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Pimp My Sleigh

United States·Belgian Strong Dark
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Pimp My Sleigh is a Belgian-style holiday brew, rich and complex, full of dark malt, raisins and figs, with anise, dark candi sugar, dark fruit and spicy phenols. It bites the nose at 10.5% ABV and 30 IBU, and a proprietary Belgian yeast blend ferments it. The brewers suggest goose, venison or vanilla ice cream alongside. It is released from November to December.

ABV
10.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter30 IBU
SRM
deep amber20
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
dark fruitspicymalty
dark fruit
spicy
malty
fruity
vanilla
bready
Aroma
The nose opens with pronounced dark dried fruit — raisins and figs dominate — layered beneath rich dark Malz character and subtle anise notes.
also:yeasty
not found:hoppy,caramel,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Pimp My Sleigh

◎ Appearance

Deep garnet brown with mahogany highlights, revealing excellent clarity despite the beer's richness and complexity. The dense, cream-colored head shows strong retention and forms a persistent lacework down the glass. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, contributing to the beer's full-bodied presence.

deep garnetcream headexcellent lacingmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced dark dried fruit — raisins and figs dominate — layered beneath rich dark Malz character and subtle anise notes. Belgian phenolic spice emerges with aeration, adding white pepper and clove complexity. Beneath lies a gentle vanilla sweetness and the warming alcohol presence characteristic of the 10.5% ABV.

raisins, figsanise spicedark malzBelgian phenols

◐ Taste

Full-bodied and complex on entry, with dark fruit and rich Malz sweetness immediately apparent. The mid-palate develops warming spice and subtle vanilla notes, balanced by restrained bitterness (30 IBU) that never dominates. Alcohol warmth builds throughout without harshness, while yeasty undertones and a hint of breadiness round out the flavor structure.

dark fruit, raisinswarming alcoholspicy phenolsbalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is moderately long and pleasantly dry, with lingering dark fruit, spice, and subtle vanilla fading gradually. Alcohol warmth persists without becoming cloying, leaving a refined drying sensation in the mouth.

dry finishlingering spicewarming alcohol
84
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
85
Appearance
83
Finish
82
Serve at 12–16°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 Pimp My Sleigh

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About Belgian Strong Dark

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Belgian Strong Dark?

Belgian Strong Dark 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 Dark

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same rich, dark fruit, spicy character as Pimp My Sleigh will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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