Ten Beers over 10%

Whenever I post photos of beers around the 8% mark, I get comments like, that must be like treacle or it must just taste of alcohol. Well in some cases they are perfectly right but there are some strong beers that taste very nice indeed.

This list will contain both and they will all be over 10%.

I will start at 10% and work my way up to 14%, the strongest I have had to date.

Van Steenberge, Gulden Draak from Belgium

10.5% very dark red in colour with a thin head, lot of fruit in the aroma and the taste is very complex, it was like eating a quarter pound of Midget Gems in one go (this is a UK thing I think), Lyons Midget Gems that is, not Maynards and it is strong, a new favourite for me.

Van Honsebrouck, Kasteel Triple from Belgium

11% gold colour with a good head, the aroma is sweet alcohol and fruitcake, taste is sweet fruits, I like this beer very much but only drink it occasionally, a bit too strong for everyday use.

Rochefort, Trappistes 10 from Belgium

11.3% deep brown colour with a quickly fading head, sweet fruity aroma, fruity caramel malt taste and very strong alcohol mouth feel.

Grolsch, Kanon from Holland

11.6% gold colour with a thin head, grass aroma, sweet malt taste and a very strong alcohol and slightly sticky mouth feel.

Malheur, 12 from Belgium

12% very dark with a good head, sweet malt aroma, very sweet malt, fruit and toffee taste, the high alcohol is not apparent at first but lingers after you swallow.

De Gayant, La Bière Du Démon - 12° de Plaisir Diabolique from France

12% gold colour with practically no head, sweet floral aroma, fizzy sweet alcohol taste, not the best beer in the world but at the time it was the strongest I had at that time.

Dubuisson, Bush Ambrée from Belgium

12.0% amber colour with a good head, nice fruity aroma, fruity caramel taste, not just strong, tasty as well.

Grain d’Orge, Belzebuth from France

13.0% light amber colour with a thin head, sweet malt aroma, taste is sweet and strong.

De Gayant, 13 No Way franc France

13% gold colour with no head, sweet malt aroma, strong alcohol taste, not nice.

John Martin, Gordon Finest Titanium from Belgium

14% deep gold colour with no head, sweet malt aroma, sweet warming alcohol taste. This is the strongest beer I have had to date, it was more like having a whisky than a beer, I will not be buying it again.

Another weekend another headache, the other beers

Besides the strong beers on Saturday night we also had some other beers as well.

Wychwood, Paddy'S tout from England

4.3% black colour with a nice head, roast malt aroma, smooth roast malt taste. Quite a nice stout.

Hatherwood (Lidl), Golden Goose from England

3.8% golden colour with a thin head, average bitter aroma and taste but not bad for a cheap supermarket beer. I think it may have been made by Wychwood for Lidl.

Hatherwood (Lidl), Ruby Rooster from England

3.8% deep amber colour with a nice head, malt aroma, bitter toffee taste.  As above this one was also not bad.

Another weekend another headache

Had some more of the beers from our France trip this Saturday, some of them very strong beers indeed.

Castelain, La Charnue Ambrée from France

7.0% amber colour with a good head, malty aroma, toffee malt taste. Castelain are the people that make Ch’Ti. 

Castelain, La Charnue Blonde from France

8.5% gold colour with a good head, nice slightly sweet aroma, strong alcohol taste with a touch of toffee.

John Martin, Gordon Finest Titanium from Belgium

14% deep gold colour with no head, sweet malt aroma, sweet warming alcohol taste. This is the strongest beer I have had to date, it was more like having a whisky than a beer, I will not be buying it again.