What better to go with a Belgian waffle or a bar of Belgian chocolate than a delicious, best Belgian beer? With over 180 breweries in Belgium and styles ranging from amber ales to saisons, it can be a bit overwhelming when it’s time to consider where to start. Thankfully we’ve compiled a list of the 10 best Belgian beers on the market to help. They are sorted based off on reviews from Total Wine and Beer Advocate. Depending on the laws in your state, you may be able to have these beers shipped to you. Otherwise, you can use the links to add them to your cart and pick them up at a store near you depending on their availability.
Contents
10. St Bernardus Prior 8
The 10th best Belgian beer on our list has a 93/100 rating on Beer Advocate and an 8% ABV. It pours dark amber with ruby highlights, and it smells of dried cherries, toast, fresh fruit, and a hint of cocoa. This medium-bodied beer is made up of a fruity and malty flavor, with a trace of chocolate. St Bernardus Prior 8 has a complex flavor with a long-lasting foamy head. A 4-pack of 11oz bottles sells for $15.49 on Total Wine.
9. Kasteel Brown (Donker)
Our next-best Belgian beer has 2 five star reviews on Total Wine and a 93 on Beer Advocate. This Belgian strong dark ale has an 11% ABV. It pours a rusty brown with heavy aromas of fresh fruits such as figs and cherries. Overall, this is a complex and rich medium-bodied beer. The main flavors are rich fruits, brown sugar, and earthiness. There’s moderate carbonation yet it stays smooth throughout. A 4-pack of 11oz bottles sells for $16.99 on Total Wine.
8. Dupont Saison Dupont Ale
The Dupont Saison Dupont Ale has one four-star review on Total Wine, and it has a 93 rating on Beer Advocate. Its ABV is 6.5%. Described as fruity, crisp, and complex this is a light-bodied beer that’s incredibly smooth. It is bottled unfiltered so it may be cloudy with visible sediment, which is normal and natural. This refreshing and balanced Dupont Ale offers the nose full and rich fruity aromas. It is certainly one of the best Belgian beers you can find. One 375ml bottle sells for $7.99 on Total Wine.
7. Dupont Avec Les Bons Voeux
Our number seven best Belgian beer has one five-star review on Total Wine and was rated 93 on Beer Advocate. This Belgian beer has an ABV of 9.5%. It pours a lovely orange with a fluffy white head. The farmhouse brewing comes through in the smell, but there are also aromas of fruit, spicy cloves, and honey malt. It tastes just like it smells. Dupont Avec Les Bons Voeux has a dry finish, heavy carbonation, and a spicy yeast aftertaste. Total Wine sells a single 750ml bottle for $10.99.
6. St. Bernardus Christmas Ale
The St. Bernardus Christmas Ale has 2 five-star reviews on Total Wine and is rated a 94 on Beer Advocate. This 10% ABV beer pours a dark copper hue with a creamy off-white head. It smells like brown sugar, sweet malt and fruit. With moderate carbonation, this heavy-bodied beer offers flavors of mild hop bitterness, dark fruits, soft spices and sweet malts. A 750ml bottle sells for $12.99 on Total Wine.
5. Duvel Belgian Ale
This next best Belgian beer has 9 five-star reviews on Total Wine, and is rated 95 on Beer Advocate. Duvel Belgian Ale pours with a champagne sparkle, hint of pear and ends with a lingering dry finish. Described as a complex, fruity and spicy medium-bodied beer, it’s full of very spicy flavors mixed with a hint of fruitiness. The smell somewhat mirrors the taste, with aromas of spice, bread and fruit. A 4 pack of 11oz bottles sells for $13.49 on Total Wine.
4. Dupont Moinette Blonde
The Dupont Moinette Blonde beer has a Beer Advocate rating of 95, and has an ABV level of 8.5%. It pours a rich caramel amber color. This best Belgian beer is described as spicy and complex with fruity esters. The medium-bodied beer smells of complex fruity yeast, and bursts with flavors of bitter hops balanced with sweet malts. It then has a dry finish with moderate carbonation. A 4 pack of 11oz bottles may be available for $18.99 on Total Wine.
3. Chimay Grande Reserve Blue
The third best Belgian beer is the Chimay Grande Reserve Blue. It has seven five-star reviews on Total Wine, and has a 95 rating on Beer Advocate. This Belgian strong dark ale has a 9% ABV. It pours a clear dark brown with a thick toffee colored head. It smells mainly of fresh fruit and sweet malts. The main flavors are dark fruits, such as figs, raisins and plums, mixed with caramel and toffee. This is a complex medium-bodied beer that’s smooth with moderate carbonation. A 4 pack of 11oz bottles sell for $19.99 on Total Wine.
2. St Bernardus Abt 12
The next best Belgian beer on our list has 4.5 stars with 6 reviews on Total Wine, and an outstanding 99 on Beer Advocate. The ABV is 10.5%. It’s a rich, dark color when poured, and looks almost black. This beer is creamy, smooth and medium to full-bodied. It smells like molasses, yeast and dark fruits, and it tastes like it smells but with a dash of vanilla. One 750ml bottle sells for $12.99 on Total Wine.
1. Best Belgian Beer – Rochefort 10 Trappist Ale
Our number one best Belgian beer is the Rochefort 10 Trappist Ale. It has 8 five-star reviews on Total Wine and another incredible 99 out of 100 on Beer Advocate. This 11.3% ABV beer is described as complex, malty and full-bodied. It pours a lovely dark brown hue with a thick tan head. It has an aroma of rich malt and fruit, with an undertone of alcohol. The Rochefort 10 Trappist Ale has a semi-bitter hop flavor on the finish, starting with a malty sweetness. Overall, it’s creamy and smooth with a touch of alcohol heat as well as moderate to low carbonation. One 11oz bottle sells for $7.99 on Total Wine.
Conclusion
Whether you’ve never tried Belgian beer, or are a Belgian beer connoisseur, hopefully this list of the ten best Belgian beers had something new for you to pick up on your next shopping trip. If you are a beer lover, you might like to find out what are the best beer brands in the world. Please let us know in the comments below your thoughts on any of the beers mentioned above, or if there are any other delicious Belgian beers we’ve missed.