Gulden Draak

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

I was taken by surprise with the monster head that formed in my glass, so I poured it gently to produce a drinkable portion. It was my first impression of a brown-tripel with a vibrant alcohol note to it. I found it to be very rich and I agree with the previous poster who mentioned barleywine as a likeness.

Had this on draft at the Abbey bar in Deland. This poured a deep marron color with medium foamy white head that left behind nice lacing. The aroma was of sweet malts, dark fruits, and some caramel. The taste was much the same with the dark fruits and sweetness coming through. It had a little bit of carbonation and some nice alcohol warmth on the way down. This was medium bodied and creamy on the palate. It finished sweet with caramel and some slight hop bitterness in the background. This was pretty good, pretty close to a barley wine.

From bottle : A dark brown color pour with a big foamy white head that has nice lacing around the glass. Nose of cider and apples, along with various other fruits and small malt undertones. Medium body on the palate that goes down smooth with bubbles. Fruity taste as with most belgians, with alcohol dominating the end.

I like this one! Clear with creamy head. Pretty light and fruity. Very nice mouthfeel. I can drink this all day

Bottled. Beautiful garnet body--rather clear--topped with a large, fully-lasting, creamy head the color of maple-nut ice cream, leaving behind beautiful rings of lace to coat the glass. The aroma is light and fruity, similar to champaign, a touch alcoholic, yeasty--musky, earthy--unbelievably estery, banana, honeyed. Body is medium with lots of lively, coarse carbonation and a pleasantly dry finish. Flavor is light, coying, fruity (berries, banana, white grape, pear), honeyed--tons of esters--and a mild, noble-hop finish. The alcohol is only noticeable in the warmth in my chest and on the back-side of the heavy malts. Lovely concoction; impressively transparent alcohol; extremely fruity and sweet. Probably not for everyone; has some generic beer flavor; is a little light-bodied for such a big beer, but it’s rather good.

Pours out a muddy brown color with a nice light brown head. This one pours out pretty thick. This was not at all what I was expecting when I picked up this bottle. Aroma is sweet toffee and caramel with some plums and raisins. Taste is very rich, I swear this is like a desert in a bottle! More sweet caramel, figs, and this time I’m picking up some brown sugar. Typical yeasty spicyness of a triple. The hops offer some bitterness to balace this sugar bomb out but come up just a bit short. Towards the end this brew gets a bit cloying.

On tap, from old notes. Mahogany brown with chunky off white foam. Aroma is a little hot with lots of sweet malt also. Flavor is more heat and more sweet malts, some yeasty spiciness also.

Bottle: pours a dark redish brown with a thin but long lasting tan head, aroma of red grapes, flavor of dried dark fruits and toffee with only the slightest warming in the back of your throat to let you know this has some kick. Very nice beer that I will certainly drink more often.