Belgian Strong Ale

Like regular Belgian ales, the Belgian strong ales also can range in color from pale to dark varieties. Regardless of the color, however, the Belgian strong ales are significantly stronger in alcohol content (7% and higher) and more complex than their weaker counterparts, although the good examples are not harsh. Flavors for the pale colored varieites include earthy, yeasty, fruity, peppery, sweet, and spicey attributes, while the dark colored varieties include caramel, bready, dark fruits (figs, prunes, raisins, plums), sweet, and spicey character. Belgian strong ales are also normally fermented with an addition of candi sugar. The resulting mouthfeel is typically moderate, often deceivingly lighter than their malt and alcohol content would suggest, due to the added candi sugar and high carbonation levels. The pale and golden varieties of Belgian strong ales normally differ from abbey tripels (which could be considered a subcategory of golden Belgian strong ales) in their lower bittering levels than the tripels, while the dark strong ales differ from dubbels in their malt and alcohol levels, but often overlap with the Abbey Quadrupels on both malt and alcohol levels (Abbey Quadrupels could be considered a subcategory of dark Belgian strong ales).

	Beer | Location	Reviews	Score
	Upper Hand Brewery The Sermon MI, United States	0	0.000
	Upstream Cosmic Sleigh Ride Bier de Noel NE, United States	0	0.000
	Upstream Grand Cru NE, United States	1	3.375
	Urthel Hop-It Belgium	41	3.707
	Urthel Tonicum Finiboldhus Belgium	10	3.423
	Us Heit Kerstbier Netherlands	0	0.000
	Val-Dieu Biere de Noel Belgium	11	3.564
	Val-Dieu Grand Cru Belgium	13	3.743
	Val-Dieu Winter Belgium	6	3.733
	Valiant Brewing Axiom CA, United States	1	3.150
	Valley Brew Belgian Style Strong Golden Ale CA, United States	0	0.000
	Valley Brew Celebrator 20th Anniversary Beer CA, United States	1	3.250
	Valley Brew Decadence Grand Cru CA, United States	2	3.680
	Valley Brew La Deuxieme Diablotin CA, United States	2	3.420
	Valley Brew Uber Abbey CA, United States	1	3.250
	Van Eecke Feestbier Belgium	1	3.025
	Van Houzen Three Toed Dog IA, United States	0	0.000
	Van Twee Belgium	7	3.920
	Vapeur d'Halloween Belgium	1	3.100
	Vapeur dAntan Belgium	4	3.371