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
	Thouroutenaere Belgium	1	3.100
	Uilenspiegelbier Belgium	1	3.225
	De 3 Horne Wiegeleir Grand Cru Netherlands	1	3.125
	Hopduvel Stropken Belgium	1	2.900
	Små Vesen Spesial Lys Norway	1	3.000
	Heartland Big Belgian Blonde Ale NY, United States	1	3.225
	75th Street Dantes Nightmare MO, United States	1	2.975
	Pelican Le Pelican Brun OR, United States	1	3.275
	dEcaussinnes La Wallersoise Bière Ultra Belgium	1	3.075
	Rock Bottom Houblon Seigle de Moineau CO, United States	1	3.200
	Au Maître Brasseur LOrgasme Canada	1	3.150
	Pizza Port Revelations CA, United States	1	3.200
	5 Seasons Abbey Winter Wheat GA, United States	1	3.325
	Saint Arnould La Noblesse Canada	1	3.175
	Great Basin Mission Style Belgian Ale NV, United States	1	3.225
	Freetail 3Tail TX, United States	1	3.175
	Twains Thirty Days Belgian Black GA, United States	1	3.325
	Sigtuna MacBooster Sweden	1	3.225
	Monks 42:an Sweden	1	3.175
	De Molen Borefts Tien Netherlands	1	3.125