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Esprit du Dragon

Canada·Belgian Strong Dark
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Two specialty barley malts and amber candi sugar lay down caramel and barley sugar, with biscuit and gingerbread alongside. The Flemish yeast contributes fruity esters and a spiced edge, and the finish turns warm and vinous, closer to rum and madeira than to anything from the hops. Bitterness stays low against the residual sugar, and at this strength the alcohol registers as heat rather than sharpness. Brewed since 2018.

ABV
10.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter24 IBU
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
deep amber20
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
caramelfruityspicy
caramel
fruity
spicy
bready
dark fruit
Aroma
The nose opens with caramel and barley sugar sweetness, followed by gingerbread spice and biscuit grain notes from the specialty malts.
not found:hoppy,roasted,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Esprit du Dragon

◎ Appearance

Deep chestnut brown with mahogany highlights, holding a dense tan head that leaves distinct lacing on the glass. The beer presents with good clarity and moderate carbonation, appropriate to its strength and Belgian heritage.

deep browntan headgood lacingmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with caramel and barley sugar sweetness, followed by gingerbread spice and biscuit grain notes from the specialty malts. Flemish yeast contributes dark fruit esters and a subtle herbal edge, without hop bitterness in the forefront.

caramelgingerbread spicedark fruit estersbarley sugar

◐ Taste

The palate enters with smooth caramel and biscuit malt, building into warming alcohol that reads as vinous heat rather than sharp bite. Residual candi sugar keeps bitterness restrained at 24 IBU, allowing the spiced yeast character and dark fruit to remain prominent through the mid-palate.

caramel forwardspiced yeastlow bitternesswarming alcohol

◑ Finish

The finish lengthens into rum and madeira-like warmth, with lingering sweet malt and spice notes. Alcohol heat persists without harshness, leaving a vinous, contemplative aftertaste.

vinous warmthlingering sweetnessrum note
84
hopIQ score
Aroma
86
Taste
85
Appearance
80
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 Esprit du Dragon

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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 caramel, fruity, boozy character as Esprit du Dragon will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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