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Styles · Belgian Golden Strong Ale

Beer style · BJCP 2021 25C

Belgian Golden Strong Ale

Strong Belgian Ale

Published ranges These are the ranges the BJCP 2021 guidelines publish for this style.

Original gravity
1.070–1.095
Final gravity
1.005–1.016
Bitterness
22–35 IBU
Color
3–6 SRM (6–12 EBC)
Alcohol
7.5–10.5 % ABV

What it is

Pale, deceptively strong and dangerously drinkable, with a huge rocky head and champagne-like carbonation. Sugar thins the body so the alcohol reads as warmth rather than weight, while the yeast throws pear, orange and white pepper over a crisp, dry finish.

Flavor

What a Belgian Golden Strong Ale should taste like, on the three wheels the studio scores every recipe against. The shaded ring is the style’s range on each axis, from 0 at the center to 5 at the edge.

Hops

Spice, with room for floral or herbal.

Malt

Grainy, with room for sweet/honey.

Fermentation

Fruity esters and pepper/spice, with room for clove or clean.

Hops that suit it

The traditional choice

What Belgian Golden Strong Ale has classically been brewed with.

Also right on character

Varieties whose loudest notes all sit on this style’s hop wheel, best fit first. How much to use is the recipe’s question; these are the ones that taste right.

And 4 more hops whose character fits. These are the 24 that fit best.

Yeasts that suit it

Strains the lab made for beers like this one, whose fermentation character sits inside the style’s wheel. A strain sold by several labs is listed once; its page names the others.

And 37 more yeasts whose character fits. These are the 24 that fit best.

Style numbers, names and vital statistics are from the BJCP 2021 Beer Style Guidelines, where you will find the official descriptions. The descriptions and flavor wheels here are Beerwright’s own. Beerwright is not affiliated with or endorsed by the BJCP.