the body. Nice one, I actually prefer this one above the original, because the alcohol flavour seems just a bit more balanced to me.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Had this one the day after i had the original Gulden Draak. Like its sibling, it had been cellared until eight months after its best before date. Golden brown colour with a steady layer of foam that leaves nice lacing. Smell of overripe fruit (apricot, plume, date), vanilla, caramel and alcohol. The taste has the same flavours, with the alcohol mixing well with the other flavours. It feels surprisingly smooth in the mouth for a beer of this abv, while still maintaining its pleasantly warming effect in the body. Nice one, I actually prefer this one above the original, because the alcohol flavour seems just a bit more balanced to me.
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4.16/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured to a Duvel glass.
A: The body is midway between coppery and yellow having a slight orange hue. The body is also crystalline and shows a white head with medium to low retention and no lacing.
S: The aroma is huge on honey, caramel, molasses and light roasted barley.
T: Taste starts off with honey, caramel and molasses being very very sweet. Right after, a good flavour profile of belgian yeast appears, disappears right away and a mildly sweet profile appears in the end much like a weak Barleywine. It's like it's not really a quad.
M: Body is medium to low. Sweetness is too high. Carbonation could be better.
O: Event though this tastes good, it's totally out of its style. But I like it.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured to a Duvel glass.
A: The body is midway between coppery and yellow having a slight orange hue. The body is also crystalline and shows a white head with medium to low retention and no lacing.
S: The aroma is huge on honey, caramel, molasses and light roasted barley.
T: Taste starts off with honey, caramel and molasses being very very sweet. Right after, a good flavour profile of belgian yeast appears, disappears right away and a mildly sweet profile appears in the end much like a weak Barleywine. It's like it's not really a quad.
M: Body is medium to low. Sweetness is too high. Carbonation could be better.
O: Event though this tastes good, it's totally out of its style. But I like it.
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4.34/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
The taste is fruitier than other Quadrupels, which usually have a more sugary, malty flavour.
The fruity, malty flavour is rich and stays long.
A beer definiatly worth drinking.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
The taste is fruitier than other Quadrupels, which usually have a more sugary, malty flavour.
The fruity, malty flavour is rich and stays long.
A beer definiatly worth drinking.
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4.6/5 rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This is a very particular Quadruple, almost unique.
Lighter in color, more fruity in smell, with a sharper and edgy taste even in its quadish sweetness.
A very solid brew, wonderful with a piece of tomme de savoie or gorgonzola.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This is a very particular Quadruple, almost unique.
Lighter in color, more fruity in smell, with a sharper and edgy taste even in its quadish sweetness.
A very solid brew, wonderful with a piece of tomme de savoie or gorgonzola.
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4.19/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I'm not sure how I rated other related Gulden Draaks, but I think this is my favorite (even though it may not be the best). It has that full body that I crave.
It pours the lightest brown (deep golden) with perfect little bubbles. The aroma is rich malt and yeast. The taste is thickly malty with loads of proper yeastiness showing though. It is one of the finer Belgian experiences.
Highly recommended.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I'm not sure how I rated other related Gulden Draaks, but I think this is my favorite (even though it may not be the best). It has that full body that I crave.
It pours the lightest brown (deep golden) with perfect little bubbles. The aroma is rich malt and yeast. The taste is thickly malty with loads of proper yeastiness showing though. It is one of the finer Belgian experiences.
Highly recommended.
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3.53/5 rDev -15.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
From a 330ml bottle served slightly chilled at 12 degrees Celsius into a white wine glass. Best before date: 18/05/2019.
Look: The beer pours a clear deep amber/light copper with 8cm of dense, moussy, tan head that dissipates into a thick cap within 4+ minutes. Good lacing and persistent head especially for a hefty 10.5% ABV. An excellent-looking, effervescent beer.
Smell: Moderate strength and sweet. The aroma is malty-rich with notes of dried fruit (golden raisins & figs), bready-toasty malts, and cooked, sugary, caramelized fruit. Additional notes include faint diacetyl and ethanol which seem to add positive complexity to the aroma rather than diminish it. The aroma is quite nice but it lacks depth and has some flaws in it.
Taste: Medium-strong intensity and leaning towards sweet – however less sweet than expected. A decent punch of flavour and complexity. Malt-forward and fruity with notes of raisins, figs, apple, caramel, and slightly chemical alcohol. The finish is long, strong, and sweet.
Feel: Medium-full body with lively carbonation. Heavy and smooth with significant alcohol warming which stops just short of hot. Decent mouthfeel but it gets in the way of full enjoyment.
Overall: Gulden Draak 9000 steps away from your typical quad by being lighter on the spectrum of the style. Surprisingly clear, effervescent, and lacking sweetness within the realm of sweetness. This beverage is far from flawless with diacetyl, chemical alcohol, and imbalanced ingredients. Yet, after all the negatives, I still prefer this over their Grand Cru. Worth a try for a quad fan but I wouldn't recommend this to someone new to the style. I'm now under the impression that Van Steenberge is just your mediocre, Belgian brewery.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
From a 330ml bottle served slightly chilled at 12 degrees Celsius into a white wine glass. Best before date: 18/05/2019.
Look: The beer pours a clear deep amber/light copper with 8cm of dense, moussy, tan head that dissipates into a thick cap within 4+ minutes. Good lacing and persistent head especially for a hefty 10.5% ABV. An excellent-looking, effervescent beer.
Smell: Moderate strength and sweet. The aroma is malty-rich with notes of dried fruit (golden raisins & figs), bready-toasty malts, and cooked, sugary, caramelized fruit. Additional notes include faint diacetyl and ethanol which seem to add positive complexity to the aroma rather than diminish it. The aroma is quite nice but it lacks depth and has some flaws in it.
Taste: Medium-strong intensity and leaning towards sweet – however less sweet than expected. A decent punch of flavour and complexity. Malt-forward and fruity with notes of raisins, figs, apple, caramel, and slightly chemical alcohol. The finish is long, strong, and sweet.
Feel: Medium-full body with lively carbonation. Heavy and smooth with significant alcohol warming which stops just short of hot. Decent mouthfeel but it gets in the way of full enjoyment.
Overall: Gulden Draak 9000 steps away from your typical quad by being lighter on the spectrum of the style. Surprisingly clear, effervescent, and lacking sweetness within the realm of sweetness. This beverage is far from flawless with diacetyl, chemical alcohol, and imbalanced ingredients. Yet, after all the negatives, I still prefer this over their Grand Cru. Worth a try for a quad fan but I wouldn't recommend this to someone new to the style. I'm now under the impression that Van Steenberge is just your mediocre, Belgian brewery.
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3.73/5 rDev -10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75
Poured from the 330mL bottle into a pint glass.
A: The beer is an orangey brown, rusty and a bit cloudy. The head is a foamy tan and a couple fingers thick, but doesn't have great retention.
S: Malty and boozy, strong caramel flavor with toffee and nuts. A bit fruity, but underneath, a huge whiff of alcohol.
T: Again, very malty. Big caramel flavor, a bit bready, a bit fruity. A bit like banana bread, but soaked in booze.
Overall, the smell put me off a bit because it was so boozy at first, but it grew on me. The taste was much more balanced than I expected. I enjoyed it after a few sips, but I don't think I'll be coming back to this one.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75
Poured from the 330mL bottle into a pint glass.
A: The beer is an orangey brown, rusty and a bit cloudy. The head is a foamy tan and a couple fingers thick, but doesn't have great retention.
S: Malty and boozy, strong caramel flavor with toffee and nuts. A bit fruity, but underneath, a huge whiff of alcohol.
T: Again, very malty. Big caramel flavor, a bit bready, a bit fruity. A bit like banana bread, but soaked in booze.
Overall, the smell put me off a bit because it was so boozy at first, but it grew on me. The taste was much more balanced than I expected. I enjoyed it after a few sips, but I don't think I'll be coming back to this one.
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4.21/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I had five 0.33l bottles of this (€5.40) at De Gouverneur in Maastricht on 19 and 20SEP17...
Had had this on tap before here in the US, and I thought it funky, perhaps off. I think I was right... From the bottle, it poured a lovely amber with a touch of haze. Had a healthy, frothy beige head which lasted well with nice lace. Nose had some caramel and dark fruit, with sweetish notes. It was a solid medium and rather smooth and light on the prickle.
Taste was semi-sweet with some caramel and a hint of honey, some rum, brown bread and fruit cake. Dates and currants also were in the mix. Nothing like what I had on tap.... this was a very tasty quad! Prosit!
4.21/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
1944
759 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I had five 0.33l bottles of this (€5.40) at De Gouverneur in Maastricht on 19 and 20SEP17...
Had had this on tap before here in the US, and I thought it funky, perhaps off. I think I was right... From the bottle, it poured a lovely amber with a touch of haze. Had a healthy, frothy beige head which lasted well with nice lace. Nose had some caramel and dark fruit, with sweetish notes. It was a solid medium and rather smooth and light on the prickle.
Taste was semi-sweet with some caramel and a hint of honey, some rum, brown bread and fruit cake. Dates and currants also were in the mix. Nothing like what I had on tap.... this was a very tasty quad! Prosit!
4.21/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
1944
759 characters
4.5/5 rDev +8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Decanted from an 11.2 oz (330 ml) bottle into a conical pint glass; no production information.
A: Pours a hazy amber to light copper color with a foamy, off-white head, serious, persistent retention, and Belgian lacing all the way down the glass.
S: Complex aromas of honey, caramel, bread, spice, prunes, and dates.
T: Flavor largely follow the nose, but the tastes include raisin, light clove, and a strong, dark rum flavor. Again, complex with only very light bitterness evident.
M: Full bodied with solid, persistent carbonation. Slightly more viscous than normal.
O: Maybe a little sweeter than average for the style, but it has a very complex nose and palate. Really a very enjoyable quad. A real treat for any beer aficionado.
738 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Decanted from an 11.2 oz (330 ml) bottle into a conical pint glass; no production information.
A: Pours a hazy amber to light copper color with a foamy, off-white head, serious, persistent retention, and Belgian lacing all the way down the glass.
S: Complex aromas of honey, caramel, bread, spice, prunes, and dates.
T: Flavor largely follow the nose, but the tastes include raisin, light clove, and a strong, dark rum flavor. Again, complex with only very light bitterness evident.
M: Full bodied with solid, persistent carbonation. Slightly more viscous than normal.
O: Maybe a little sweeter than average for the style, but it has a very complex nose and palate. Really a very enjoyable quad. A real treat for any beer aficionado.
738 characters
4.93/5 rDev +18.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Look: Two finger white head, hazy brown-amber body.
Smell: Same as below.
Taste: Dark fruits, caramel, clove, pepper, honey.
Feel: Medium body, medium-high carbonation. Mild alcohol bite.
190 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Look: Two finger white head, hazy brown-amber body.
Smell: Same as below.
Taste: Dark fruits, caramel, clove, pepper, honey.
Feel: Medium body, medium-high carbonation. Mild alcohol bite.
190 characters
Gulden Draak 9000 Quadruple from Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.
Beer rating:
92 out of
100 with
1355 ratings
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