Gulden Draak 9000 Quadruple
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Tasting Notes
The aroma opens with dark dried fruits — raisins, figs, prunes — layered over caramel malt and a faint suggestion of vanilla and bourbon-like warmth. On the palate, rich toffee and molasses lead, with stone fruit easing into a gentle spice from the yeast and some toasty malt depth underneath. The body is full and almost syrupy without being cloying, well-supported by restrained carbonation. The finish is long and warming, with the alcohol present but integrated, leaving behind traces of dark sugar and light bitterness.
About the Brewery
Van Steenberge is a family-owned Belgian brewery based in Ertvelde, in the East Flanders region, with roots stretching back to the 18th century. They're best known internationally for the Gulden Draak range, a line of strong Belgian ales that have earned considerable recognition among enthusiasts of the style. Their portfolio also includes Piraat, a strong golden ale, reflecting a consistent focus on high-gravity Belgian brewing. They operate as a mid-sized independent, respected for technical consistency across a demanding range of styles.
Food Pairings
Aged hard cheeses like Comté or aged Gouda work well because their crystalline, nutty character mirrors the beer's caramel malt depth. Braised short ribs or beef stew cooked in dark beer share the same molasses and umami register, reinforcing rather than fighting the malt. A dark chocolate dessert — particularly one with 70% cacao or higher — finds common ground in the beer's roasted bitterness and dried fruit notes. Foie gras or a rich liver pâté pairs naturally given the beer's weight and sweetness, which balance the richness of fatty preparations without overwhelming them.
Style Guide
The Quadrupel, or Quad, is the strongest of the traditional Belgian abbey ale categories, typically ranging from around 9% to 12% ABV, with a defining profile built on dark candi sugar, rich malt, dried fruit esters, and complex yeast-derived spice. The style was formalized largely by Trappist breweries in the Netherlands and Belgium — La Trappe is often credited with popularizing the name — though Belgian abbey breweries have long produced beers of comparable weight and character. A Quad differs from a Dubbel primarily in strength and fruit intensity, and from a Belgian Dark Strong Ale mainly in how closely it tracks the abbey brewing tradition in ingredient selection and fermentation approach.