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
	Kasteel Blonde Belgium	18	3.447
	Satan Red Belgium	18	3.348
	Struise Pannepot Grand Reserva Oak Aged Belgium	18	4.148
	De Ranke Guldenberg Belgium	17	3.620
	Dubuisson Cuvee des Trolls Belgium	17	3.185
	Kerkom Winterkoninkske Belgium	17	3.655
	Lost Abbey Inferno CA, United States	17	3.475
	Val-Dieu Grand Cru Belgium	17	3.705
	De Koninck Cuvee Belgium	17	3.405
	Jolly Pumpkin Noel de Calabaza MI, United States	17	3.680
	t IJ Struis Netherlands	16	3.600
	Het Kapittel Prior Belgium	16	3.468
	Mikkeller It's Alive Denmark	16	3.742
	Allagash Odyssey ME, United States	16	3.774
	Weyerbacher Prophecy PA, United States	16	3.374
	Blue Moon Grand Cru CO, United States	15	3.411
	Vondel Flemish Brown Ale Belgium	15	3.556
	Biere du Boucanier Dark Ale Belgium	15	3.606
	Satan Gold Belgium	15	3.411
	Allagash Hugh Malone Ale ME, United States	15	3.356