Gulden Draak 4Pk is a Belgian dark tripel ale from Brouwerij Van Steenberge, bottled at 10.5% ABV in a four-pack of 330ml bottles. Named "Best-tasting beer in the world" by the American Tasting Institute in 1998, this powerful ale stands apart as a rare dark interpretation of the Belgian tripel style, brewed with wine yeast for secondary fermentation. Quick Facts: ABV: 10.5% | Origin: Ertvelde, East Flanders, Belgium | Style: Belgian Dark Tripel | Brewery: Brouwerij Van Steenberge Production & Heritage Brouwerij Van Steenberge has operated in Ertvelde, East Flanders, since 1784, making it one of Belgium's oldest family-owned breweries. Gulden Draak — "Golden Dragon" in Flemish — is a high-fermentation ale brewed with three different malts that undergoes secondary fermentation in the bottle using wine yeast rather than the standard brewer's yeast. This unusual technique, combined with the decision to produce a dark-colored tripel, places Gulden Draak in a category virtually its own within the Belgian brewing tradition. The result is a complex, full-bodied beer that bridges the gap between a Belgian strong dark ale and a traditional tripel. Tasting Notes Aroma: The nose opens with a powerful fragrance of roasted malt and sweet coffee, followed by ripe plums and dark cherries. Underneath, a natural malt toffee sweetness emerges alongside mellow hoppy accents. Taste: The entry is rich with caramel and brown sugar, coating the palate immediately. At mid-palate, sour cherry and roasted malt complexity develops, layered with dark fruit and coffee bitterness. The 10.5% ABV provides significant warmth but remains well-integrated within the malt-forward body. Finish: The finish is long and warming, with lingering notes of toffee, roasted grain, and dried fruit. A gentle alcohol heat carries through, balanced by residual malt sweetness and a subtle hop bitterness that prevents cloying. How to Drink Gulden Draak Pour into a tulip glass or the brewery's signature dragon-embossed goblet at around 8–12°C (46–54°F) to allow the full aromatic complexity to develop. Sipping slowly is essential — the 10.5% ABV rewards patience. Gulden Draak works in a Belgian Beer Cocktail blended with a dash of cherry liqueur to amplify the stone-fruit character. It also makes a compelling base for a Black Velvet variation, layered with Champagne, where its dark malt richness plays against bright acidity. For a warming winter serve, try it in a Beer Flip — shaken with a whole egg, simple syrup, and nutmeg — where its coffee and caramel notes create remarkable depth. Best For Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who appreciates high-ABV Belgian ales After-dinner sipping as an alternative to dessert wine or digestif Exploring the Belgian strong ale category beyond standard Trappist offerings Hosting a curated beer tasting focused on dark, malt-forward European styles Frequently Asked Questions What does Gulden Draak taste like? Gulden Draak delivers a rich, malt-forward profile dominated by caramel, roasted coffee, and sour cherry, with brown sugar sweetness and dark fruit complexity. The 10.5% ABV provides noticeable warmth throughout, balanced by a toffee-like malt backbone. How does Gulden Draak compare to Westmalle Dubbel? Both are prestigious Belgian dark ales, but Gulden Draak is significantly stronger at 10.5% ABV versus Westmalle Dubbel's 7%. Gulden Draak also employs wine yeast for secondary fermentation, giving it a distinct fruity complexity and fuller body that sets it apart from Westmalle's more restrained, drier profile. Is Gulden Draak good for sipping neat? Gulden Draak is ideally suited to slow, contemplative sipping — its layered flavors of caramel, dark fruit, and roasted malt unfold gradually, and the high ABV means a single 330ml bottle delivers a full experience. Where is Gulden Draak made? Gulden Draak is brewed at Brouwerij Van Steenberge in Ertvelde, a village in the East Flanders province of Belgium. The brewery has been in operation since 1784 and remains family-owned. What foods pair well with Gulden Draak? Rich beef stew or carbonnade flamande benefits from the beer's malt depth and dark fruit notes. Aged Gouda or Gruyère mirrors its caramel sweetness. Dark chocolate desserts complement the roasted coffee character. Blue cheese such as Roquefort contrasts the malt sweetness with sharp tang. Grilled lamb chops work well against the beer's warming, full-bodied profile. What sizes does Gulden Draak come in? This listing is a four-pack of 330ml bottles, which is the standard retail format; Gulden Draak is also commonly available in individual 330ml and 750ml bottles depending on market availability. Is Gulden Draak worth the price? Gulden Draak positions as a premium Belgian specialty ale, and its price reflects the complexity of its production — three-malt grain bill, wine yeast secondary fermentation, and bottle conditioning. With a BeerAdvocate score of 94 and multiple World Beer Awards gold medals, it delivers strong value within the high-ABV Belgian ale category. Why Gulden Draak? What makes Gulden Draak genuinely unusual is its identity as a dark tripel — a style combination almost no other Belgian brewery attempts. The wine yeast secondary fermentation adds a layer of fruity complexity that standard brewer's yeast simply cannot replicate, giving the beer its signature sour cherry and plum character alongside deep malt richness. Its competitive pedigree is formidable: the 1998 "Best-tasting beer in the world" recognition from the American Tasting Institute, followed by World Beer Awards gold medals in 2015, 2024, and 2025, and a 94 rating on BeerAdvocate from over 4,400 reviews. For drinkers who have explored the Trappist classics and want something that breaks the mold while honoring Belgian tradition, Gulden Draak occupies a singular position.
