Lucifer - Brouwerij Riva S.A.

Shaw

Florida

3.9/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I was surprised by Lucifer's color. It's so yellow and clear that it looks like food coloring was used. I hate to make the comparison, but the color is similar to a cheap American lager, only more deeply yellow.

Thankfully, that's where the similarity ends.

It pours with a huge, ultra-white head that quickly settles down, yet sticks around and clings to the glass as you drink it. Its aroma is a combination of malt and alcohol.

With an 8.5 percent ABV, this is potent stuff. But it still has a great taste: spicy, sweet, malty and with noticable alcohol.

Lucifer fits into the style of strong pale ale perfectly.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2003 04:09:36 | More by Shaw

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +3.9%

05-17-2013 18:48:27 | More by Slatetank

weerezboy

Washington

3.25/5  rDev -10%

03-14-2013 02:21:25 | More by weerezboy

t0rin0

California

3.5/5  rDev -3%

09-08-2012 22:29:03 | More by t0rin0

ccozzi

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -3%

05-29-2012 01:22:58 | More by ccozzi

PunkFloyd

California

4/5  rDev +10.8%

03-18-2012 03:47:32 | More by PunkFloyd

hawkmage

California

3/5  rDev -16.9%

12-31-2011 04:06:46 | More by hawkmage

nmann08

Maryland

4/5  rDev +10.8%

12-14-2011 17:06:00 | More by nmann08

FreshmanPour77

Minnesota

2/5  rDev -44.6%

11-18-2011 18:20:33 | More by FreshmanPour77

ThaCreep

Belgium

3.33/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Creamy flavors but also - and this is a bit of a surprise - coming from the melted caramel candy used. Entry on the palate well balanced but soon turned upside down by an alcohol too far. Hops point the tip of his nose on the finish to give it a fine side and persistent. However, a slight lack of balance of power and especially compared to standard-model, the Duvel.

Serving type: on-tap

09-16-2011 17:58:15 | More by ThaCreep

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Found this was to be similar to a Duvel. The beer poured out as a nice looking hazy yellow color. The head was large and white. The lacing wasn't too bad here either. The smell of the beer was spicy and had some hoppy aromas coming from it. The taste was hoppy and spicy, there was some booze in there too. The mouthfeel was aggressive lots of tingling carbonation on the tongue. Overall it was a pretty cool beer to have had. A little bummed that it's retired now.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2011 19:31:40 | More by Knapp85

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had on tap @ Armsby Abbey.

A: Huge glass with huge fizzy head, hazy amber orange color.

N: Nose of Belgian malts, yeast, and a touch of Belgian sweet malts and sugar.

T: Creamy Belgian malts again, slight pale hops with spicy flavors, strong flavor and boozy taste, some yeast too.

M: Semi thick with warming booze and decent carbonation.

F: Finishes pretty pale and slightly bitter. Lingering boozy malts and Belgian malt flavors.

Serving type: on-tap

01-20-2010 21:50:15 | More by jlindros

nickfl

Florida

4.22/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured with two fingers of creamy, white head on top of a hazy, golden body. The foam settles slowly and leaves little lace.

S - Fruity notes of pears and some pineapple with lots of earthy hops and a bit of pilsner malt sweetness.

T - Sweet pilsner malt up front with earthy herbal hop flavors. Some spicy clove notes from the yeast in the middle along with some pepper. Finishes with moderate bitterness, more honey malt notes and canned pineapple flavor.

M - Medium body, moderately high carbonation, and a dry finish.

D - This beer has a great, plisner like character of rich malt. The fruity yeast adds complexity and helps to identify this as a Belgian, though the yeast character is cleaner than that of some other pale Belgian ales and the fruit notes in the flavor fall a little flat. Drinkable and refreshing, it is a good beer though there are better examples of the style that are readily available.

Serving type: on-tap

01-03-2010 09:11:41 | More by nickfl

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A bone white, marshmallow-fluffy head that appeared despite my careful pour as part of a training session on ale and pouring at Bridgewaters Pub. Nose had a big scent of alcohol. At 8.5%, this was no playing around. Properly poured, this was a beautiful deep-gold color, like liquid sunshine. The mouthfeel was full and creamy with a warm sensation from the alcohol. Finish was dry, definitely musty, yeasty, yummy.

Serving type: on-tap

12-08-2009 09:55:18 | More by woodychandler

jimiv73

California

4.2/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

wow the name itself scared me but i found myself very intriged anyway to try this! a definite belgium ale it pours off yellow and a nice thick frothy head white in color! their is a definite presents of yeast and citrus flavors with a slight hoppyness to it! beer tasted delicious if you duvel or victorys golden monkey!!! it felt good in the mouth there was lots of tingling and mouthwatering goin on! i give this beer a 4,5 in drinkability because its good and goes down smooth with a slight bitter feel on the tip of the tongue! plus you can drink alot of these lol!!! although a bit pricy @ 8 bucks a glass!

Serving type: on-tap

11-25-2009 21:03:37 | More by jimiv73

popery

California

3.4/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

An okay Belgian, dry with a phenolic character. This is really nothing special, particularly with the overly assertive demonic title. It's a pale yellow-gold with a frothy head. The aroma has some grassy, herbaceous hops and a healthy dose of middle-of-the-road Belgian yeast. Flavor is dry with a touch of sour apples. This Lucifer is no dark lord of Belgian ales.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2009 07:31:08 | More by popery

wchesak

Virginia

4.58/5  rDev +26.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into Abbaye du Val-Dieu glass, would have used a Duvel glass if I had one

A - very large white head that left a large cloud like pile on top of the beer, the head lasted forever leaving lace along the way, the color was an opaque whitish/amber almost like a Belgian wit with a big more golden color to it

S - slightly fruity, lemony, some good spice from the hops also

T - light fruit at first, then spice from the saaz hops im assuming, then goes a bit dry

M - crisp, on the light side of medium bodied - just too much substance to it to consider it light bodied; very smooth

D - i couldnt put this beer down, the heat from the alcohol comes at the far back part of the throat and is not a bad thing, lets you know you really have a 8.5 beer

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2009 02:21:26 | More by wchesak

haddon

Kentucky

3.7/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- pours a golden brown with a frothy head. head doesn't last very long. large clumps of sediment floating at the top

S- well-balanced aromas...banana, clove, apricots, yeast & phenols

T- dry taste with alcohol evident. hint of lemon but strong carbonation drowns out any aftertaste. little off balance for my taste

M- little too heavy on the carbonation

D- little light all around not much of a flavor profile. not too impressed with this belgian pale.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2009 02:41:24 | More by haddon

TLove

District of Columbia

3.13/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

(From Notes)

750 ml bottle to Stella Artois glass.

An intense amount of carbonation goes straight up the nose from the first sip. If you just started drinking this while reading through past reviews, slow down and let the carbonation die out first.

Stylistically, it is representative of its color and its thick, foamy head holds well throughout the drink. Slight floral notes, with some citrus (particularly lemon), grainy malts, and a honey-derived sweetness. Only slightly syrupy for a Belgian Golden Ale and the alcohol is definately notable, but not overpowering. Carbonation is strong throughout, as is the slight graininess. Semi-sweet, semi-smooth finish, but ultimately pretty dry and not as rewarding as I was hoping for. But for $3.99 at Rodmans in DC, I'll take one any day.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2009 00:59:03 | More by TLove

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Corked and caged 25ozer into a large DFH snifter. I have not had this in about 5-6 years.

Bright sunshine, a bold yellow hue with some bronze outlines. A careful pour yielded just a bit of debris in the liquid. A unmistakable belgian head arose with a bright white look 2 inches high and would not quit. Spraypaint lace initially.

Lucifer is all about the Belgian yeast, it's the main scent coming off with Belgian candi, bubblegum and other like smells. Some tropical fruit with just a touch of light hopping. The alcohol seems well masked than it was when I had it last under a different brewery, as Hat Anker seems to have taken over the recipe.

Fruits mixed with yeast up front, thats for sure. A bit of alcohol as well, but masked well. Freshly mashed apples and some earthy floral hops. As it warms some malt sweetness evens the field and the flavor. Some spice on the finish, maybe coriander.

The feel is a bit bumpy once cold, and quite frankly once it warms as well. The carbonation is high, but not in the red zone. A lively feel. The alcohol and some banana linger on the palate afterwards. Light bodied and fairly well balanced.

Im thinking since this beer is in new hands, that maybe some tinkering has been done to the recipe, the alcohol seems well sheltered, and the flavor is a bit fuller. Still, this is not my favorite Belgian pale strong but it's getting there. This is a good one to go to from time to time.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2009 23:00:37 | More by onix1agr

nickd717

California

3.63/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at the Cheeky Monk in Denver. Hazy blond color with a nice creamy white head. Aroma is sweet pale malt, sugar, yeast, and citrus. Flavor is more of the same, pretty sweet, with yeast, mild hop bitterness, and a touch of alcohol. Body and carbonation are medium. Drinkable, but nothing special.

Serving type: on-tap

10-02-2009 19:38:43 | More by nickd717

mhatters

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a corked 75cl bottle into a Duvel glass

Pours a yelloworange color with a thick white billowy head. A few pits of sediment got caught up in the glass. Slightly hazy.

Fruit and honey in the nose, light fruit - apple, pear.

A bit spicy, balanced by the fruit. The spice and fruit compete a bit, and then a honey sweetness comes through towards the finish.

A bit light light in the feel - lightly carbonated too. The spice hangs out a bit long in the finish.

Pretty good, but in a style with other great beers. I do not hink I want another. OK, not great.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2009 23:45:04 | More by mhatters

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

3.9/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A good and reliable Belgian Golden Ale

Presentation: 750 ml corked bottle. Simple and succinct label with an image of the liquid and an award icon. Minimal description of style noting second fermentation in bottle. Showsfreshness date on top the metal plaque covering the cork (06/2010 A7165). It neither shows IBUs or °Plato, only Alc. by Vol. (8.5%) Poured into a tulip glass.

A - Crisp golden color under a very large foamy head that holds pretty well with touches of lacing as it goes down.

S - Sweet softness with faint floral notes.

T - Sweet maltiness with a touch of spices and a present but not overwhelming alcoholic tone, and a somewhat dry finish.

M - Smooth, light body with hefty carbonation

D -Nicely drinkable. Straight forward offering that still represents a quality Belgian standard.

Notes: Sure, it may not be the best of the style but it is a nice brew. The style is not my favorite but I like to keep a few of these around to open up beer sessions in particular to get eager beginners going with a nice and accessible brew. The average price of this import in the US is OK but may not make it an outstanding choice next to comparable golden ales. However some of the offers for these large bottles showing up recently on the East Coast make it a great choice to stock up a few.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2009 12:02:13 | More by Daniellobo

mltobin

Connecticut

3.73/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Finally bought a stubby bottle of Lucifer after having seen it on beer menus and the restaurant being out of it.

Appearance is a golden color with bubbles and cloudiness inside with a fat 1 finger head at first that slowly loses its height.
Smell is sharp with spice, yeast is present and some alcohol.
Taste has more of that alcohol with some sugary sweetness, but it finishes light and easy overall. Mouthfeel contains carbonation, yeast again and more of those bubbles. And finally the drinkability is better than average, especially considering that Lucifer clocks in at an ABV of 8.5% This is a good belgian golden ale, but not a great one in my humble opinion.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2009 00:48:02 | More by mltobin

thekanna

Maryland

4.08/5  rDev +13%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a golden yellow with miles of billowy white frothy head.

S: Overall faint sweetness mixed with resilient Belgian yeasts. A slight spiciness hits the back of the throat when the aroma is taken in a bit more.

T: Yeasts with a wonderfully strong tinge of coriander, pepper, and honey. A slightly medicinal bitterness resounds on the tongue in the aftertaste, which detracts slightly from the beautifully rich honey sweetness in the body. Still, overall a very well-composed brew, with clear stages in the taste.

M: Nice effervescence; tingles the tongue very well.

D: Great to just sit, sip, and enjoy the flavor. I'm glad I picked this up, even though it was a bit pricey.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2009 05:28:53 | More by thekanna