Did you know that
Gulden Draak from the gilded statue
adorning the weathervane on the Belfry in Ghent?
Legend has it that the gilded dragon graced the bow of the ship in which the Norwegian King Sigurd Magnusson set sail for a crusade in 1111. He offered the statue to the Emperor of Constantinople (now Istanbul) for mounting on the dome of the Hagia Sophia. About 100 years later, Baldwin IX, Count of Flanders, brought it back to the Belgian regions. The Norwegian dragon then fell into the hands of Bruges. In 1382, after the battle on the field of Beverhout, the inhabitants of Ghent got their hands on the dragon and put it on their Belfry, which was the place where the communal charters were kept. The dragon was meant to protect them and was at the same time the symbol of the city’s freedom and power.
Such an imposing symbol, with a history of more than 6 centuries, must represent a beer of the same level of excellence.Just like the dragon perched on the peak above the city, Gulden Draak has held a position amongst the world’s top beers for years. It is a dark tripel beer, which makes it an exceptional brew, with a complex flavour with hints of caramel, roasted malt and coffee. Its creamy, hazelnut-coloured head adds to the distinctiveness of this unique beer. This beer certainly does credit to its name. Just like the other special beers at the van Steenberge brewery, Gulden Draak is a top-fermenting beer with secondary fermentation. Wine yeast is used for the final fermentation which also contributes to the unparalleled flavour. A unique beer, of course, requires exceptional presentation. Gulden Draak is presented in a white bottle. The white, in combination with the black band, the gilded dragon and red lettering radiate style, giving it a pre-eminent position within the many special Belgian beers.
TOP FERMENTATION BEER OF VERY HIGH QUALITY WITH A UNIQUE FLAVOUR • Alc. 10.5% Vol. Colour: brown with caramel-coloured head Alcohol by volume: 10.5% - 23° Plato Aroma: alcohol, roasted malt and coffee Flavour: very full-bodied with notes of chocolate, caramel and alcohol Finish: bittersweet and very long Packaging: 33 cl, 75 cl, 1.5 l bottles and 20 l, 30 l kegs Secondary fermentation in both the bottle and keg ensures a shelf life of several years with continually evolving flavour.
TOP FERMENTATION
SECONDARY FERMENTATION
Contains 3 times more malt than lager
DARK TRIPEL WITH A SLIGHTLY FRUITY AROMA • Alc. 10.5% Vol. Colour: amber with caramel-coloured head Alcohol by volume: 10.5 % - 23° Plato Aroma: fruity and slightly sweet Flavour: smooth and slightly sweet Packaging: 33 cl, 75 cl, 1.5 l bottles and 20 l, 30 l kegs Secondary fermentation in both bottle and keg ensures a shelf life of several years with continually evolving flavour.
TOP FERMENTATION
SECONDARY FERMENTATION
Contains 4 times more malt than lager
VERY DARK STOUT, RICH IN CHARACTER • Alc. 12% Vol. CColour: very dark Alcohol by volume: 12% Aroma: chocolate and banana Taste: rich and strong, roasted grains Finish: bittersweet Packaging: 33 cl, 75 cl, bottles and 20 l kegs Secondary fermentation in both bottle and keg ensures a shelf life of several years with continually evolving flavour.
TOP FERMENTATION
SECONDARY FERMENTATION
Contains 4 times more malt than lager
GULDEN DRAAK BREWMASTER LIMITED EDITION 2018 • Alc. 10.5% Vol. Taste Gulden Draak Brewmaster. A beer brewed in honour of my master brewer Jozef van Steenberge. His respect for traditional craftsmanship lives on through this fruity and malty beer which is matured in whisky barrels.
TOP FERMENTATION
SECONDARY FERMENTATION
Contains 3 times more malt than lager
VAN STEENBERGE BREWERY
Living beer! The unique secondary fermentation is created by adding yeast and sugar during bottling, after which the beer matures for 2 weeks in a warm room at about 20 ° allowing the yeast to do its job. It took generations to develop this extremely complex process. Two types of yeast are used for secondary fermentation: the first is an active yeast that initiates the process of secondary fermentation, the second gives it the characteristic rich flavour. The longer the beer matures, the more its aroma develops and the more its taste and colour deepen. So you can choose how you prefer to drink your Gulden Draak: young (up to 3 months after bottling) and fruity, or complex and characterful (after 18 months). Why not keep a few bottles at room temperature for a while to contrast the big difference in flavour?
Now discover
The Van Steenberge Brewery, founded in 1784, has throughout 6 generations stood for independence, progress and growth. We emphasise the traditional art of brewing adapted to advances in current technology and guarantee reliable quality and service. Respect for our employees and concern for the environment are central to how we operate. Curious about our unique brewing process? Would you like to sample the passion behind our exceptional beers? Why not plan a visit to the brewery?
Lindenlaan 25, 9940 Ertvelde - Belgium T. +32 9 344 50 71 I F. +32 9 344 54 20 E. info@vansteenberge.com www.vansteenberge.com