Hoppin Frog Gulden Fraug

Formerly brewed at Hoppin Frog Brewery
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Akron, Ohio USA

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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Bottle purchased a riversbend: Pours copper in color with almost no white head to speak of. The smell is of banana and just a hint of spice. The taste is very nice. I keep thinking the taste is of sweet banana. The taste is just a bit hot, but it doesn’t make this beer bad. In fact, it compliments it nicely.

Pours clear copper color big white head. The flavor is so damn goood, lot’s of crystal malts with a touch of chocolate and roasted barley in there. Pretty spicy and sweet some sight fruitiness and good yeast flavor to it. This abbey style beer just tasted good but what I liked that was different was the chocolate touch they gave it, almost no hops and bitterness at all just straight flavor and alcohol wasn’t present at all, it just tasted awesome, I want more!

22oz bottle pours golden with a short offwhite head that faded pretty quick. Aromas of spice, lots of yeast, a touch of honey and some malty sweetness. Flavor starts off quite sweet with honey and even some candi sugar before it gives way to some slight spice and a yeasty dry finish. Palate is medium bodied and pretty dry throughout. Definite alcohol warmth on the finish..Not bad.. These Hoppin frog beers are for real!

Bottle, poured a somewhat cloudy golden color with a very minimal head. Very strong aromas of spice and yeast, very tripel-esque. Flavors of mostly yeast with a malty sweetness. Almost no bitterness. Very thick mouthfeel, to thick for the style, I like my Belgians to be bubbly on the palate, this was to thick. Overall pretty good, but not the best either.

Bottle from Rivers Bend. Poured golden color with an average rocky off-white head that diminished quickly with little lacing. Complex aroma of yeasty and sweet spice. Body was medium with a syrupy texture. Flavor was sweet spicy with a medium sweet finish of moderate duration.

22oz bottle. Aroma: Strong malt sweetness with a note of honey. Orange, apples, pineapple, and a bit of grapiness. Some bready yeastiness and a touch of peppery spiciness. Appearance: Light orange in color and faintly hazed. Off-white head was small and foamy and diminished quickly. Not much lacing. Flavor: Strong malt sweetness with notes of candi sugar, honey, and a yeasty breadiness. Citrusy orange and spiciness come through strong and play off each other well. Some mild perfumey floral notes into the finish. Finishes a little too sweet. Alcohol very well hidden. Palate: Medium-full bodied. Moderate carbonation. Slight alcohol warming in back of mouth. Overall: A good beer, and an exciting offering from a local brewery. Can’t wait to see how these hold up to some aging.

UPDATED: JUN 1, 2010 Sampled on 1/05/2007 at River’s Bend. Thanks Matt! -- Hoppin Frog "Gulden Fraug" Golden Ale pours a clear, bright orange/copper color. It has a moderate amount of visible carbonation and a large, creamy beige head. The aroma is candied citrus (orange mostly, zest, a hint of pineapple as well) intertwined with a sweet caramel maltiness. The flavor is a wonderful extension of the aroma with the sweet caramel maltiness and candied citrus fruits coming to life on the tongue. The alcohol is suprisingly imperceptible for 10.5% ABV! This beer has a slightly syrupy body (just right!) and feels smooth in the mouth. Overall this beer is really well done and is very similar to Victory V12. "Gulen Frog" is my seconf favorite of the Hoppin Frog beers (their Imperial Stout is the best). I bet this beer would age nicely and get even better... 22 fl oz bottle. Rating: 7/4/8/4/17 = 4.0
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2007 Vintage

1/06/2009: Hoppin Frog Gulden Fraug Belgian Style Ale... Aroma: Sugry ripe, freshy fruits; syrupy pale malts, thin blend of honey and caramel; refined fusals. Appearance: Pale honey color, slightly hazy complexion; swirling off-white to beige froth on the surface; slow and gentle carbonation; some sediment. Flavor: Sweet, smooth malts; notes of sage honey and Hawaiian bread crust; some prune and candied orange peel (with maybe a sprinkle of spice); just a tinge of earthy and floral bitterness just before the finish; slight alcohol burn; caramelized golden raisins, dates, and apricot in the finish with just a splash of lemon (or twist of rind). Palate: Medium to medium-full body; smooth and mellow; slips right down! Overall: Still damn good; reminds me of a really nice Doppelbock with that fruity Belgian twist; still completely under-rated!

1 pint 6 fl. oz. bottle (Specifications: 10.5% a/v, 98 OG, 20 FG, 16 IBU). Rating: 8/3/7/4/16 = 3.8

Growler from the brewery: Light hazy amber w/ a thin off white head that sticks around. Peppery yeast and sweet malt up front w/ a slightly sulphury yeast character. Corn sugary and grainy malt aromas when chilled, but has a moderate toasty and slight raisiny ester when it warms. Hints of floral esters. It’s well balanced, but definitely just to the malty side from start to finish. Grainy malt flavors and peppery yeast flavors mid palate. Yeast spice is on the light side. Also hints of caramelized sugar, but little fruitiness in the ways of raisiny esters. Fuller medium body, medium carbonation, very well hidden alcohol, and smooth. While it’s not a great Belgian, it is still a pretty good beer.

This high alcohol strong Belgian golden style beer has a heavy body with a malty taste and finish. Fruity esters are evident in the taste and aroma. The high alcolhol (10.2%) is not evident so be careful how much you drink at one time.