Gulden Draak

Brewed by Brouwerij Van Steenberge
Style: Abt/Quadrupel
Ertvelde, Belgium

Pours a dark opaque brown color with a goodly amount of fine light brown head. Aroma seems a little weak, but what I do get is sweet-a mixture of toffee and dried fruits. The same themes are present in the flavor. Very smooth, heavy texture. Very enjoyable.

Another really good beer. A little more alcohol taste than some of the other quads though not overwhelming. But thats not to say I wouldn’t drink this every day if I could. Better as it warms up. The sweetness starts to settle in about half way through a 25oz bottle.

11.2oz bottle. Pours a deep rose-brown body with an inch thick, creamy and rocky, light brownish khaki head that dissipates slowly and leaves a soft and sticky, streaky lacing. Aroma is sweet and fruity toffees and caramels with a good amount of dried fruits, prunes, and mixed fruitcake. A light yeast, chocolate, raisin, earthy spice, and a touch of sweet booze. Rich toffee, chocolate, and earthy spice become more apparent as this warms. Flavor is initially sweet toffee and semi-spicy fruits. More malty caramels and a huge amount of dried fruit comes in along with just a touch of sweet booze. Keeps a really nice spicing throughout balancing the sweet fruits and malts deliciously. Lots of sweet and spicy raisins and prunes with a bit of a chocolate covered taste, yeast, and slightly bitter earth make this quite complex. Finishes with lots of sweet, rich, spicy flavor. Semi dry with lots of sweet and spicy toffee, dried fruit and raisin, earthy aftertaste that lingers for quite awhile. Palate is light bodied, but full of flavor. Overall, a very balanced and tasty beer. Lots of mixed flavors that blend quite well together. Solid stuff.

Poured into tulip. about 1/2 inch head. Nice amber color. Smells sweet with a little caramel. Tastes the same. Very smooth but definitely hard to follow with another beer as this one is so big. Highly recommend it

Why, this name translates to "Golden Dragon" (duh). It just twigged on me as I waited for the colossal frothy tan head of at least eight fingers to subside. Great so far, and the dark amber body was also a delight. Lots of spices and dark fruit treated my nose, and the palate was pleased by a very similar taste. Sweet but not overly so, and a good solid mouthfeel to boot.

Bottle. Brown with ruby highlights and a thick tan head. Big aroma of toffee and alcohol. Warm alcohol, fruit, bitter chocolate and a pleasant finish.

Bottle sample at Muckfest 2009 Day 1. Pours cloudy amber with a thin off-white head. Aroma of bananas, candi sugar, caramel and booze. Banana and clove flavor up front, followed by sugary caramel and a boozy dry finish. Not bad, but too much banana for me.

Bottle. Aroma lets you know right away that it’s a strong beer. Aroma is sweet and heavy in alcohol. Flavor is of course also sweet. Somewhat fruity with mild hops. Alcohol is also quite present. Better than most Triples but not even close to most Quads.