{"id":45831,"date":"2022-03-28T11:11:10","date_gmt":"2022-03-28T15:11:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/?p=45831"},"modified":"2026-03-01T10:10:54","modified_gmt":"2026-03-01T14:10:54","slug":"gulden-draak-strong-ale-tasting-notes-and-recommended-pairings-by-a-beer-sommelier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/en\/gulden-draak-strong-ale-tasting-notes-and-recommended-pairings-by-a-beer-sommelier\/","title":{"rendered":"Gulden Draak Strong Ale: Tasting Notes and Recommended Pairings by a Beer Sommelier"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"thebe-2518731358\" class=\"thebe-adsense-inicio thebe-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/es\/niveles-de-membresia\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Navegar sin publicidad\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Navegar-sin-publicidad.png\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Navegar-sin-publicidad.png 590w, https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Navegar-sin-publicidad-300x184.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px\" width=\"400\" height=\"245\"  style=\"display: inline-block;\" \/><\/a><\/div><div id=\"thebe-3062624845\" class=\"thebe-antes-del-contenido-3 thebe-entity-placement\">\n            <div \n                class=\"elfsight-widget-popup elfsight-widget\" \n                data-elfsight-popup-options=\"%7B%22blocks%22%3A%5B%7B%22id%22%3A%22babc7e96-e195-4da3-a8c5-7072d42f2f5c%22%2C%22type%22%3A%22image%22%2C%22imageFile%22%3A%7B%22type%22%3A%22uploaded%22%2C%22data%22%3A%7B%22name%22%3A%2261d71zGp0%2BL._SL1500_%22%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.thebeertimes.com%5C%2Fwp-content%5C%2Fuploads%5C%2F2026%5C%2F02%5C%2F61d71zGp0L._SL1500_.jpg%22%2C%22size%22%3A45654%2C%22type%22%3A%22image%22%2C%22extension%22%3A%22jpeg%22%2C%22width%22%3A940%2C%22height%22%3A1500%2C%22ext%22%3A%22jpeg%22%7D%7D%2C%22imageScale%22%3A60%7D%2C%7B%22id%22%3A%226689e0da-ab1d-42a0-ac83-457ff13f91dd%22%2C%22type%22%3A%22button%22%2C%22buttonText%22%3A%22Buy%20on%20AMAZON%22%2C%22buttonAction%22%3A%22redirect%22%2C%22buttonStyle%22%3A%22filled%22%2C%22buttonShape%22%3A%22rectangle%22%2C%22buttonColor%22%3A%22rgb%28255%2C%2038%2C%2067%29%22%2C%22buttonFontSize%22%3A16%2C%22label%22%3A%22Button%22%2C%22buttonUrl%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.amazon.com%5C%2Fdp%5C%2FB0GDGJJWD2%22%7D%5D%2C%22layout%22%3A%22modal%22%2C%22width%22%3A500%2C%22popupBlocksAlignment%22%3A%22center%22%2C%22popupShape%22%3A%22rounded%22%2C%22popupBackgroundColor%22%3A%22rgb%28255%2C%20255%2C%20255%29%22%2C%22popupBackgroundImage%22%3Anull%2C%22popupBackgroundImageOverlayColor%22%3A%22%22%2C%22overlayVisible%22%3Atrue%2C%22overlayClose%22%3Atrue%2C%22overlayBackgroundColor%22%3A%22rgba%2817%2C%2017%2C%2017%2C%200.7%29%22%2C%22overlayBackgroundImage%22%3Anull%2C%22overlayBackgroundImageOverlayColor%22%3A%22%22%2C%22closeButtonVisible%22%3Atrue%2C%22closeButtonColor%22%3A%22rgba%2817%2C%2017%2C%2017%2C%200.7%29%22%2C%22triggerPageLoadEnabled%22%3Afalse%2C%22triggerTimeOnPageEnabled%22%3Afalse%2C%22triggerTimeOnPageDuration%22%3A30%2C%22triggerScrollEnabled%22%3Atrue%2C%22triggerScrollPosition%22%3A25%2C%22triggerScrollToElementEnabled%22%3Afalse%2C%22triggerScrollToElementId%22%3Anull%2C%22triggerClickEnabled%22%3Afalse%2C%22triggerClickElementId%22%3Anull%2C%22triggerExitIntentEnabled%22%3Afalse%2C%22displayFrequency%22%3A%22everytime%22%2C%22displayPages%22%3A%22allPages%22%2C%22displayExcludedPages%22%3A%5B%5D%2C%22displaySpecificPages%22%3A%5B%5D%2C%22displayDevices%22%3A%5B%22desktop%22%2C%22tablet%22%2C%22mobile%22%5D%2C%22widgetId%22%3A%224%22%7D\" \n                data-elfsight-popup-version=\"1.0.0\"\n                data-elfsight-widget-id=\"elfsight-popup-4\">\n            <\/div>\n            <\/div><p>Considered the best beer in the world by the American Tasting Institute in 1998, Gulden Draak stands out as an excellent alternative to other types of alcohol.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17161\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17161\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17161\" title=\"Gulden Draak\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Gulden-Draak-300x158.jpg\" alt=\"Gulden Draak\" width=\"600\" height=\"315\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Gulden-Draak-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Gulden-Draak-114x60.jpg 114w, https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Gulden-Draak.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17161\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Gulden Draak<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>General Information<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Name:<\/strong> Gulden Draak<br \/>\n<strong>Brewery:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vansteenberge.com\/es\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Brouwerij Van Steenberge<\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Origin:<\/strong> Ertvelde, Belgium<br \/>\n<strong>Style:<\/strong> Belgian Strong Ale<br \/>\n<strong>ABV:<\/strong> 10.5%<br \/>\n<strong>IBU:<\/strong> 18<br \/>\n<strong>Calories:<\/strong> 255 kcal<br \/>\n<strong>Glassware:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/la-cerveza-vaso-a-vaso-caliz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Chalice<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/la-cerveza-vaso-a-vaso-tulipa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tulip<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/la-cerveza-vaso-a-vaso-jelly-frances\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tumbler<\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"thebe-3554918967\" style=\"margin-bottom: 30px;\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-9395258998211551\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9395258998211551\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"8775458773\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2>Tasting Notes and Impressions<\/h2>\n<p>With 10.5% alcohol by volume, it has a full body and dark red and hazy hues, with an exquisite flavor and aroma. It evokes flavors of caramel, chocolate, and coffee, but with an unmistakable smooth, aged wine taste.<\/p>\n<h3>1. Appearance<\/h3>\n<p>Dark copper, homogeneous, with an opaque and hazy visual texture. It generates a tall, beige foam with good retention and a porous creaminess that dissipates to preserve a light layer as you drink, creating alcohol &#8220;legs&#8221; on the sides of the glass.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Aroma<\/h3>\n<p>Rich and deep maltiness, subtly toasted, with notes of caramel, licorice, honey cookies, and macerated herbs. This intensifies with an intense and profound liquor-like character on the nose, but without being overwhelming.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Flavor<\/h3>\n<p>Pronounced notes of toasted caramel, dried dark fruits, sponge cake, and honey cookies. It then shifts mid-palate with a mild but evident bitterness and a distinct liqueur-like quality that opens into a finish extending into an integrated aftertaste along that line.<\/p>\n<h3>4. Mouthfeel<\/h3>\n<p>Medium-full body, silky and unctuous, expanding firmly throughout the mouth. It has a soft but effervescent carbonation and an alcoholic warmth that marks the pause between sips.<\/p>\n<h3>5. Overall Impression<\/h3>\n<p>Gulden Draak owes its name to the dragon symbol of the city of Ghent and uses wine yeast in its secondary fermentation. Originally, it was brewed as a one-off batch for the city of Evergen, but due to the insistence of customers who had the chance to try it at the brewery, it was added to the regular portfolio. Undoubtedly, a beer for multiple occasions, delicious, full-bodied, and warm, to be enjoyed as an aperitif, accompaniment, or perfectly on its own. Gulden Draak is a very versatile beer when you know what to expect from it.<\/p>\n<div id=\"thebe-2164538623\" style=\"margin-bottom: 30px;\"><div id=\"pf-15242-1\" data-format=\"display\" ><script>window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: \"683988d268662b3361d8a48f\", id: \"pf-15242-1\"})<\/script><\/div><\/div>\n<h2>Suggested Pairings<\/h2>\n<p>Gulden Draak, with its intense malty profile, liqueur-like notes, and complex fruity character, complements dishes that highlight its richness and balance its alcoholic warmth.<\/p><div id=\"thebe-4279909001\" class=\"thebe-libros-amazon thebe-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div style=\"background-color: #ffffff; border: 1px solid #ccc; border-radius: 12px; padding: 16px; max-width: 320px; margin: 20px auto; text-align: center; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3LddZmQ\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-43340 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Catar-cerveza-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Gu\u00eda Pr\u00e1ctica Catar Cerveza Amazon\" width=\"200\" height=\"199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Catar-cerveza-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Catar-cerveza-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Catar-cerveza-370x370.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Catar-cerveza.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #0000ff; font-weight: bold; margin: 8px 0; line-height: 1.2;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3LddZmQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">Gu\u00eda pr\u00e1ctica para catar cerveza: C\u00f3mo apreciar correctamente todas las cervezas del mundo<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat fasc-rounded-medium fasc-ico-before dashicons-cart\" style=\"background-color: #ff9900; color: #000000;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3LddZmQ\">Comprar en Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3>1. Main Courses<\/h3>\n<p>The dense and spicy profile of Gulden Draak pairs splendidly with red meat stews, such as beef bourguignon or ossobuco in wine reduction. The sweet and liqueur-like notes complement the cooking juices, while the mild bitterness adds structure to the dish.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Cheeses<\/h3>\n<p>This Belgian Strong Ale finds balance with intensely aged cheeses, such as an old gouda, an aged comt\u00e9, or even a roquefort. The combination of sweetness and alcohol cleanses the palate between bites, contrasting the saltiness and fatty character of the cheeses.<\/p>\n<div id=\"thebe-1974602589\" style=\"margin-bottom: 20px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-9395258998211551\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block; text-align:center;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9395258998211551\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1179889612\" \ndata-ad-layout=\"in-article\"\ndata-ad-format=\"fluid\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n<h3>3. Vegetarian Dishes<\/h3>\n<p>Gulden Draak elegantly accompanies miso-glazed eggplants or a mushroom lasagna with b\u00e9chamel, where the toasted malts align with earthy and sweet flavors, contrasting wonderfully with roasted vegetables and creamy sauces.<\/p>\n<h3>4. Desserts<\/h3>\n<p>The natural liqueur-like quality of this beer makes it an excellent companion for dark chocolate desserts; particularly, a brownie with walnuts or a fig and caramel cake highlights the notes of licorice, coffee, and dried fruit that emerge more clearly in the combination.<\/p>\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)<\/h2>\n<h3>1. Why is Gulden Draak beer presented in a white bottle?<\/h3>\n<p>Unlike most beers that use dark glass to protect from light, Gulden Draak uses a bottle coated with a distinctive white lacquer. This design, in addition to being aesthetic, protects its complex wine yeast and liqueur-like profile from photolytic oxidation, preserving the tasting notes intact during bottle aging.<\/p>\n<h3>2. What is the ideal serving temperature for Gulden Draak?<\/h3>\n<p>To appreciate the evolution of its caramel, chocolate, and coffee aromas, it is recommended to serve it between 10 and 12\u00b0C (50-54\u00b0F). Serving it too cold (standard refrigerator temperature) would inhibit the volatility of its fruity esters and hide the silkiness of its medium-full body.<\/p>\n<h3>3. What does the name &#8220;Gulden Draak&#8221; mean, and what is its origin?<\/h3>\n<p>&#8220;Gulden Draak&#8221; translates from Flemish as &#8220;Golden Dragon.&#8221; The name pays homage to the golden statue that crowns the belfry of the city of Ghent in Belgium. According to legend, this dragon originally adorned the prow of the ship of the Norwegian king Sigurd Magnusson and today is a symbol of freedom and power for the region.<\/p>\n<h3>4. Is Gulden Draak a beer suitable for aging?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes, thanks to its high alcohol content (10.5%) and its secondary fermentation process with wine yeast, it is an excellent beer for cellaring. Over time, the hop notes diminish, and more complex flavors emerge, reminiscent of Port, Sherry, or ripe dried fruits, gaining roundness and smoothness.<\/p>\n<h3>5. Does Gulden Draak contain gluten?<\/h3>\n<p>Being a Belgian Strong Ale style traditionally brewed with toasted barley malts, Gulden Draak contains gluten. It is not suitable for people with celiac disease or strict gluten sensitivity, as its fermentation process does not include the removal of these proteins.<\/p>\n<h2>We Recommend<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/introduccion-al-analisis-sensorial-estandarizado-que-es-la-norma-iso-54922008\/\">Introduction to Standardized Sensory Analysis: What is ISO 5492:2008?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/la-ciencia-del-retrogusto-cervecero\/\">The Science of Beer Aftertaste: Physiology and Chemistry of Persistent Flavor<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><div id=\"thebe-939617622\" class=\"thebe-adsterra-300-x-250 thebe-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 15px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-9395258998211551\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9395258998211551\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1930811761\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"thebe-1661207109\" class=\"thebe-video-tv thebe-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 25px;margin-bottom: 40px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><script defer id=\"videoo-library\" data-id=\"7514ef42c646749bb961a4a384b7bffe1e6288b17c0da6dfc03982149766b2a9\" src=\"https:\/\/static.videoo.tv\/7514ef42c646749bb961a4a384b7bffe1e6288b17c0da6dfc03982149766b2a9.js\"><\/script><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gulden Draak is a Belgian strong ale-style beer originating from Ertvelde, Belgium, and brewed by Brouwerij Van Steenberge, with 10.5% ABV, 18 IBU, and 255 total calories.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":39817,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","ai_generated_summary":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[21139],"tags":[21133,21131,21600,21141],"class_list":["post-45831","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-opinion-en","tag-beer-styles","tag-belgium","tag-gulden-draak","tag-tasting-notes","pmpro-has-access"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45831","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45831"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45831\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39817"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45831"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45831"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45831"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}