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
	North Coast Grand Cru CA, United States	5	3.525
	COOP DNR OK, United States	5	3.588
	Panil Barriquée (Mild) Italy	5	3.363
	La Binchoise Biere Des Ours Belgium	5	3.438
	Caulier Blonde de Noël Belgium	5	3.013
	La Caracole Saxo Bio Belgium	5	3.338
	De Hemel Nieuw Ligt Grand Cru Netherlands	5	3.413
	Duvel Groen Belgium	5	3.138
	Brewers Art Canard MD, United States	5	3.513
	Kasteel Winter Belgium	5	3.525
	Verhaeghe Noel Belgium	5	3.100
	Gulden Draak Vintage Belgium	5	3.350
	Cimes Yeti France	5	3.563
	Bush 7% (Clovis) Belgium	5	3.163
	Mikkeller Yeast Series: Brettanomyces Denmark	5	3.475
	Daves BrewFarm Matacabras WI, United States	5	3.213
	Le Cheval Blanc Blonde dAchouffe Canada	5	3.488
	Big Sky Biere de Noel MT, United States	5	3.550
	Gaverhopke Zingende Blondine Belgium	5	3.338
	Radermacher Rader Ambree Belgium	5	3.575