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
	Hoegaarden Forbidden Fruit Belgium	21	3.634
	Stone 03.03.03 Vertical Epic Ale CA, United States	21	3.742
	Southampton Grand Cru Strong Ale NY, United States	20	3.761
	La Binchoise Speciale Noel Belgium	20	3.765
	Lucifer (Vintages through 2008) Belgium	20	3.439
	Russian River Temptation CA, United States	20	4.161
	Weihenstephaner / Samuel Adams Infinium Germany	20	3.496
	Hoegaarden Grand Cru Belgium	19	3.709
	Brooklyn Local 2 NY, United States	19	3.614
	Biere du Boucanier Blonde Ale Belgium	19	3.345
	Bush Prestige (Scaldis Prestige) Belgium	19	3.918
	Saint Somewhere Lectio Divina FL, United States	19	3.436
	Unibroue 11 Canada	19	3.864
	La Caracole Saxo Belgium	19	3.705
	Abbaye des Rocs La Montagnarde (Ambree) Belgium	18	3.676
	La Guillotine Belgium	18	3.400
	Sterkens St. Sebastiaan Golden Belgium	18	3.309
	Malheur 12 Belgium	18	3.514
	Kasteel Blonde Belgium	18	3.447
	De Proef Flemish Primitive Belgium	18	3.438