Gulden Draak
Gulden Draak is a robust, dark Belgian beer with 10.5% alcohol, recognizable by its white bottle with the golden dragon. It comes from Brouwerij Van Steenberge in East Flanders. Here you can read about how Gulden Draak tastes, which versions are available, how to serve it and what to eat with it.
A dragon of a beer from East Flanders
Gulden Draak is brewed by Brouwerij Van Steenberge in Ertvelde, a village near Ghent. The name refers to the gilded dragon atop the Belfry of Ghent, which has been a symbol of the city for centuries. You can immediately recognize the beer by its white bottle with the golden dragon on it. The bottle stands out among the brown and green bottles of other Belgian beers.
The Classic is a dark, strong top-fermented beer with 10.5% alcohol. Gall & Gall calls it a dark tripel. It is full-bodied and sweet, with caramel, roasted malt and a hint of coffee. Alongside the Classic, Van Steenberge brews other variants. The 9000 Quadruple is just as strong, but less sweet. The Brewmaster Edition is aged in wooden barrels that previously held whisky, adding notes of wood and whisky.
In brief
Classic, 9000 and Brewmaster
All Gulden Draak beers at Gall & Gall contain 10.5% alcohol, but they taste different. The Classic is sweet and rounded, the 9000 drier, and the Brewmaster has barrel-derived woody notes.
Gulden Draak Classic
The original in the white bottle. Black-brown, with a rich aroma of caramel, roasted malt and coffee. Powerful and sweet in flavor.
Gulden Draak 9000 Quadruple
A rich, complex quadrupel with a substantial head. Just as strong as the Classic, but without the sweet caramel flavors.
Gulden Draak Brewmaster Edition
A barrel-aged version of the Classic. Aging in whisky barrels gives the beer extra depth, with wood and whisky alongside fruit and malt.
Gulden Draak Classic & 9000 gift pack
A gift pack with the Classic and the 9000 Quadruple, together with a Gulden Draak glass. Handy for tasting both side by side.
What makes a beer a quadrupel, and how does it differ from a dubbel and a tripel? Find out on our quadrupel page.
A dubbel has the same caramel and dried fruit, with less alcohol. Read more about dubbel.
Caramel, coffee and warmth
Caramel and roasted malt
With the Classic, you smell caramel, roasted malt and coffee, with some dark fruit such as raisin and plum. The Brewmaster adds oak and whisky.
Full and sweet
A full, syrupy body and a distinct sweetness. The alcohol is clearly felt as warmth. The 9000 is drier and less sweet.
Long and warming
A long finish with caramel and a slightly bitter note of roasted malt. With the Brewmaster, the oak lingers for a while longer.
Flavor profile of Gulden Draak Classic. The 9000 Quadruple scores lower on sweetness, while the Brewmaster scores higher on complexity and oak.
How to pour Gulden Draak
A strong 10.5% beer should be neither ice-cold nor drunk quickly. Let it warm a little, use a spacious glass and take your time.
At 8 to 12 degrees
Pour Gulden Draak between 8 and 12 degrees. Take the bottle out of the refrigerator half an hour before pouring. When ice-cold, little remains of the caramel and fruit. The Brewmaster can be served on the warmer side, around 12 degrees.
More about strong beers →In a stemmed goblet
Pour slowly along the side of a tilted glass and set it upright for the final third. This creates a firm, creamy head. A stemmed goblet gives the aroma room to develop and keeps the warmth of your hand away from the beer.
More about pouring properly →Drink slowly
At 10.5% alcohol, a 33 cl bottle is a substantial drink. Take your time with it. The beer changes as it gets a little warmer in the glass: dried fruit and caramel become more prominent. A 75 cl bottle is best shared between two or three people.
Taste like an expert →Gulden Draak at the table
Sweet, full-bodied and strong: Gulden Draak calls for food with just as much flavor. Think stews, game and chocolate desserts.
Stews and game
Flemish beef stew, venison stew, rabbit with prunes. The caramel and roasted malt pair with dark sauces.
Aged and blue cheese
Aged Gouda, a robust abbey cheese or a blue cheese. The beer's sweetness pairs well with the saltiness of the cheese.
Chocolate and caramel
Chocolate cake, brownies, crème brûlée or tiramisu. The coffee and caramel notes pair beautifully.
As a digestif
You drink the Brewmaster Edition after a meal, like a glass of port or whisky. A piece of dark chocolate is all you need.
The right glass for Gulden Draak
Pour Gulden Draak into a chalice: a spacious stemmed glass. The wide bowl allows the aromas of caramel and fruit to develop, while the stem keeps your hand away from the beer. For the Brewmaster or a small tasting, you can use a tasting glass. Looking for the branded glass? Check our Belgian beer glasses.
Everything else you wanted to know about Gulden Draak
Is your question not listed? Read more about tasting beer, or get in touch.
To the beer tasting →What kind of beer is Gulden Draak?
How much alcohol does Gulden Draak contain?
Why is the beer called Gulden Draak?
What is the difference between Gulden Draak Classic and 9000?
Which glass do you use for Gulden Draak?
How cold should you drink Gulden Draak?
Buy Gulden Draak
Want the bottle at home right away? Order Gulden Draak online from Gall & Gall. Gall & Gall has 5 in stock.
Prices as of October 9, 2026, as provided by Gall & Gall. You can see the current price and stock at Gall & Gall. Glazen.nl receives a small commission if you buy something through these links; you pay nothing extra. Under 18, no alcohol.