Authentic Trappist versions of the Belgian Dark Strong Ale tend to be drier than Abbey versions which can be rather sweet and full-bodied. Higher bitterness is also allowable in Abbey- style beers. Built with large malt profiles and low bitterness, most are sweet and full of complex and varied flavors. Grains are usually Belgian Pils or Pale malts with aromatic and roasted malts for color and roasted flavors. Much of the complexity comes from Belgian yeast strains and large amounts of amber candy sugar. Hops are Noble or English and usually stay in the background. Original gravities range from 1.075 – 1.110. Hop bitterness is moderate at 20 – 30 IBU’s. Many beers represented in this category are considered some of the very best in the world due to their bold complexity and unique blend of dark fruit and roasted flavors.

CORSENDONK PATER (BROWN) – DUBBEL 7.5% (BELGIUM) 12oz $6.50
A vibrant, dark-brown beer with strong carbonation and a billowy white head. The sweet smell of candy sugars is apparent along with dark fruits. Not as heavy as it might sound, this beer has a medium body and a nice range of spicy, sweet, & malty with a slightly dry, warm finish.

MAREDSOUS 8 – DUBBEL 8% (BELGIUM) 11.2oz $6.50
Aromas range from Belgian spices to ripe dark fruits and roasted malts. Sweet malts and smokey flavors dance in and out of dark fruits, light citrus, and faint noble hops. Overall very balanced and tasty. Very drinkable and a great example of the style.

CARACOLE NOSTRADAMUS – BELGIAN STRONG DARK ALE 9.5%  330ml $7
Rich ruby-brown in color with a light-brown head, Nostradamus is a rich, delightful treat. There are hints of caramel, chocolate, brown sugar, cherries and dried fruit throughout with a strong hop finish. It is a very smooth beer with a medium to full body.

GREEN’S ENDEAVOR (GLUTEN FREE DUBBEL) 7% (ENGLAND) 16.9oz $7
Pours dark red with an off white head. Falvors of dark fruits and cherries abound with rustic malty notes. Definite red wine and grape seed tones with some light peppery notes. Spicy Belgian yeast flavors echo through the finish. Vary tasty and a worthy Gluten-Free offering.

KONINGSHOEVEN DUBBEL 6.5% (NETHERLANDS) 11.2oz $7
(AKA La Trappe Dubbel) Deep reddish brown color with beige head. Aromas are chocolate, dark fruits, and sweet malts. The flavors are pumpernickle bread, prunes, raisins, and earthy bitterness. The beer finishes dry with grapey fruitiness and a mild hop bitterness.

ROCHEFORT 6 – BELGIAN DARK STRONG ALE 7.5% (BELGIUM) 11.2oz $7
Heavenly malty and citrus aromas greet your nose and lead you into sips that are wrapped in caramel smoothness and complex fruits like raspberry, citrus, and grapes. Belgian yeast delivers on the promise of cinnamon spiciness and earthy herbal notes. Drier than it’s big brothers (8, 10) and lighter in body which lends itself to greater drinkability and a rich smoothness.

ST. BERNARDUS PATER 6 – DUBBEL 6.7% (BELGIUM) 330ml $7
This dubbel features an amber-brown color and the divine aromas of dark fruits, Belgian candy sugar and burnt caramel. Flavors range from dates to sweet bread and honey, and finish with a mild sweetness and berry tartness. Spices and vanilla are present throughout this beautifully crafted beer, with just enough bitterness to balance itself.

URTHEL VLAEMSE BOCK– BELGIAN STRONG DARK ALE 9% (BELGIUM) 330ml $7
The aroma of this Bock is comprised of dark fruits, oak and earthy sour notes. Flavors range from sweet malt, bourbon, raisins and a Saaz-hop bitterness that reminds of a great Belgian Christmas ale. Ruby-red in color with a beige head, the finish is dry and clean.

VAL DIEU BRUNE – DUBBEL 8% (BELGIUM) 330ml $7
Deep walnut-brown in color with a foamy off-white head, this dubbel has an almost wine-like quality, with the taste of grapes and plums throughout. Aromas of roasted malts, coffee and dark chocolate add to the spicy notes of clove and coriander before a long-lingering finish that resembles a fine wine.

GOUDEN CAROLUS CLASSIC – BELGIAN STRONG DARK ALE 8% (BELGIUM)   11.2oz $7.50
A delicious carnival of raisins, plums, caramel, biscuit malts and spice, this Belgian classic is a warm burgundy ale with a massive off-white head. The finish is dry and slightly sweet with a lingering flavor and just a hint of alcohol warming.

KASTEEL BIERE DU CHAT BROWN – BELGIAN STRONG DARK ALE 11% (BELGIUM) 11.2oz $7.50
Peppery Merlot aromas with brown fruits, brown sugar, and hints of alcohol. Flavors of dark fruits, chocolate, and caramel flavors intermingle with spicy bursts and rich caramel malt to deliver a truly sensuous and special Belgian ale. Smooth and creamy mouth feel with a crip finish that leaves traces of alcohol warmth.

TROUBADOR OBSCURA – BELGIAN STRONG DARK ALE 8.5% (BELGIUM) 11.2oz $7.50
This ale pours deep brown with ruby tints and is often, understandably, listed as a mild stout. Aromas of carob, cherry and licorice rise from the glass with whiffs of spicy alcohol. The complex taste, with raisin, cherry, chocolate, roasted malt, oak, hints of vanilla and sugars, is rich and bold yet well-rounded.

CHIMAY PREMIERE RED – DUBBEL 7% (BELGIUM) 11.2oz $8
A more subdued version of its Blue big brother, Chimay Red has a reddish-orange hue with a medium off-white head. A blend of malt, oranges and spices are present throughout before a dry finish. Many of the fruity and spicy flavors are enhanced at warmer temperatures.

DES ROCS GRAND CRU BELGIAN SPECIAL BROWN – (BELGIUM)  11.2oz $8
Cloudy reddish-brown in color with an off-white head, this ale features the scent of Belgian candy sugar, delicious dates and raisins, with some hints of red wine. The taste is a blend of toffee, sweet cherries, malt, and candy sugar, making it rich and creamy with even deeper flavors at warmer temperatures.

DES ROCS TRIPLE IMPERIALE – BELGIAN STRONG DARK  10% (BELGIUM)   11.2oz $8
The high carbonation gives this deep-burgundy beer a crispness that balances the high alcohol content. Toffee flavors dominate with splashes of fig, plum, cherry, allspice and apple. Very tasty and complex.

KONINGSHOEVEN QUADRUPPEL 10% (NETHERLANDS) 11.2oz $8
(AKA La Trappe Quadrupel) Aromas are viniferous and of dark fruits and caramel malts. Flavors are big malts, cider apple. cherries, raisins, and fresh baked bread. Long lingering dry fruity finish.

PETRUS AGED PALE– FLANDERS OUD BRUIN 7.3% (BELGIUM) 11.2oz $8
The Petrus Aged Pale has traditionally been used in the production of the Petrus Oud Bruin which is a blend of the Aged Pale and an oak-aged Brown Ale. It is now available on its own (after spending 2-3 years in an oak barrel) and is a welcome addition to the Petrus family of beers. As you’d expect, oak flavors abound along with organic, countryside notes. It has a sweet-and-sour profile that settles into something resembling a fine wine at the finish. A truly unique beer, this Pertrus is complex and refreshing.

URTHEL SAMARANTH – BELGIAN STRONG DARK ALE 12% (BELGIUM) 11.2oz $8
Pours dark brown with an off-white head. Mild citrus nose with peppery yeasty notes. Flavors are of sweet honey malts, bananas, cloves, and tart green apples. Very drinkable with deep complexity and warmth.

DE DOLLE OERBIER – BELGIAN DARK STRONG ALE 9.5% (BELGIUM) 11.2oz $9
Pours dark brown with ruby highlights. Aromas are sour plums, molasses, dates, figs, and chocolatey malts. Flavors are dark fruits, roasted and chocolate malts, nutmeg and spicy notes from the Belgian yeast. Behind the big malt is an Old Bruin sourness for another layer of rich complexity.

‘T SMISJE GUIDO – BELGIAN DARK STRONG ALE 8% (BELGIUM) 11.2oz $9
A Belgian Dark Strong Ale brewed with honey and raisins. Pours medium amber brown and has a sweet malty nose with hints of spice and tropical fruits. Flavors are a wonderful balance of honey sweetness and noble hop bitterness. Belgian yeast imparts additional spiciness and dark fruit flavors.

‘T SMISJE BBBourgondier – QUADRUPEL 12% (BELGIUM) 11.2oz $9
Pours deep amber with an off-white head. Aromas of brown sugar, dates, plums, dark fruits, and zesty spices. Flavor is rich Special B malts with the delicate fruitiness on apples, pears, cherries, and dates. One of the best Quads you will ever drink – stellar complexity and balance.

TRAPPISTES ROCHEFORT 8 BELGIAN STRONG DARK ALE 9.2% (BELGIUM) 11.2oz $9
This Rochefort pours dark red, with a medium head. The higher alcohol is beautifully tucked into sugar plums, toffee, melons, wood smoke and fresh spices, and the aroma is heavenly. The mouth-feel is creamy and silky and the complexity of the flavors come together to form a nearly perfect beer.

URTHEL HOP-IT (DE LEYERTH BROUWERIJEN) – BELGIAN IPA 9.5% (BELGIUM)   11.2oz $9
As the name indicates, this is a hop-heavy Belgian IPA, but have no fear—Hop-It also delivers a complex, malty grain profile and many of the distinctively Belgian flavors that keep the hops from overwhelming the beer. The hops selected are floral with herbal and grassy notes that complement the bready/yeasty malt tones. The finish has a hoppy astringency with some honey-like flavors, and the color is gold with a lush, white head.

WESTMALLE TRAPPIST DUBBEL 7% (BELGIUM) 11.2oz $9
One of the original 6 Trappist monasteries, Westmalle proves its commitment to excellence in this delicious Dubbel. Amber brown in color with a foamy tan head, this beer has aromas of fig, plum, toffee and spice, with flavors that range from brandy to chocolate fruitcake, and a light noble hop finish. Every drop is packed with balanced flavor.

TRAPPISTES ROCHEFORT 10 BELGIAN STRONG DARK ALE 11.3% (BELGIUM) 11.2oz $12
Hazy ruby brown color with light tan head. Huge nose of chocolate, sweet dark fruits, bubble gum, figs, earthy wood, and Belgian yeast. The taste delivers all of these flavors and more than could likely be described. Rich caramel malts with a Brandy quality, earthy fruity falvors and a faint hop bitterness culminate in a lingering residual sweetness that fades into a whisper of yeast spiciness and dark fruits. One of the world’s very finest beers.

UNIBROUE 17 – BELGIAN STRONG DARK ALE 10% (CANADA) 750ml $14
Deep crimson color. Aromas are vanilla oak, nutmeg, pepper, and mellons. Flavors are a bold blend of black cherries, melons, smoky oak, black pepper, nutmeg, and dark malt goodnesss. Smooth and silky on the tongue and packed with delicate complexity. Finish is long with spicy hops.

VAL DIEU GRAND CRU – BELGIAN STRONG DARK ALE 10.5% (BELGIUM) 750ml $14
Nearly black in color with the aromas of Belgian yeast, cola and Brandy, this is an intriguing and delightful quad with flavors ranging from espresso and chocolate malt to a host of tangy spices. Belgian candy sugars and yeast add to the full-bodied goodness and slightly sweet finish.

GOUDEN CAROLUS D’OR GRAND CRU OF THE EMPEROR  11% (BELGIUM) 750ml $16
Waves of buttery malts and cotton candy waft over the edge of the glass and greet your nose on the way to one of Belgium’s best Ales. Burgundy-brown in color with an everlasting beige head, this beer is stunning, with rich and complex flavors ranging from stewed plums to Belgian chocolate.

GROTTENBIER (Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV)- BELGIAN DARK ALE 6.5% (BELGIUM) 750ml  $16
From the makers of St. Bernardus comes this delicious cave aged Dark Ale. It pours a dark brown with a lush off-white head. The aromas are of candied fruits and bread dough. The taste is rich bitter chocolate, malt sweetness, big fruit and spice, and milk creaminess. Finishes with a light fruity aftertaste.

MALHEUR 12 – QUADRUPPEL 12% (BELGIUM) 750ml $16
I have often said that Malheur 12 is one of the best beers that no one knows. With all of the big malty dark fruit you would expect and notes of plum, pear, and apple this beer continues to impress with every sip. Hops come through in the middle and finish and are a bit brighter than many other Quads. Finish is medium to dry without any cloying and invites you into the next tasty drink.

ST BERNARDUS PRIOR 8 – DUBBEL 8% (BELGIUM) 750ml $16
As is true of its brothers, Prior 8 has the heavenly aroma of brown sugar and spice. The boysenberry, plum and melon notes join with vanilla and nutmeg to culminate in a creamy, tasty treat that’s dark brown in color with a tan head.

DE PROEF LOZEN BOER – QUADRUPPEL 10% (BELGIUM) 750ml $18
Dark brown color with generous off-white head. Aromas are rich dark malts, green apples, pears, and warming alcohol. Flavors are filled with dark fruits – plums, raisins, figs, and dates. Roasted malts offer depth as well as hints of bitter chocolate. Finishes with soft alcohol warmth and noble hops.

McCHOUFFE (BRASSERIE D’ACHOUFFE) – BELGIAN STRONG DARK 8% (BELGIUM)   750ml   $18
McChouffe features a dark-amber body with a medium off-white head, and is widely recognized for it’s balance, complexity and tastiness. It packs the flavors of dark fruit, blackberry, blueberry, sour cherry, pepper and spices into a silky-smooth beer that keeps you coming back for more.

CHIMAY GRANDE RESERVE BLUE – BELGIAN STRONG DARK ALE 9% (BELGIUM) 750ml  $18
From the monks at Abbaye Notre Dame de Scourmont in Belgium comes one of the most revered beers in the world. Chimay Blue is a dark reddish-brown with a creamy tan head. It greets you immediately with the rich flavor of raisins and a big, spicy yeast profile. The finish has a fruity sweetness capped with an alcohol bite. Chimay becomes even more drinkable as it warms, so don’t rush it—it only gets better with time.

ACHEL TRAPPIST EXTRA – BELGIAN STRONG DARK ALE 9.5% (BELGIUM) 750ml $28
Dark amber in color. Aromas of sweet malt and dark fruits. Flavors of caramel, apple, raspberry, and spice make this a beautifully complex and tasty beer. The Trappist yeast gives this beer an additional dimension with notes of fresh baked bread and spiciness. Light sweetness and alcohol warmth linger on the tongue and reveals a new aspect of this complex beer.

DEUS BRUT DES FLANDRES – BIERE DE CHAMPAGNE 11.5% (BELGIUM) 750ml $32
Pours a brillint gold color with a massive white head. Aromas are of sweet malts and fresh summer fruits. Flavors are champagne, sweet maltiness, Belgian spiciness, and fresh bread. A wonderful selection to mark that special occasion or to finish off the night in style.

MALHEUR BRUT NOIR (BLACK CHOCOLATE) – BIERE DE CHAMPAGNE 12% (BELGIUM) 750ml $32
Pours dark brown with the consistency of a big Belgian quad. Aromas of cherries and champagne with lively carbonation. Flavor are similar to a rich Belgian strong dark ale with healthy doses of nutmeg and allspice with yeasty bread notes. The very best of the Champagne beers.

PANNEPOT RESERVA – OLD FISHERMAN’S ALE – QUADRUPPEL 10% (BELGIUM) 750ml $38
Dark brown – nearly black color. Aromas of big oak, chocolate, and roasted nuttiness. Flavors are a delicious blend of toffee, cloves, spices, a dark fruits. Barrel aging adds a mellowness as well as a touch of vanilla. Finishes with roasted malts, dark fruits, and tart cherries. A brilliant Quad.

SCALDIS PRESTIGE – OAK AGED BELGIAN STRONG PALE ALE – 13% (BELGIUM) 750ml $58
Aromas of red and green apples, hints of pear, and oakey vanilla. Dried fruits and oak provide the backbone for this refined and unique beer. The 13% alcohol peeks through at the end of each sip. Medium bodied with a dry finish.