Gulden Draak 750ML

Gulden Draak 750ML is a Belgian strong dark ale brewed to 10.5% ABV by Brouwerij Van Steenberge in East Flanders. Named "Best Beer in the World" by the American Tasting Institute in 1998, this iconic brew earned further distinction with Gold Medals at the 2024 and 2025 World Beer Awards, cementing its reputation among the finest Belgian ales produced today.

Quick Facts: ABV: 10.5%  |  Origin: Ertvelde, East Flanders, Belgium  |  Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale  |  Brewery: Van Steenberge

Production & Heritage

Brouwerij Van Steenberge has been brewing in Ertvelde, East Flanders, for over a century, building a portfolio of respected Belgian ales. What separates Gulden Draak from the rest of that portfolio — and indeed from most Belgian strong dark ales — is its secondary fermentation with wine yeast sourced from the Bordeaux region of France, a technique introduced by Jozef Van Steenberge in 1985. Brewed with water, barley malt, sugar, hops, and yeast through an initial high fermentation, the beer then undergoes a second fermentation with these Bordeaux-origin wine yeasts, creating a living beer that continues to evolve and develop complexity in the bottle over time.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with a powerful fragrance of barley and caramel before shifting into ripe plums, cherries, and dark figs. Hints of sour cherry and brown sugar emerge as the beer warms, revealing the influence of the wine yeast fermentation.

Taste: The entry is immediately full-bodied, coating the palate with natural malt toffee and brown sugar sweetness. At mid-palate, layers of dark fruit — dates, ripe plums, and fermented cherries — build alongside rich caramel and chocolate. The 10.5% alcohol makes itself known without being harsh, adding warmth and depth to the peak of each sip.

Finish: The finish is long, warming, and textured, with candy-like sweetness gradually yielding to mellow hoppy accents. Lingering notes of toffee, dark fruit, and a gentle alcoholic glow remain well after the glass is set down.

How to Drink Gulden Draak

Pour into a wide-mouthed goblet or chalice at 50–54°F (10–12°C) to allow the complex aromas to open fully; this is a beer that rewards slow, contemplative sipping. Its rich malt backbone and fruit-forward character make it a strong candidate for a Belgian Beer Float — poured over vanilla ice cream for a decadent dessert drink. It also serves beautifully as a base in a Dark Ale Shandy, cut with tart lemon juice to balance the sweetness. For an adventurous cocktail, try it in a Dark Belgian Flip, shaken with an egg yolk and a touch of maple syrup, where the caramel and dark fruit notes amplify into something extraordinary.

Best For

• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who appreciates award-winning Belgian ales
• After-dinner sipping as a dessert beer alongside chocolate or dried fruit
• Cellaring and aging — the living yeast allows the flavor profile to evolve over several years
• Sharing at a tasting with friends exploring high-gravity Belgian styles

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Gulden Draak taste like? Gulden Draak delivers a rich, full-bodied experience dominated by dark fruit, caramel, toffee, and brown sugar, with background notes of chocolate and a warming alcoholic presence. The Bordeaux wine yeast fermentation gives it a distinctive vinous complexity not found in most Belgian strong dark ales.

How does Gulden Draak compare to Rochefort 10? Both are high-gravity Belgian dark ales, but Gulden Draak distinguishes itself through its secondary fermentation with Bordeaux wine yeast, which lends a fruitier, more vinous character compared to Rochefort 10's deeply malty, fig-and-plum profile rooted in Trappist brewing tradition. Gulden Draak sits at 10.5% ABV versus Rochefort 10's 11.3%, making it slightly more approachable in terms of alcohol intensity.

Is Gulden Draak good for cellaring? Yes — because it is a living beer with active yeast still in the bottle, Gulden Draak develops additional complexity over several years of proper cellar storage, with dark fruit and caramel notes deepening while sharper edges soften.

Where is Gulden Draak made? Gulden Draak is brewed at Brouwerij Van Steenberge in Ertvelde, a town in the East Flanders province of Belgium. The brewery has operated in this location for over a century and remains family-owned.

What foods pair well with Gulden Draak? Dark chocolate truffles complement the beer's caramel and toffee sweetness. Aged Gouda or Gruyère mirrors its malty richness with nutty depth. Braised beef or carbonnade flamande echoes its dark fruit complexity. Fig and walnut tarts highlight the beer's natural date and plum notes. Blue cheese such as Roquefort provides a salty counterpoint to the residual sweetness.

What sizes does Gulden Draak come in? The signature format is the 750ml bottle, which is designed for sharing or extended solo sipping; Gulden Draak is also commonly available in 330ml bottles.

Is Gulden Draak worth the price? Gulden Draak positions as a premium Belgian strong dark ale, and its World Beer Awards pedigree, distinctive Bordeaux wine yeast fermentation, and aging potential place it firmly in the upper tier of its category — strong value for what it delivers in complexity and craftsmanship.

Why Gulden Draak?

The defining factor is that Bordeaux wine yeast, introduced by Jozef Van Steenberge in 1985, which creates a character no other Belgian strong dark ale replicates. This is not a gimmick — it earned the beer top honors from the American Tasting Institute in 1998 and has continued to collect medals at the World Beer Awards through 2025, including consecutive Golds in 2024 and 2025. The 750ml format invites sharing and slow appreciation, and the living yeast in each bottle means the beer you drink today will taste different from one you open a year from now. In a category filled with excellent competition, Gulden Draak remains one of the most distinctive and consistently decorated Belgian ales available.