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Golden Bliss

Netherlands·Belgian Strong Golden Ale
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An imperial blond at 8% ABV with a full malt body, a berry-like sweetness and a fresh, hoppy finish. Golden Bliss is a one-off from Brouwerij Kees in Middelburg, in Zeeland, where Kees Bubberman opened the brewery in 2015 after growing into a master brewer at Emelisse. The brewery calls it a sturdy imperial blond.

ABV
8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
SRM
golden8
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
hoppyberrymalty
hoppy
berry
malty
Aroma
The nose opens with fresh, herbal hop character balanced by subtle berry notes—blackberry and stone fruit come through clearly.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Golden Bliss

◎ Appearance

Golden Bliss presents a bright, clear golden hue with excellent luminosity. A generous white head forms and clings persistently to the glass with fine lacing. The carbonation is lively and visible, supporting a dense foam collar that gradually recedes into a thin, adherent cap.

bright goldencrisp white headfine lacingwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with fresh, herbal hop character balanced by subtle berry notes—blackberry and stone fruit come through clearly. Underneath lies a solid malty foundation with bread-like warmth, while a light alcohol warmth becomes apparent at closer inspection without dominating the profile.

herbal hopsberry forwardbread maltalcohol warmth

◐ Taste

The palate enters with full malty sweetness and berry jam character, developing into a significant hop bitterness that builds through the mid-palate. Moderately elevated alcohol heat is present but integrated, and the overall structure remains balanced between the sweet malt body and crisp, refreshing hop finish.

malty sweetberry jamhoppy bitterfull body

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and refreshing, with hop bitterness lingering pleasantly without harshness. A slight warming sensation from the 8% ABV carries into the aftertaste, which fades to a dry, slightly herbal impression.

dry finishlingering hopswarming aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
84
Appearance
85
Finish
78
Serve at 7–10°C

Warmer than most — 12–14°C. The fruity esters, spice and warming alcohol need room to breathe.

Goblet

The wide mouth and heavy base promote head formation and channel rich aromatics toward the nose. Traditional for Belgian strong ales.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Golden Bliss

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About Belgian Strong Golden Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Belgian Strong Golden Ale?

Belgian Strong Golden Ale is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Belgian Strong Golden Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same hoppy, berry, full-bodied character as Golden Bliss will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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