Piraat 4Pk

Piraat 4Pk is a Belgian strong ale brewed by Brouwerij Van Steenberge, sold as a four-pack of 330ml bottles at 10.5% ABV. A World Beer Cup Gold Award winner, Piraat stands apart through its use of distinctive wine yeasts — the same strains employed in the celebrated Gulden Draak — giving it a deceptively smooth, complex character that belies its formidable strength.

Quick Facts: ABV: 10.5%  |  Origin: East Flanders, Belgium  |  Style: Belgian Strong Ale  |  Brewery: Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V. (Est. 1784)

Production & Heritage

Brouwerij Van Steenberge, founded in 1784 in the village of Ertvelde in East Flanders, remains one of Belgium's most storied independent breweries. Piraat is brewed with a grain bill of barley malt and rice alongside sugar, hops, and yeast, then re-fermented in the bottle — a traditional Belgian technique that builds carbonation naturally and adds layers of flavor complexity during conditioning. The critical differentiator is the brewery's use of proprietary wine yeasts, shared only with its flagship Gulden Draak, which impart a vinous depth and remarkable drinkability rare in beers exceeding 10% ABV.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with a sharp, slightly sour edge before giving way to fruity esters of banana and a faint dusty, bready grain quality. Beneath those top notes, hints of butterscotch and rum-like warmth emerge as the beer warms in the glass.

Taste: The entry is medium-sweet with bready malt and ripe banana, moving quickly into a mid-palate where butterscotch richness mingles with lemongrass and a distinct coriander-like spiciness. The peak delivers a titillating alcoholic blast — warm but not scorching — balanced by low hop bitterness and light Belgian yeast character.

Finish: The finish is long and warming, with a strong sourish bitterness that cuts through the residual sweetness cleanly. Lingering notes of rum-soaked fruit and gentle spice fade gradually, inviting the next sip.

How to Drink Piraat

Piraat is best served at cellar temperature (50–55°F) in a tulip glass or goblet, which concentrates the aromatic complexity and allows the dense carbonation to express fully. Sipping it slowly and neat rewards patience, as the flavor profile shifts meaningfully as it warms. For a Belgian Strongbow cocktail, its spicy sweetness pairs well with fresh lemon juice and a touch of honey. In a Flemish Buck, combine it with ginger beer and a lime wedge, where the ale's fruit and spice amplify the ginger. It also works surprisingly well as the base in a beer-tail riff on a Dark & Stormy, replacing rum with Piraat to leverage its natural rum-like undertones.

Best For

• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who appreciates high-ABV Belgian classics
• Hosting a Belgian beer tasting evening alongside Duvel and Gulden Draak
• Pairing with a rich charcuterie or cheese board on a cold evening
• Cellaring for up to several years to develop additional complexity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Piraat taste like? Piraat delivers a medium-sweet, bready malt base layered with banana, butterscotch, and coriander-like spice, followed by a firm sourish bitterness and a warming 10.5% ABV alcoholic presence that finishes long and complex.

How does Piraat compare to Duvel? Both are strong Belgian ales, but Piraat runs considerably higher in alcohol (10.5% vs. Duvel's 8.5%) and leans more toward malty sweetness and spice, while Duvel is drier, more effervescent, and hop-forward. Piraat is often described as a boozier, more full-bodied counterpart to Duvel's crisp elegance.

Is Piraat good for sipping neat? Absolutely — its bottle-refermented complexity and layered flavor profile make it a natural sipper, best enjoyed slowly in a tulip glass at cellar temperature to let the aromas and warmth develop fully.

Where is Piraat made? Piraat is brewed at Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V. in Ertvelde, a village in the East Flanders province of Belgium. The brewery has operated at this location since its founding in 1784.

What foods pair well with Piraat? Aged Gouda or Gruyère complement the butterscotch and malty sweetness. Roasted pork belly matches the beer's rich body and spice. Mussels in a cream sauce echo its Belgian origins and play against its carbonation. Spiced apple tart harmonizes with the banana and coriander notes. Dark chocolate with sea salt contrasts beautifully with the residual sweetness and warming finish.

What sizes does Piraat come in? This listing is a four-pack of 330ml (11.2 oz) bottles; Piraat is also commonly available in a 750ml bottle and occasionally on draft.

Is Piraat worth the price? Piraat positions as a premium Belgian strong ale, and its bottle-refermented production, proprietary wine yeasts, and 10.5% ABV place it firmly in the specialty tier — delivering significant complexity and intensity that justify its standing among top-rated Belgian ales.

Why Piraat?

The use of proprietary wine yeasts — shared only with Gulden Draak within Van Steenberge's portfolio — gives Piraat a vinous smoothness that most strong ales at this ABV simply cannot match. Its World Beer Cup Gold Award and consistent scores of 91 on BeerAdvocate and 92 on Ratebeer confirm it as a critically recognized benchmark in the Belgian strong ale category. Brewed at a family-operated brewery with roots stretching back to 1784, Piraat carries genuine heritage rather than manufactured provenance. For drinkers seeking a bold, bottle-conditioned Belgian ale that balances power with complexity, few four-packs deliver this level of depth.