Gulden Draak The Brewmasters Edition Review

Br. Van Steenberge

Ertvelde, Belgium

Globalbeer.com

Guldendraak.be

Aged in Whiskey Barrels
10.5% abv
750 ml bottle
Date bottled: 2/2014

Appearance: dense orange/amber body with a one and a half finger pour

Nose: nice light oak whiskey note; toasted candi sugar; stone fruit; golden raisin;
Flavor: pretty much follows the nose; stone fruits - white peach and a light apricot; white grape, golden raisin, pear, and gala apple in the mix; a creamy vanilla marshmallow swirls on the palate; light parmesan toasted cracker with a hint of white pepper on the back

Mouthfeel: sweet; malt focused; sweet candied fruits; light creamy feel; lingering sweetness - like me!

To the Point: for those who say, 'just buy the Gulden Draak' this has to be the G.D. 9000 aged in Whiskey Barrels.  I'll ask them at Global Beer. Gulden Draak is a dark brown color and 9000 is more golden-orange. This is a very nice barrel aged ale anyways. I have had this before and always enjoyed it.  

Gulden Draak 9000 Quadruple

Back in April when I reviewed IPAs I thought my taste buds were shots by the end of the month.  Now here  in June I did Lagers and Pilsners and pure boredom has set in.  So, here is one tasty Quad to end Lager and Pilsner Month.  This is a new beverage from Gulden Draak, just out this year.

Brouwerij Van Steenberge

Belgium

Globalbeer.com

Guldendraak.be

11.2 little stubby bottle

10.7% abv

$19.99 a four pack

Appearance: amber with some golden highlights when held to the light.  White 2 finger plus head.  Some lacing on the glass. 

Aroma: oh the Belgian yeast, stone fruit, maybe a little mango, sweet malts, I didn’t pick up any alcohol till I was halfway through.  Swirl the glass every now and then to reinvigorate the bouquet.  

Flavors: sweet malts surround the fruity notes, stone fruit like the nose with a golden raisin added to the mix, delicate hops to add some balance, tasty yeast in the mix.  Fairly simple … I guess I expected more complexity from this Quad.

Mouthfeel: this is really nice, sweetness when the beverage is on the cold side and then a soft bitterness appears as it warms.  As it warms this ale gets better with each sip.  The carbonation is low with a nice fizzy feel on the palate.  This helps to give it a semi-creamy feel. 

To the Point: the mouthfeel is special.  The flavors are very good but not complex and that is not always a bad thing – for it is a good thing here.  I really like the Gulden Draak 9000.  I will have to pick up a few more to keep it in stock. 

My Strength Rating: 6.5

Gulden Draak Ale: Beer Review

10.5% abv
330ml
Brouwerij Van Steenberge
Belgium

The nose on this Triple Ale makes me think of roasted sweet caramelized malts. There is also a nice aromatic feel to the smell. The taste follows with toasted toffee sweetness and some yummy yeast. Playing off the aromatic nose there seems to be some fancy raisin and fig on the taste. There is a little spice coming from the alcohol and the hoppy intonations. The texture is smooth and creamy while the slight carbonation gives my palate a cleansing effect. The sweetness is never overwhelming. The hops must be doing their job to keep things in check. There is an herbal tea and a rich milk chocolate that blends in with the other yummy notes to create a wonderful taste experience.

Skip that pie dessert after your Holiday dinner and pour yourself a liquid dessert – Gulden Draak is perfect for that Holiday dessert.

See Gulden Draak 9000 Review