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
	Amager The Sinner Series Lust Denmark	3	3.417
	Breughel Bière de Noël Canada	3	2.800
	Campus Belgium	3	3.184
	Jenlain D'Or France	3	3.234
	Emelisse Winterbier Netherlands	3	3.017
	Emelisse Blond Netherlands	3	3.084
	dEcaussinnes Cookie Beer Belgium	3	2.650
	Wolf 7 Belgium	3	3.117
	Zundert 8 Netherlands	3	3.434
	Halve Maan Grof Geschut Netherlands	3	3.134
	Nebraska Chardonnay French Oak Hop God NE, United States	3	3.684
	Sint Canarus Willy Kriegel Belgium	2	3.120
	De Lelie Paus Belgium	2	3.200
	Slaapmutske Anniversary Ale Pressklubben 10 Belgium	2	3.060
	Mill Street Illuminari Canada	2	3.240
	Gouden Carolus Cuvée van de Keizer Whisky Infused Belgium	2	3.420
	Good People Stepchild AL, United States	2	3.440
	De Dochter van de Korenaar Noblesse Extra-ordinaire Belgium	2	3.220
	Wild Heaven Invocation GA, United States	2	3.160
	Brasserie du Bas-Canada Le Grand Condor Canada	2	3.140