Belgian brewing covers a wide stylistic range: Tripels, Dubbels, Quadrupels, Golden Strong Ales, Witbiers, Lambics and Saisons all sit within a single national tradition. The hopIQ Score for Belgian beers evaluates each entry against its own sub-style reference and weights medals from style-judged competitions.
Currently leading the ranking: Hoegaarden Wit (Brouwerij van Hoegaarden), Duvel (Duvel Moortgat) and Tripel LeFort (Brouwerij Omer Vander Ghinste).
How this ranking works
The hopIQ Score judges every beer against its style first: it rewards medals from competitions that judge within style categories and deducts points where a beer measurably deviates from its style reference. Community ratings add to that. Non-alcoholic excluded. No paid placement — order follows the data alone. Ranking spans 649 beers from 58 breweries.
Top 5 of 50
ABV
4.9%
Bitterness
Mild
Colour
pale gold 2
Hoegaarden Original White Ale is a classic Belgian witbier brewed with wheat, oats, and coriander, featuring a distinctive cloudy appearance and refreshing character. This traditional ale offers a perfect balance of citrus, spice, and…Hoegaarden Original White Ale is a classic Belgian witbier brewed with wheat, oats, and coriander, featuring a distinctive cloudy appearance and refreshing character. This traditional ale offers a perfect balance of citrus, spice, and subtle sweetness, making it an ideal choice for warm weather drinking.
Duvel#48 worldwide
ABV
8.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Colour
pale gold 4
A subtle bitterness runs through this golden Belgian classic, which takes about 90 days to make: first fermentation at 20 to 26 °C, cold maturation near –2 °C, then refermentation in the bottle and six weeks in the cold cellar. Its…A subtle bitterness runs through this golden Belgian classic, which takes about 90 days to make: first fermentation at 20 to 26 °C, cold maturation near –2 °C, then refermentation in the bottle and six weeks in the cold cellar. Its Scottish yeast, gathered in the years after the First World War, is still in use. The beer got its name when a shoemaker called it "een echte Duvel", a real devil, and it launched in 1923 with just a few crates.
Tripel LeFort#50 worldwide
ABV
8.8%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Colour
golden 5
Banana and red apple meet vanilla and clove, with hints of citrus, lime and rose in a fruity, complex aroma; the taste is full and the finish soft, with a warmth from the alcohol that fades slowly. This hazy golden tripel (8.8 %) is…Banana and red apple meet vanilla and clove, with hints of citrus, lime and rose in a fruity, complex aroma; the taste is full and the finish soft, with a warmth from the alcohol that fades slowly. This hazy golden tripel (8.8 %) is top-fermented and named after Brasserie LeFort, which Felix Verscheure founded in Kortrijk in 1854; his granddaughter Marguerite married Omer Vander Ghinste.
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Oude Geuze Boon#53 worldwide
ABV
7.0%
Bitterness
Mild
Colour
golden 6
A fresh nose, more fruity than spicy, with grapefruit, apricot and oak; on the palate wood, vanilla and nuts, a mild tartness and a soft, rounded body, then a long, dry, intense finish. The lambic is brewed from 60 % malt and 40 % wheat,…A fresh nose, more fruity than spicy, with grapefruit, apricot and oak; on the palate wood, vanilla and nuts, a mild tartness and a soft, rounded body, then a long, dry, intense finish. The lambic is brewed from 60 % malt and 40 % wheat, matures entirely in oak and is blended from one-, two- and three-year-old batches. Boon has made this Oude Geuze since 1975. 7 % ABV.
5
OMER. Traditional Blond#121 worldwide
ABV
8.0%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Colour
amber 10
Fruity and citrusy on the nose, full on the palate, with a subtle bitterness in the finish: this golden blond beer (8.0 %) is top-fermented and refermented in the bottle. It is brewed with malted barley from France's Loire region and three…Fruity and citrusy on the nose, full on the palate, with a subtle bitterness in the finish: this golden blond beer (8.0 %) is top-fermented and refermented in the bottle. It is brewed with malted barley from France's Loire region and three aromatic hop varieties. The name goes back to founder Omer Vander Ghinste, who put his own name on his beers; in the family every firstborn son has been christened Omer ever since.
Ranks 6–10
6
Stella Artois#134 worldwide
The flagship of the Leuven brewery is a clear, pale golden lager with a firm white head. The nose opens with floral, slightly spicy Saaz hops over a light cereal and bread-crust malt note. On the palate a gentle malt sweetness with a hint…The flagship of the Leuven brewery is a clear, pale golden lager with a firm white head. The nose opens with floral, slightly spicy Saaz hops over a light cereal and bread-crust malt note. On the palate a gentle malt sweetness with a hint of corn meets a moderate, grassy hop bitterness that stays in the background. The body is light and lively, and the finish turns dry and clean. Brewed with barley malt, maize and the house yeast; the Belgian original is 5.2 percent, several export markets receive a weaker version.
7
Monk's Café Grand Cru#160 worldwide
A top-fermented old brown from Flanders, tank-aged and lean where you'd expect richness. The nose leads with caramel and dark balsamic vinegar, undercut by the vinous warmth of raisins. On the palate the tension between sweet and sour…A top-fermented old brown from Flanders, tank-aged and lean where you'd expect richness. The nose leads with caramel and dark balsamic vinegar, undercut by the vinous warmth of raisins. On the palate the tension between sweet and sour holds firm: enough acidity to keep the body from settling, enough malt backbone to stop it turning austere. Fresh and mildly tart throughout, with a clean finish. The carbonation stays restrained, letting the flavours breathe. A beer for the late evening.
8
Roman Pils#204 worldwide
Roman Pils has been brewed in Mater since 1945, first sold as Romy Pils and renamed when the brewery grouped its lagers and wheat beer into the Roman Range. It is built as an easy, refreshing lager rather than a sharply bitter one. Clear…Roman Pils has been brewed in Mater since 1945, first sold as Romy Pils and renamed when the brewery grouped its lagers and wheat beer into the Roman Range. It is built as an easy, refreshing lager rather than a sharply bitter one. Clear fruit sits over clean malt and a light hop note in the nose. The palate opens soft and malty, a gentle hop bitterness follows, and the finish stays fresh with a slightly bitter edge.
9
St-Feuillien Grand Cru#231 worldwide
Created in 2011 as the house's extra-pale tasting beer, refermented in the bottle and brewed without any spice. Styrian Golding hop flowers go in as a dry hop, and a champagne yeast shapes the fermentation. It pours a very pale, brilliant…Created in 2011 as the house's extra-pale tasting beer, refermented in the bottle and brewed without any spice. Styrian Golding hop flowers go in as a dry hop, and a champagne yeast shapes the fermentation. It pours a very pale, brilliant blond under a fine, airy head that leaves lace on the glass. The first sip is light, then a long, nuanced bitterness builds, and noble hops dominate the finish. Flavours of pear, white grape, lemon zest, fresh hay, honeyed malt and white pepper.
10
Grimbergen Blanche#263 worldwide
A light yellow, cloudy witbier brewed with wheat malt and fermented with the Grimbergen house yeast. At 6.0 per cent it sits above the usual strength of the style. Ripe yellow fruit dominates the nose, joined by tangy citrus, coriander,…A light yellow, cloudy witbier brewed with wheat malt and fermented with the Grimbergen house yeast. At 6.0 per cent it sits above the usual strength of the style. Ripe yellow fruit dominates the nose, joined by tangy citrus, coriander, clove and a floral hint of bergamot. The palate stays fresh and balanced, with soft wheat, gentle spice and a light bitterness, while a creamy foam rounds off the mouthfeel. Natural flavouring is listed among the ingredients.
The taste landscape
Of the 50 top beers, 21 lean malt-forward and 22 lean hop-forward.