Head retention may be quite good or may be adversely affected by high alcohol content. Ripe fruit flavors, including raisin and plum, are common. Malt usually dominates, but some examples are balanced slightly toward bitterness. Some spicy phenols, from ferment or actual spices, may be present. Hop flavor can range from moderate to none.
Some sweetness is contributed by alcohol.
Medium to full body, creamy and warming. In comparison to Dubbel, these are typically significantly stronger beers of a wider variety. Spices are sometimes added for complexity. Yeasts prone to production of higher alcohols, esters and spicy phenols are commonly employed.