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Golden Sabbath

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A Belgian-style abbey ale made with Hawaiian honey in place of Belgian candi sugar, hopped with European and American varieties. Three-time medalist at the U.S. Open Beer Championships plus World Beer Cup and GABF hardware in 2014. Golden Sabbath is the beer that made Big Island's reputation stick.

ABV
8.5%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter45 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden6
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
fruityhoneyyeasty
fruity
honey
yeasty
floral
spicy
citrusy
Aroma
The nose opens with prominent honey notes from the Hawaiian adjunct, layered over stone fruit and subtle orchard apple esters from the Belgian yeast strain.
also:malty
not found:hoppy,caramel,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Golden Sabbath

◎ Appearance

Golden Sabbath presents a bright golden hue, characteristic of its light caramel malt base and honey adjunct. The beer displays excellent clarity with a fine, persistent white head that clings to the glass with good retention. Carbonation is lively and steady, creating a refined visual presence.

bright goldenclearpersistent head

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with prominent honey notes from the Hawaiian adjunct, layered over stone fruit and subtle orchard apple esters from the Belgian yeast strain. European and American hops contribute a refined floral character with delicate citrus undertones. A light spice and gentle warm alcohol note emerge on the finish of the aroma, rounding out the bouquet.

honey-forwardstone fruit estersfloral hopssubtle spice

◐ Taste

The palate entry is smooth and honey-sweet, with a full mouthfeel that balances residual sweetness against moderate bitterness. Mid-palate develops fruity, yeasty complexity with white pepper spice and a hint of citrus zest. The finish is both sweet and dry, with gentle alcohol warmth and lingering floral-spice notes that persist without harshness.

honey-sweet entryfruity complexitybalanced bitterlingering spice

◑ Finish

The finish is medium-length and clean, with honey-tinged aftertaste gradually fading to a subtle dry minerality. Alcohol warmth and floral-spice echoes linger pleasantly without becoming harsh or cloying.

medium finishhoney-dry fade
88
hopIQ score
Aroma
90
Taste
87
Appearance
88
Finish
85
Serve at 9–12°C

Serve at 9–12°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

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 Sabbath

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About Belgian Abbey Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Belgian Abbey Ale?

Belgian Abbey 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 Abbey Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same fruity, honey, yeasty character as Golden Sabbath will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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