Gulden Draak 9000 4Pk is a Belgian quadruple ale brewed by Van Steenberge at 10.5% ABV, sold as a four-pack of bottles. This bottle-conditioned quad earned a Gold Medal at the 2021 World Beer Awards in the Belgian Style Strong category, cementing its reputation among the finest strong Belgian ales available.

Quick Facts: ABV: 10.5%  |  Origin: East Flanders, Belgium  |  Style: Quadruple  |  Brewery: Van Steenberge

Production & Heritage

Brewery Van Steenberge operates out of Ertvelde, a village in the East Flanders region of Belgium, and has built a longstanding reputation for high-gravity Belgian ales. Gulden Draak 9000 Quadruple uses four times more malt than a standard recipe — incorporating three distinct types of caramel malt — and undergoes top fermentation followed by a secondary fermentation in the bottle using wine yeast. That wine yeast refermentation is a signature Van Steenberge technique that contributes to the beer's complexity and gives it the potential for years of flavor evolution during cellaring.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Rich caramel malt dominates the nose, opening into layers of dates, raisins, and ripe banana. Deeper inhalation reveals subtle phenolic spice and a faint pineapple ester quality.

Taste: The entry is intensely malty and sweet, with caramel deepening into toffee across the mid-palate. As it develops, notes of marzipan, dried apricot, and a whisper of dark rum emerge. The quadruple malt bill creates a full, viscous body that carries these flavors with weight and coherence.

Finish: Long, sweet, and lingering, with a gentle alcoholic warmth that surfaces gradually rather than aggressively. Dried fruit and toffee persist well after each sip.

How to Drink Gulden Draak 9000

Serve in a tulip glass or goblet at 50–54°F to let the malt complexity and fruit esters fully express themselves. Warming slightly in the hand as you drink will continue to unlock deeper layers. Given its 10.5% ABV and intensely sweet, malt-forward profile, this quad is best appreciated on its own as a sipping beer rather than as a cocktail ingredient — treat it as you would a digestif.

Best For

• Cellaring and tracking flavor development over one to five years
• After-dinner sipping alongside rich desserts or cheese
• Gifting to a Belgian beer enthusiast exploring strong ales
• Side-by-side tasting with Gulden Draak Classic to compare the triple and quad expressions

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Gulden Draak 9000 taste like? Gulden Draak 9000 delivers an intensely sweet, malt-driven profile dominated by caramel, toffee, dried fruit, and marzipan, with a warm alcoholic finish. Its wine yeast secondary fermentation adds subtle complexity beyond what typical strong ales achieve.

How does Gulden Draak 9000 compare to Gulden Draak Classic? Gulden Draak Classic is a darker Belgian triple at the same 10.5% ABV, while the 9000 Quadruple is lighter in color but richer in malt intensity, using four times more malt in the recipe. The Classic leans darker and more roasted, whereas the 9000 emphasizes caramel sweetness and dried fruit depth.

Is Gulden Draak 9000 good for sipping neat? Absolutely — its 10.5% ABV, full body, and layered sweetness make it an ideal sipping beer best enjoyed slowly from a tulip glass or goblet at cellar temperature.

Where is Gulden Draak 9000 made? Gulden Draak 9000 Quadruple is brewed at Brewery Van Steenberge in Ertvelde, a village in the East Flanders region of Belgium.

What foods pair well with Gulden Draak 9000? Aged Gouda or Comté cheese complement the caramel malt richness. Dark chocolate truffles mirror its toffee sweetness. Crème brûlée echoes the beer's caramelized sugar notes. Roasted duck with a fruit glaze balances the malt intensity with savory depth. Blue cheese provides a sharp counterpoint to the quad's sweetness.

What sizes does Gulden Draak 9000 come in? This listing is a four-pack of 330ml bottles, which is the standard format for Gulden Draak 9000 Quadruple in most markets.

Is Gulden Draak 9000 worth the price? Gulden Draak 9000 positions as a premium Belgian quadruple with gold-medal credentials and cellar-worthy construction, placing it firmly in the upper tier of strong Belgian ales — a strong value given its complexity and aging potential.

Why Gulden Draak 9000?

The combination of a quadruple malt bill using three types of caramel malt and a secondary bottle fermentation with wine yeast gives this beer a production pedigree that few Belgian quads can match. Its Gold Medal at the 2021 World Beer Awards and Gold Medal at the 2020 European Beer Challenge in London validate what the brewing method promises: layered, evolving complexity at serious strength. With a RateBeer score of 95 and a BeerAdvocate rating of 92, critical consensus aligns with competition judges. For drinkers who want a Belgian quad built for both immediate enjoyment and patient cellaring, Gulden Draak 9000 delivers on both fronts with verifiable distinction.