The Belgian-style golden strong ale is fruity, complex and often on the higher end of the ABV spectrum, yet are approachable to many different palates. Look for a characteristic spiciness from Belgian yeast and a highly attenuated dry finish. This style is traditionally drier and lighter in color than a Belgian-style tripel.
How would you describe a golden ale?
They are balanced with a little bit of sweetness, light maltiness and a hint of familiar citrus flavors. Considered clear, crisp and dry with little to no after-taste. And with a modest alcohol content around 4-5% ABV, this brew is a light, easy-drinking alternative to heavier beers or hoppier IPAs.
What are the characteristics of a ale beer?
ale, fermented malt beverage, full-bodied and somewhat bitter, with strong flavour and aroma of hops. Popular in England, where the term is now synonymous with beer, ale was until the late 17th century an unhopped brew of yeast, water, and malt, beer being the same brew with hops added.
What makes a Belgian ale Belgian?
With a few exceptions, Belgian beers tend to have two major common traits. Belgian beers tend to be higher in alcohol than most beers from other countries, and Belgian beers tend to get a lot of their character from the yeast that is used to ferment them.
What is a Belgian-style golden ale?
Belgian-Style Golden Ales typically range from a pale to golden color. Despite their strong alcoholic character, the beer is light bodied. The Belgian-Style Golden Ale recipe puts more emphasis on the hops than it does malt character, but still makes use of the falvors from the Pilsner malt it uses.
What are the 5 characteristics of beer?
Understanding the characteristics of beer is easy when you know how....Just Remember: See it – Smell it – Taste it – Feel itColor (eyes)Aroma (nose)Flavor (mouth, tongue)Mouthfeel or Body (mouth, throat)
What are the three main characteristics of ale yeast?
Ale yeast do what a brewer wants: they ferment quickly, consume the correct profile of sugars, tolerate moderate alcohol levels and can survive the anaerobic conditions of fermentation.
What is unique about Belgian beer?
Belgian beers are primarily ales (as opposed to lagers) with a heavy emphasis on malts and a lot of fruity yeast flavors.
What's special about Belgian beer?
Whether it's a pale ale, a dubbel, a fruit beer or a golden ale, Belgian beers taste unique, and that's down to one thing: yeast. Belgian yeast comes in lots of forms, but it all has a floral, sweet kind of edge to it that's completely in contrast to the crisp, bitter stuff used in most beers.
Is Belgian ale light or dark?
The brew ranges in color from amber to light brown some even considered a deep garnet color. The Belgian Dark Ale flavor is at the discretion of the brewer, but can be yeasty, spiced, and dry, or malty and sweet.
What does Belgian golden taste like?
Malty with fruity esters and notes of spice or floral hops. Flavor: Fruity, spicy, and warming alcohol flavors with malts lingering in background. Dry finish and residual bitterness in aftertaste.
What is golden ale made of?
Like most beer, golden ale is made from a mash of grains, malt extracts and malt. There may be additional additives and flavourings added after the boil and fermentation. During the boil, either neutral or noble hops are added. Then the yeast is added to start the fermentation process.
What is golden ale beer made of?
Golden ales are made of malted barley, hops, yeast and water. The malt is kilned to different levels to create different colors in the beer. Hops are added for bitterness, flavor and aroma. Yeast is used to ferment the beer and create carbonation.
What makes ale different than beer?
The major difference between types of beer comes down to the type of yeast used to ferment it. A beer can qualify as either a lager or an ale, depending on the fermenting process. Ales are created through top fermentation, a process in which yeast ferments at warmer temperatures and settles at the top of the beer.
What determines ale or lager?
Ales and lagers are each made using different strains of yeast. Simply put, lagers are brewed using bottom-fermenting strains of yeast held at colder temperatures (around 40-52°F), while ales are brewed with a top fermenting yeast that operates at warmer temperatures (around 55-77°F, usually).
What defines real ale?
Real Ale, as frequently quoted from the Oxford English Dictionary, is “a name for draught (or bottled) beer brewed from traditional ingredients, matured by secondary fermentation in the container from which it is dispensed, and served without the use of extraneous carbon dioxide.”
What do ale beer taste like?
Ales tend to have a fruity flavor profile with a sweeter taste and a fuller-body. They also tend to be darker and have a cloudier appearance. They have a higher alcohol content, more robust flavor, more bitterness, and a stronger hop flavor.
What is the Golden Strong?
Today, the Golden Strong is an effervescent, complex, pale, dry, strong, fruity and floral ale. An unusual combination of easy-drinkability and high abv, it bears significant similarity to the Trappist Tripel style but with some important differences.
Where is Lo Rez's Golden Strong Ale made?
Commercial Golden Strong Ale – Lo Rez Brewing’s Daemon. Among the very best US-produced Golden Strong’s I’ve tasted comes from Lo Rez Brewing in Chicago. Thanks to Lo Rez brewer Kevin Lilly for visiting with me about their offering, aptly named Daemon .
Why underpitch yeast for Belgian style?
Some homebrewers purposefully underpitch yeast for Belgian styles, to stress the yeast and encourage the production of esters and phenols. Others think it unnecessary, because Belgian yeasts have been developed over the years to produce significant esters and phenols. Underpitching may lead to other off-flavors and, in the worst case, an under-attenuated beer.
What was the name of the beer that was made after World War I?
In any case, Moortgat used Scottish yeast to create the precursor of Duvel, immediately after the end of World War I, called Victory Ale. Victory Ale had little to do with current day Duvel, except for its strength. It was a dark, flavorful beer.
How does Lilly lighten beer?
To lighten the beer, Lilly adds sugar to the recipe, but not in the boil kettle, which he found occasionally led to a stalled fermentation – the yeast would mow through all the simple sugar and give up. Instead, he adds a sugar syrup to the fermenter, over three days. He begins to add the sugar when the beer’s gravity nears 1 degree plato (about 0.004 brewer’s gravity points) above the target final gravity.
What was the slogan of Moortgat?
This fascist party welcomed and collaborated with the German occupiers. During that time, Moortgat’s advertising slogan was “One People, One Nation, One Beer”, chillingly echoing the Nazi slogan “ One People, One Nation, One Leader”.
When does Lilly add sugar to beer?
He begins to add the sugar when the beer’s gravity nears 1 degree plato (about 0.004 brewer’s gravity points) above the target final gravity. From tasting the beer throughout these final days of fermentation, Lilly found that the yeast created many of the aromatics he seeks after the sugar additions.
How to tell if beer is unstable?
1.Look for white flakes which can indicate old, unstable beer. DO NOT serve beer in this condition.2. Look for a thin ring of gunk at liquid level of neck3. Check for yeast at the bottom of the bottle
What does it mean when beer lace clings to the glass?
Head size, shape, retentionBubbles clinging to sides of glass indicate NOT beer cleanDuring consumption, lace will cling to sides of a beer clean glass following each sip
How long does oxygen last in beer?
Party pumps expose the beer to the air, oxygen can reduce flavor stability of beer to 24hrs or less
How to make a beer head?
Tilt glass at 45°, open faucet fully, pour down side until half full, straighten glass and pour down middle to generate ~1" head, close faucet, do not allow beer to touch faucet or glass or to spill
Why do you move beer around your mouth?
Move beer around mouth to stimulate as many taste buds as possible .
How long does it take for a beer to develop after release?
Immediately after release from a brewer, some strong/intensely flavored beers develop over years if properly cellared
What do brewers and importers sell to?
1. Brewers and importers sell to wholesalers2. Wholesalers sell to retailers3. Retailers sell to consumers
What is the fermentable ingredient in Belgian golden strong?
But that’s not the only fermentable ingredient. Now, some of the most well-known Belgian golden strong styles like Duval, they use pilsner malt and they combine it with sugar dextrose in particular.
What to serve with Belgian Stong Golden Ale?
When it comes to pairing a Belgian Stong Golden ale with food, think spicy foods. Salads made with spicer greens such as arugula, mustard greens , or dandelion. Cajun, Indian, and Thai foods work well alongside this style as well. Fish and seafood work well also.
What malt is used for grain bill?
A good quality pilsner malt is used for the grain bill for this style. Sometimes only pilsner malt and dextrose sugar is used; Duvel is known for doing just that.
Why did Moortgat Brewery release Victory Ale?
In 1918, Moortgat Brewery released Victory ale to help celebrate the end of World War I.
What are the flavors of a fruity ester?
The fruity esters are flavors of orange, apple, and pear. The spicy and peppery phenols will range from low-medium to medium. The malt character ranged from subtly sweet grain character to almost unnoticeable. The beer should not be perceived as hot.
What is the bitterness of hops?
The fruit esters come across as orange, apple, and pear. Hop bitterness is moderate to high. The high level of carbonation in this style also contributes to the high perceived bitterness.
How many strains of yeast are there in Duvel?
Yeast. It was then that both men realized there were between ten to twenty different strains that were being used in this beer. The strain was isolated and a single strain was chosen. This strain was still being used by Duvel today.
Why Call It a Golden Ale?
VanDenBoom may have hinted at one of the reasons. Blonde ales conjure up visions of women with blonde hair and have been featured as such on many beer labels. Some breweries like Perrin have chosen to shift away from the term blonde ale to avoid this gendered representation, opting for a more universal golden ale name.
What is blonde ale?
Originally referred to as a dinner ale (or even sparkling ale), blonde ales emerged as a version even lighter in color than a pale ale.
Why is Cigar City beer called Golden?
This is because the beers tend to have more of a golden hue and they found the golden name to be a truer description.
Why are darker ales so difficult to source?
Plus, some of the ingredients commonly used in darker ales became increasingly difficult to source due to restrictions on German imports.
What is cigar city golden ale?
Cigar City Golden Ale – Cigar City describes this one as “built for the warmer months.” Brewed with Willamette hops and pale wheat malt, Cigar City’s Golden Ale is balanced, bright, and vibrant. Just like the Florida sun.
What is the beer called I'm on a boat?
Monday Night Brewing’s I’m On A Boat uses Pilsner malt for a crisp, refreshing base and finishes with Mandarina Bavaria hops for just a little bite on the line.
What color is beer straw?
Competitive regulations for either beer require a straw to gold color, no chill haze, a low malt sweetness, with cereal-like or other pale malt attributes present as well as low to medium-low aroma levels.
History of Belgian Strong Golden Ale
Style Profile & Characteristics
- The guidelines for the Belgian Strong Golden Alestyle are set by the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) Style Committee. The below details are a summary of what a Belgian strong golden ale should represent. The BJCP classifies the Belgian Golden Strong Ale style under category number 16, “Strong Belgian Ale” and it can be found in the guidelines as sub-category (…
Recent Award-Winning Examples of The Style
- Old Split-Foot from Broken Bow Brewery— Great American Beer Festival Winner, Gold, 2016. Available: Limited.
- Treachery from 12O Brewing Company— Great American Beer Festival Winner, Bronze and World Beer Cup Winner, Silver, 2016. Available: Rotating.
- Sanctuary from Gemini Beer Company— World Beer Cup Winner, Silver, 2016. Available: Year …
- Old Split-Foot from Broken Bow Brewery— Great American Beer Festival Winner, Gold, 2016. Available: Limited.
- Treachery from 12O Brewing Company— Great American Beer Festival Winner, Bronze and World Beer Cup Winner, Silver, 2016. Available: Rotating.
- Sanctuary from Gemini Beer Company— World Beer Cup Winner, Silver, 2016. Available: Year Round.
- Deceit from Funkwerks Brewing Company— World Beer Cup Winner, Bronze, 2016 and World Beer Cup Winner, Silver, 2014. Available: Seasonal.
How to Brew A Belgian Strong Golden Ale
- When compared to many other styles, brewing a Belgian golden strong ale may look deceptively easy. The grain bill is simple. The brewing processes used are common and straight forward. But, as with any high alcohol brew it brings with it its own set of particular considerations and unlike some other bigger beers, such as barely wine and old ale, there is very little to hide missteps beh…
History
Style Characteristics
- Today, the Golden Strong is an effervescent, complex, pale, dry, strong, fruity and floral ale. An unusual combination of easy-drinkability and high abv, it bears significant similarity to the Trappist Tripel style but with some important differences. Tripels, although dry, often do not end up as dry as the Golden Strong style and possess a somewhat fuller mouthfeel. Most strikingly, t…
The Numbers
- According to the BJCP style guidelines, the Belgian Golden Strong comes in at: 1. Bitterness 22-35 IBUs 2. Color 3-6 SRM 3. Original Gravity 1.070 – 1.095 4. Final Gravity 1.005 – 1.016 5. ABV 7.5 – 10.5%
Brewing The Belgian Golden Strong
- The challenge in brewing this style lies in making a flavorful, complex, high abv beer that at the same time is dry, easy-to-drink and delicate. As with many Belgian styles, the use of sugar in brewing helps dry out the beer. Homebrewers often add it to the boil – you’ll read below about the alternative process that Kevin Lilly at Lo Rez uses. The addition of sugar gives the yeast somethi…
Recipe
- Cherub Nectar, Gold Medal Belgian Beers, Silver Medal Best-of-Show, Door County Homebrew Competition, Brewer’s Friend Recipe Here 1. 12.5 lbs Pilsner Malt 2. 2.5 lbs Table Sugar 3. 1 lb Wheat Malt 4. Mash the malts at 148F for sixty minutes, single infusion and batch sparge method 1. Chicago municipal water 2. Add 8 ml lactic acid to the mash 1. 1 oz Mt. Rainer (6% aa) for 60 …
Commercial Golden Strong Ale – Lo Rez Brewing’s Daemon
- Among the very best US-produced Golden Strong’s I’ve tasted comes from Lo Rez Brewing in Chicago. Thanks to Lo Rez brewer Kevin Lilly for visiting with me about their offering, aptly named Daemon. Daemon is a programming term (meaning a program that runs in the background), a theme Lo Rez uses throughout their lineup. But it also references Duvel – as an archaic spelling …