Duchessic Ale - Birra Del Borgo

DaveHS

California

4.22/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Pours hazy light rusty orange with a few chunks of yeast that hover before settling in the bottom of the glass. About an inch of foamy eggshell white head that settles quickly, leaving a thin sheet of lacing.

S-Musty barnyard funk, white pepper, lightly toasted oak, hand soap, zested lemon.

T/M-The Cantillon gueuze is really prominent in this. Bright, lemony tartness under a blanket of farmhohuse funk. Prickly, vibrant carbonation holds it all together. I wonder what the blending ratios were. The saison characteristics suggest that the base beer is a very funky, earthy rendition of the style.

O-Very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2011 03:31:42 | More by DaveHS

drummermattie02

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-21-2013 20:20:54 | More by drummermattie02

standardcherry

Massachusetts

4.59/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A: Hazy golden color with a large, frothy white head. Lots of lacing and sediment.
S: The lambic funk takes over here. A bit of saison yeast spiciness and fruity/citrusy sweetness but a large part is funk. A bit of apricot/pear in there as well.
T: Not as funky as I expected. The balance is perfect between the lambic and the saison. Lots of lactic sourness, some yeasty breadiness, some sweet malts and finishes with lemons and dry tartness. Excellent.
M: Light/medium bodied but a bit overcarbonated. Extremely drinkable though, very refreshing.
O: Very impressive beer from these Italians! World-class, I would drink this every day if I could.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 05:59:27 | More by standardcherry

CheapBeerBuzz

California

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-12-2013 06:36:42 | More by CheapBeerBuzz

MrVonzipper

California

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-09-2013 09:23:38 | More by MrVonzipper

cadaugherty

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-08-2013 01:54:24 | More by cadaugherty

largadeer

California

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

04-30-2013 23:59:08 | More by largadeer

Immortale25

Florida

4.36/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a Saint Somewhere wine-style glass. No freshness date.

A- Pours a hazy medium amber color with a 1/2 inch white head that retains well before shimmying down to a thick ring around the edge of the glass and a full sheet of surface foam. Sudsy, resilient lacing. Tiny specs of sediment in the body stick to the glass.

S- Funky saison yeast aroma upfront with some fruit sweetness in the back that has a hint of vinegar. A great blend of two distinct aromas. A bit effervescent.

T- More tart than expected at first but then the yeast funk swings in to round things out and finishes sweet. Slightly Bretty with some green olive notes that linger. I like the way the lemony citrus flavors bounce off the funk and then back to the sweet fruit. Very complex and enticing of more sips. Hint of soap flavor.

M- Moderate amount of tartness with a relatively moist feel for the style. Medium carbonation and a body that's on the lighter side.

O- Wonderful blend of two styles. Absolutely worth the ten bucks spent.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 01:36:54 | More by Immortale25

eric5bellies

Australia

4.51/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Drank from my duvel tulip

A _ pours a very inviting cloudy copper colour with a huge white foamy head that stays the course and laces.

S - Big yeasty aromas with cirtus ,spice, apple. Authentice Belgian with a twist

T - Up front plenty of spicy malt, followed by citrus, yeast and a nice aniseed finish. This is a very silky saison

M - Medium to full body with low carbonation the overall mouthfell id very smooth indeed.

O - Probably the best saison that i have had to date other than the Fantome Ghost

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 13:04:05 | More by eric5bellies

ThePorterSorter

New York

4.08/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Big thanks to merc for sharing, duchessa + 1yr lambic

The beer pours a cloudy golden yellow/orange with 1/2 an inch of white head that fades quickly. There is some lurking sediment as well. The nose is reminiscent of a mild gueuze with a funky/skunky sweet citrusy aroma. It drinks more tamely with a delicious citrusy saison base enhanced by a reserved funk. It's a relatively medium bodied, funky, tart, with a semi-dry finish. It's definitely a beer worth drinking, but for the slap in the face price tag (which I thankfully didn't pay), I don't think I will repeat anytime soon.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 21:52:36 | More by ThePorterSorter

merc7186

New York

4.19/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

500mL bottle into snifter glass.

A: Orangish/Golden Straw Hue, Passes Some Light, White Head Ring, Some Lacing

S: Apricots, Funky, Hay

T: Hay, Yeast, Mild Oranges, Mild White Pepper

M: Decent Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Mildly Bitter

Overall, a very interesting beer as it has the nose of a Gueuze but the taste of a mildly bretted saison. Delicious if you like both those styles.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 21:43:28 | More by merc7186

davey101

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

04-16-2013 05:51:37 | More by davey101

roblund

California

4/5  rDev -3.8%

04-15-2013 14:18:46 | More by roblund

pmarlowe

California

4/5  rDev -3.8%

04-03-2013 03:40:21 | More by pmarlowe

laituegonflable

Australia

3.98/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours a vibrant, burnished orange, with slight haze. Tightly-packed head, off-white, not too glamorous. Looks acceptable.

Smells kinda Belgian, with noticeable but subtle phenols. Strong cinnamon character coming through, with notes of poached apple and quince as well. Sweet; very pleasant. Could use a little more saisony funk though.

Taste is more of the same. Cinnamon apple notes, with sweetish spice throughout, and a nice cinnamon back. Fruit on the back is a bit more tart and green than it perhaps should be, quite a touch of acidity to an otherwise pleasant apple/pear palate. Still, very tasty overall.

Again, a bit of a pull from the astringency on the back. Body maybe a little too thin to handle it.

I love the idea here, and wish the execution was better. Just tastes a little undercooked; otherwise very nice.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 04:47:19 | More by laituegonflable

cfrances33

Illinois

4.56/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Bottle poured into a Hill Farmstead stem.

Pour: I made a very careful pour, so as to not disturb the sediment. Completely clear honey gold with a massive, 4+ finger white head. I has to pour for a LONG time to get most of the bottle into the glass. Big billowing white head, and some nice lacing.

Smell: Woah! Huge Cantillon lambic funk up front. Very strong lactic tartness on the nose. Some white grapes and oak. A touch of white pepper and yeast, but only just.

Taste: Slightly more balanced between the lambic and saison than the nose, but only just. Still a big lactic tartness and classic Cantillon funk up front. This honestly tastes like a young Cantillon classic. Some yeast and breadyness mid palate, and as it warms. Finishes with a lingering lemon and tartness.

Mouthfeel: Hugh carb. Maybe just a touch too much. Sharp and biting, but letting the glass sit helps dissolve some of it. Nice tartness. Pretty drinkable despite the carb. Refreshing.

Overall: Well this has gotten exponentially better since when I had it 5 months ago, and it was good then. I'm looking forward to having this again in the future.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 00:01:26 | More by cfrances33

Gonzoillini

Illinois

4/5  rDev -3.8%

03-08-2013 02:06:15 | More by Gonzoillini

fdig23

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

From the bottle. Gushes immediately after the cap is popped. Be careful with this one.

Appearance: Deep hazy orange with the biggest fluffiest white head I've ever seen.

Nose: Sharply acidic white grapes, fresh cracked black pepper, smooth vanilla, buttery croissaint, and good bit of funk.

Taste: Very vinous, like a nice dry Riesling. Taste isn't quite as complex as the nose. Plenty of grape, lemon, a hint of red wine vinegar, and a buttery, vanilla finish. The Duchessa contributes a bit of breadiness and barnyard. Can't help but think the saison only works to dull down the lambic.

Mouthfeel: nice and full all things considered.

Overall: It's like a Gueuze Lite. The sourness and lambic qualities are muted by the bready saison, which doesn't seem to contribute much flavor-wise. Instead you end up with a thirst-quenching and delicious mildly sour beauty.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 04:22:22 | More by fdig23

IMSPEAKNOENGLISH

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +14.2%

02-17-2013 04:33:01 | More by IMSPEAKNOENGLISH

suspect

New York

4.14/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 375ml bottle into a Founders brewing snifter. Thanks to Jon for sharing.

A: Hazy, opaque faded golden color. Neat pour leads to a thin white ring of fizz that fades immediately leaving whisps. No lacing.

S: Yeasty up front with funk. I can almost smell the carbonation. A bit of smarties is picked up in the nose as well.

T: Taste is mild but good. Funky barnyard flavors, touch of mold and grain.

M: A touch overcarbonated but fizzy and crisp.

O: A good beer, definitely a lambic vs. a farmhouse ale but it's good. Glad to have tried it.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 03:24:05 | More by suspect

MattSweatshirt

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

01-22-2013 07:17:30 | More by MattSweatshirt

westcoastbeerlvr

California

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

01-11-2013 18:03:44 | More by westcoastbeerlvr

tobelerone

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -3.8%

12-25-2012 04:32:54 | More by tobelerone

stealth

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

12-21-2012 00:22:39 | More by stealth

JonBarley

California

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

12-18-2012 19:56:10 | More by JonBarley