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
	Baladin Nöel Vanille Italy	1	3.125
	Hertog Jan Karakter Netherlands	6	3.122
	New Belgium Lips of Faith Belgian Style Blond Ale CO, United States	6	3.122
	Victory V-1009 PA, United States	2	3.120
	Spinnakers Fog Fighter Canada	2	3.120
	Lazy Boy Belgian WA, United States	2	3.120
	Sint Canarus Willy Kriegel Belgium	2	3.120
	Dormaal Winter Belgium	2	3.120
	Trader Joe's Vintage Ale 2010 Canada	2	3.120
	Hector Tripel Belgium	2	3.120
	Iron Fist Golden Age CA, United States	2	3.120
	Scheldebrouwerij Dulle Griet Belgium	3	3.117
	Wolf 7 Belgium	3	3.117
	Achilles Serafijn Christmas Angel Belgium	4	3.114
	Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale Japan	22	3.108
	Bend Outback Old Ale OR, United States	1	3.100
	Verhaeghe Noel Belgium	5	3.100
	Ottos HellKat PA, United States	1	3.100
	Pizza Port Antwerp Belgian Ale CA, United States	1	3.100
	Bièropholie Délice des Moines Canada	2	3.100