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Flavia

Rubiu
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🌍 Italy · Belgian Strong Golden Ale · One of 10 Belgian Strong Golden Ales in hopIQ

Sardinia's most celebrated craft beer — Birra d'Italia 2011 1st place, Slow Food Birra Imperdibile 2021. Named after Porto Flavia, the extraordinary mining site carved into the cliffs of the Sulcis coast where miners once loaded ore directly onto ships. Golden, veiled, with wide compact foam; the nose is rich and opulent with tropical fruit, candied citrus, and warming spice. Soft and full on the palate with an intriguing alcoholic note that builds complexity, finishing with great dryness and cleanliness. Dangerously drinkable at 7.9%.

ABV
7.9%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden5
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Very crisp and substantial.

A heavy frame with a sharp finish — a rare combination that stays pointed on the tongue.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Belgian Strong Golden Ale.
Hop character
tropical
Malt character
honey
malty
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Distinctive notes
citrusy
spicy
Compare with another beer →

FEATURED IN

Featured inThe Best Italian Belgian-Style Ales

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Flavia

Appearance

Bright golden hue with a subtle veil throughout the body, characteristic of a naturally unfiltered ale. A wide, compact head of white foam crowns the glass, displaying solid retention and delicate lacing along the walls as the beer is consumed. The carbonation is moderate, lending a gentle effervescence without aggressive bubbling.

golden, veiledcompact foam headclean lacing

Aroma

The nose opens with ripe tropical fruit—mango and pineapple—mingling with candied citrus notes that suggest orange peel and marmalade. A warming spice character emerges in the background, with subtle honeyed tones adding roundness and complexity. The overall impression is rich and opulent, with the alcohol present but not dominant.

tropical fruitcandied citruswarming spicehoneyed

Taste

The palate is soft and full-bodied, opening with gentle sweetness that balances the 25 IBU of restrained bitterness. Mid-palate reveals an intriguing alcoholic warmth that builds complexity without harshness, supported by a light malty backbone. The finish is remarkably dry and clean, shedding the residual sweetness to leave a crisp, refreshing aftertaste.

full bodysoft entrydry finishclean

Finish

The drying finish persists with clarity and brightness, the alcohol warmth receding gracefully to reveal a clean, mineral-like quality. The aftertaste is refreshingly spice-tinged and devoid of cloying sweetness, making this beer deceptively easy to drink despite its 7.9% strength.

dry, cleanspice notes
88
hopIQ score
Aroma
89
Taste
87
Appearance
86
Finish
88
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Flavia

Serve at 9–12°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

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

Goblet
Recommended for this style

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

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Flavia

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 tropical, full-bodied, clean character as Flavia will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Belgian Strong Golden Ales in hopIQ