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
	Charles Quint (Keizer Karel) Belgium	11	3.664
	Duysters Loterbol Bruin Belgium	10	3.738
	Gordon Finest Gold Belgium	10	3.062
	SKA True Blonde Dubbel CO, United States	10	3.146
	Noël des Géants Belgium	10	3.531
	Mikkeller Funky Easter Denmark	10	3.423
	Allagash Confluence Ale ME, United States	10	3.754
	Grimbergen Optimo Bruno Belgium	10	3.677
	Baladin Super Baladin Italy	10	3.608
	Artevelde Grand Cru Belgium	10	3.569
	Adriaen Brouwer Dark Gold Belgium	10	3.577
	Roman Sloeber Belgium	10	3.215
	River Horse Belgian Frostbite Winter Ale NJ, United States	10	3.062
	De Dolle Stille Nacht Special Reserva 2005 Belgium	10	3.823
	Leffe 9 Belgium	10	3.546
	Abbaye des Rocs Speciale Noel Belgium	10	3.677
	Hoppin' Frog Gulden Fraug OH, United States	10	3.231
	Ellezelloise Quintine Blonde Belgium	10	3.338
	Urthel Tonicum Finiboldhus Belgium	10	3.423
	La Moneuse Belgium	9	3.700