Style: Belgian Golden Strong Ale

All Styles

Style Profile based on 577 recipes

BU:GU

0.35

Hops

4.3 g/L

Mash pH

5.64

Style Guidelines BJCP 2015 Beer
OG
1.07 1.095
1.078
FG
1.005 1.016
1.012
IBU
22 35
27
ABV
7.5% 10.5%
8.7%
SRM
3 6
Description

A pale, complex, effervescent, strong Belgian-style ale that is highly attenuated and features fruity and hoppy notes in preference to phenolics. History: Originally developed by the Moortgat brewery after WWI as a response to the growing popularity of Pilsner beers. Style Comparison: Strongly resembles a Tripel, but may be even paler, lighter-bodied and even crisper and drier; the drier finish and lighter body also serves to make the assertive hopping and yeast character more prominent. Tends to use yeast that favor ester development (particularly pome fruit) over spiciness in the balance.

Examples: Brigand, Delirium Tremens, Dulle Teve, Duvel, Judas, Lucifer, Piraat, Russian River Damnation

Typical Grain Bill

% of total grain weight across all recipes · sums to ~100%

Common Additions

% of Belgian Golden Strong Ale recipes using each malt category (addition % in brackets)

Hop Usage by Addition Type

g/L · median with IQR range

Bittering
0.56 g/L 2.05 g/L
1.16 g/L
Flavour
0.51 g/L 1.37 g/L
1.03 g/L
Aroma
0.37 g/L 1.6 g/L
0.93 g/L
Whirlpool
0.84 g/L 1.5 g/L
1.37 g/L
Dry Hop
0.5 g/L 3.13 g/L
1.88 g/L
Common Hops

% of Belgian Golden Strong Ale recipes using each hop

Dry-Hop Rate by Year

g/L · median with IQR range

2019
0.43 g/L 2.65 g/L
1.41 g/L
2020
2.4 g/L 2.91 g/L
2.81 g/L
2021
0.51 g/L 0.51 g/L
0.51 g/L
2022
0.27 g/L 0.27 g/L
0.27 g/L
2023
1.5 g/L 3.14 g/L
2.32 g/L
2024
0 g/L 0 g/L
0 g/L

dated Belgian Golden Strong Ale recipes with at least one dry-hop addition

Mash Profile
  • 69% Single Infusion
  • 31% Step Mash
  • 0% Decoction

74 recipes with mash data

Typical Water Profile
  • 75 ppm Ca²⁺
  • 5 ppm Mg²⁺
  • 20 ppm Na⁺
  • 75 ppm Cl⁻
  • 80 ppm SO₄²⁻
  • 100 ppm HCO₃⁻

median across recipes with a declared water profile

Similar Styles

Ranked by similarity across OG, IBU, ABV, hop rate, and grist composition.