Piraat Ale
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Tasting Notes
The aroma opens with ripe stone fruit, spiced orange peel, and a waft of alcohol warmth that signals the 10.5% ABV upfront. On the palate, flavors of dried apricot, clove, and pale malt sweetness build toward a resinous, slightly herbal hop character in the mid-palate. The body is full and syrupy without being cloying, held in check by active carbonation. The finish is long and warming, with a boozy sweetness that lingers alongside faint peppery yeast notes.
About the Brewery
Van Steenberge is a family-owned brewery based in Ertvelde, in the East Flanders region of Belgium, with roots stretching back to the late 18th century. They are best known for producing high-gravity Belgian ales, and their portfolio includes several well-regarded abbey-style and strong pale ales distributed internationally. The brewery operates as a contract and own-label producer, giving them a broad presence across multiple markets without being tied to a single flagship identity.
Food Pairings
Aged Gouda works well because its caramel nuttiness matches the beer's malt sweetness without being overwhelmed by the alcohol. Roasted pork shoulder finds a natural counterpart in the clove and fruit esters, which cut through the fat and complement the char. A rich onion or leek tart pairs on the savory-sweet axis, letting the yeast spice do the bridging work. Dark chocolate desserts — particularly those with orange or dried fruit notes — mirror the beer's own fruity warmth and make the finish feel cohesive rather than boozy.
Style Guide
Belgian Strong Pale Ale is defined by its unusually high ABV for a pale beer, typically ranging from 7.5% to 10.5% or beyond, combined with a yeast-driven complexity that sets it apart from hop-forward or malt-forward strong ales. The style originated in Belgium, with Duvel being the most recognized benchmark, and it achieves its characteristic flavor through specific ale yeast strains that produce fruity esters and spicy phenols during fermentation. Unlike Belgian Tripels, which share a similar ABV range, strong pale ales tend to be less structured around malt sweetness and more focused on a dry, attenuated finish with prominent yeast character.