Top 10 American-Belgo-Style Ales Brewed in America
This Top Ten List of American-Belgo-Style Ales is from the results of the U.S. Open Beer Championship, Great American Beer Festival, and World Beer Cup. Pale American-Belgo Ales are gold to light brown. Chill haze may be evident. Fruity-ester aroma is medium to high. Hop aroma is medium to very high, exhibiting American type hop aromas not usually found in traditional Belgian styles. Hop flavor is medium to very high. Hop bitterness is medium to very high. Fruity-ester flavor should be medium to high. Yeast derived characters such as banana, berry, apple, sometimes coriander spice-like and/or smoky-phenolic characters should be portrayed with balance of hops and malt character when fermented with Belgian yeasts.
1. Forequarter Five – Great Dane Pub & Brewing – Wisconsin
2. Saison Du Bois – Lynnwood Brewing Concern – North Carolina
3. Mischief – The Bruery – California
4. White IPA – Badger Hill Brewing – Minnesota
5. #4.5 Hops with Saison Added – Brown Truck Brewery – North Carolina
6. Klipspringer – Metazoa Brewing – Indiana
7. Whitewall Wheat – Crank Arm Brewing – North Carolina
8. 5 & 20 IPA – Nedloh Brewing Co. – New York
9. Le Freak – Green Flash Brewing – California
10. Summer Saison – Blackberry Farm Brewery – Tennessee
History of American-Belgo-Style Ales
Belgo-style ales trace their origins to the rich brewing traditions of Belgium, a country renowned for its diverse and innovative beer culture dating back to the Middle Ages. Monasteries played a pivotal role in developing these beers, with Trappist monks refining recipes for strong, complex ales like Dubbel, Tripel, and Quadrupel as early as the 12th century. These beers were characterized by their use of unique yeast strains that imparted fruity, spicy, and phenolic flavors, often combined with pale malts, candi sugar, and local hops. By the 19th century, secular breweries like those producing Saison and Witbier emerged, catering to farmers and urban dwellers alike. The Belgian brewing philosophy emphasized experimentation, leading to a wide range of styles that balanced malt sweetness, yeast-driven complexity, and moderate bitterness, setting the foundation for what would later be termed Belgo-style ales.
In the late 20th century, Belgian beers gained international acclaim, inspiring brewers, particularly in the United States, to create their own interpretations, giving rise to the term “Belgo-style ales.” American craft breweries like Allagash, Ommegang, and New Belgium began adopting Belgian techniques, using similar yeast strains and ingredients while often adding bold twists, such as higher hop profiles or barrel aging. This global adaptation preserved the essence of Belgian classics—complexity, balance, and drinkability—while introducing regional innovations. Today, Belgo-style ales encompass a broad spectrum, from crisp, spicy Witbiers to robust, dark Trappist-inspired ales, reflecting both their historical roots and the creative evolution driven by modern craft brewing.
Top 10 Beers in America – Ales Lagers Specialty Barrel Aged