De Koninck - Brouwerij De Koninck NV

srandycarter

California

3.85/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Nice amber, clear, lots of bubbles coming up, ring of near white head. Not much lace.

S - Deep bread with hop back.

T - Sweet bready feel, followed by tangy hops.

M - Good balance and carb, medium body.

D - Like it, but I don't know how many I would want at a time.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2011 07:15:29 | More by srandycarter

metter98

New York

3.7/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is clear amber in color and poured with a thin white head that dissipated very quickly but left lacy patterns of bubbles floating on the surface.
S: There are aromas of apples and grainy malts in the nose.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and has a good balance between fruity flavors and a slight amount of bitterness from the hops.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and crisp on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. There is a hint of dryness in the finish.
D: I could easily have several of these in one sitting because of the beer's low alcohol content.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2010 20:29:20 | More by metter98

jushoppy2beer

Tennessee

4.33/5  rDev +18%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The appearance would have been better if my daughter (yes, she's over 21) who brought it to me had not slurped off the head to keep from spilling it. But, I can't blame her for sneaking a taste, as it was such an enticing brownish amber in the De Koninck glass. This is a refreshing crisp ale, with perfect carbonation and a smooth palate, finishing with a lovely but quickly fleeting slight bitterness. Good full mouth that matches well with the subtle nose as you quaff. Overall, a good beer for year-round pleasure, but especially suited to cool-but-not-cold seasons.

Serving type: on-tap

12-19-2010 20:16:09 | More by jushoppy2beer

benfons

Belgium

3.8/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Nice orange copper colour, nice thick head that lingers

S: Malts up front, caramel and a hint of apple and spices

T: again the malts, coffee, and a hint of apples and apricots and a bit of rock candy sweetening the slightly bitter aftertaste

M/D: good carbonation, abv coirrect

decent special belage

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2010 13:51:09 | More by benfons

BucBasil

South Carolina

3.85/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from the tap into a branded chalice at tBruges Beertje.

A: Reddish amber and clear. Head is 1.5 fingers thick, off white and has great retention.

S: Dark fruits and some light spice character or clove and cinnamon.

T: Almost like a dubbel in character. Brown sugar, dark fruits, and some spices. Yeast all over.

A solid beer that is almost always a good yet somewhat safe choice.

Serving type: on-tap

11-05-2010 19:18:19 | More by BucBasil

FourQuarters

New York

3.33/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from an 11.2 oz bottle into a Duvel Tulip.

Appearance - Pours a deep honey-amber color with an inch of off-white head.

Smell - Biscuity malt character is upfront, followed by spiciness and slight fruity esters.

Taste - Malt is dominant, some caramel, fruitiness and spice, mild medicinal phenols and finishing with a slight hop bitterness.

Mouthfeel - Light to medium mouthfeel with a dry finish

Drinkability - Pretty easy drinking beer with enough complexity to keep things interesting.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2010 05:06:33 | More by FourQuarters

Jwale73

Rhode Island

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a semi-translucent amber with a loose, half inch, off-white head that quickly disperses towards the edges, leaving a bubbly band and a bull's eye dollop in the center. Nose is very subdued but suggests green apples (maybe a little vinegary), as well as Saaz hops and grains. Taste is big on earthy grains and malt with perhaps a trace of acidity. A biscuity quality lingers between quaffs. Mouthfeel is light-bodied, with a carbonation that starts off crisp and slowly tapers off towards the back, ending with a semi-dry finish. Decent and drinkable, but not much going on here and the doesn't particularly warrant a future purchase for me considering the price.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2010 23:11:37 | More by Jwale73

SassyBootblack

Colorado

4/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the friendly local Belgian beer cafe.

I love the fruitiness from Abbey/Trappist beers, but wanted something lower gravity, so I gave this beer a try. Wow, what a treat. The yeast character was actually quite neutral, but the maltiness was delicious. Sort of a rich, sweet breadcrust flavor. I assumed Munich malt, but I have since read they use pale and Vienna malt.

Easy drinking stuff, for sure. My kind of session beer.

Serving type: on-tap

07-29-2010 17:05:46 | More by SassyBootblack

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.85/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

16 ounce pint - $6.50 at Taco Mac in Buford, Georgia.

Appearance: Served up a clouded, amber-brown body with a thin, wispy, near white head.

Smell: Aroma of generously toasted bread and caramel sauce with a light, spicy-scented yeastiness and background fruitiness.

Taste: Opens with a maltiness tasting of caramel-dunked cinnamon bread. It's sweet, but not particularly so. Light tangy fruitiness with tastes of apricots, apples, and bananas. Faint bitterness. Late-arriving pop of brown sugar. Body thins out as you near the end. Drying, lightly fruity, lightly spicy finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium-plus carbonation with a bit of sharpness to it.

Drinkability: A little light when it comes to flavor and complexities, but, considering it's just a mere 5% ABV, it ain't half bad.

Serving type: on-tap

06-22-2010 21:26:21 | More by ChainGangGuy

MarvinSnyder

West Virginia

3.43/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

5-18-10 - poured into an oversized wine glass - 11.2 Fl.oz. capped bottle - bottled on date stamped on back is 11-18-10

Appearance: Pours deep amber with a slight brownish tint. It has a creamy, white head that slowly dissipates, eventually becoming extremely thin. Some lacing.

Smell: Fruity with hints of pear, black cherry, and apple cider. Also, smells of grassy hops, spice, and yeast.

Taste: A delicate malt character with spicy yeastiness. Along with pear comes apple cider. At first, a sharp hop induced bitterness balanced by semi-sweet fruity notes.

Mouthfeel: Moderate to high carbonation. It has a thin feel with a clean, dry finish after it washes over the palate.

Drinkability: Easy to drink, but I failed to get a concrete feel for any underlying complexity with this beer, even as it slowly warmed in the glass.

Comments: A beer of the month selection. I am still curious about what I have read of this beer's subtle complexity, so I will definitely try it again.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2010 18:13:55 | More by MarvinSnyder

roblowther

Texas

4.1/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Amber colored with minimal carbonation and visible sediment. Smells of sour mash and fruity esters. My mouth is watering, so that must be good. Taste is peppery crackers, with a nice slight roast and a slightly dry finish. There is a little something hay-like in there as well. Very balanced, VERY drinkable. Mouthfeel is soft & a touch undercarbonated. Drinkability is fantastic. This is a bit high to be considered a session beer, but I wouldn't kick it out of bed. Very good in a very subtle way.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2010 00:53:04 | More by roblowther

TexIndy

Texas

3/5  rDev -18.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Got in BotM shipment. Poured from a 33cl bottle into a snifter. Best by date of 1/13/11 on back label. Was a clear copper color with lots of central carb streams from the etching only. Had a small head that quickly dissipated into nothing. No lacing.

The aroma was weak. Biscuity and caramel malts with a bit of fruit and hops. Slight metallic aroma and taste as well. The taste was malty with slight fruit and hops. Not much here to enjoy. Mouthfeel was medium. Malty and metallic after-taste.

Overall, glad I didn't this one. Drinkable but nothing really there to remember it or make you want another. Don't recommend. [N;N]

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2010 01:14:32 | More by TexIndy

kirkpjr

Alabama

3.63/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Got this in the BotM shipment.
I assume this is the same beer although mine had a red label.

Poured into a tulip.

A: Pours a thin amber color with one finger of head. The head dissipates quickly. Some lacing develops as the beer drinks down.

S: A little banana-clove hefe style smell here. Mainly malts and Belgian yeast though.

T: Banana's with a sweet malt. The Belgian yeast is also noticeable. Would like a bit more spice here. Very pleasant though.

M: Moderate carbonation. Banana flavor lingers.

D: Very easy drinking Belgian Pale Ale, but nothing outstanding here. Could drink a couple but would not seek out.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2010 00:59:11 | More by kirkpjr

armock

New York

3.03/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Poured a copper5 color with a tan head that fades quickly leaving very light lacing

S - Has a bready malt nose with some fruit to it

T - Sweet malt upfront with some fruit finishes off a little grainy

M - This beer has a light body with medium carbonation to it

D - A terribly average beer drinking this makes me think of a macro that comes from Belgium its not bad but nothing really makes it stand out there are way better Belgian Pales to drink before this one

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2010 19:18:59 | More by armock

HalfFull

California

3.83/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a capped 330 ml. bottle into a large wine glass. Noted at 5.2% on the bottle, along with 'Top Fermented, Pure Malt'. Pours a hazy golder amber with half an inch of off white foam. Retention is rather brief with some light lacing to follow. Does keep up a surface ring throughout however, and offering a thin film with some agitation.

Clean malt nose with some dark fruit and a bit of earthy spice. Blends with yeast notes in the background. Yeast notes are more balanced after some air, offering a bit of tart berry towards the end.

Fruit forward on the palate which lingers moderately and more so with some warming. Some raspberry with light cherry undertones and a lightly coarse texture. Carbonation fits the body pretty well, but the drinkability is a bit of a chore in that the sweetness exceeds its body, resulting in a soda like feel.

Interesting take on the style, and one I can see both love and indifference towards. I was expecting a Blonde, and I found a Brunette. Best by 05/05/10.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2010 03:08:12 | More by HalfFull

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

3.03/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured into a tulip glass.
A - 1 finger head with no lacing. Great copper color.

S - Metallic, bread, roasted malt.

T - Metallic right off the bat. Grain, apples, almost like a white wine. Sweet off the top with a hint of bitterness on the finish.

M - Medium.

Overall this was kind of a lackluster Belgian. The metal threw it off a bit. Maybe I was expecting more out of his beer. I'd like to try it on tap if I had the chance.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2010 04:01:06 | More by StaveHooks

ZAP

Minnesota

3.2/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A-Carnelian colored...small whisp of ivory head

S-Mildly spicy....earthy with a little leather...sugar cookie sweetness as well..Interesting..

T-Subtle flavors...mild caramel....some yeasty and bready notes...kind of bland actually.

M-Feels thin...a little watery...meant to be a session type beer but this is a little too thin for 5%

D-Worth trying and drinking. It has some redeeming qualities. I'd love to pair this with some Lemon-Garlic Broiled Mako Shark Steaks that I whip up every now and again...doesn't overwhelm the buds by any means...subtle sums it up best....

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2010 05:58:12 | More by ZAP

rfabian

Texas

3.78/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I guess this is the same ale. The label is different with a red background, but the logo and name are the same with "1833" below. Perhaps modified for exportation to the US.

In any case, poured into a tumbler it produces a 5 mm head with scant persistence and little lacing. The appearance is amber and clear. The aroma is complex with toasted malt, raisins, and buttery esters. The taste complements the aroma with slight bitterness and dry malt. The finish is light to medium bodied with a somewhat metallic finish.

This is a fine Belgian Ale, as good as any I've had.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2010 02:26:54 | More by rfabian

OneDropSoup

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got this in a BotM shipment (though the bottle looks more like the De Koninck amber, this is definitely not a Flemish red).

Poured into a stemmed tulip: a beautiful clear amber with a dusting of thin white head. Plenty of tiny bubbles.

Smell of musty white grape juice, sweet spices, prototypical estery Belgian yeast.

Taste is fruity, with sweet apples, grapes, pears jumping forth, jelly-like sugars but a kind of flinty quality to it found in a lot of European brews. Both bread crust & fresh-baked dough. Mildly acidic, enough to draw forth some saliva.

Feels medium-bodied, some tang from sugars & acidity, a good swish really works it up & re-carbonates.

Good overall, seems very exemplary, almost quintessential, of the style. Tasty & complex, & I think 2 would just about do it for me.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2010 23:55:33 | More by OneDropSoup

TLove

District of Columbia

3.95/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Granville Moores in DC.

A fantastic Belgian pale, with a full-bodied, amber color, tan head and great retention. There is a consistent, butterscotch malt with some caramel, citrus, and earthy tones with a creamy carbonation and warm, impeccable drinkability.

A nice, sweet, candied fruit mouthfeel with some slightly hopped, full-bodied structure and balanced finish throughout.

Serving type: on-tap

11-23-2009 23:54:29 | More by TLove

Tone

Missouri

3.7/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear, amber color with some suspended sediment. One inch head of an off-white color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of yeast, sweet malt, pale malt, slight roasted malt, and some hops. Fits the style of a Belgian Pale Ale. Mouth feel is smooth and slightly thick with an average carbonation level. Tastes of yeast, pale malt, sweet malt, and slight hops. Overall, a weak bodied pale ale, but a great bodied euro light ale.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2009 03:34:50 | More by Tone

diamondc

Texas

4/5  rDev +9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

33cl, bottled on 04/09/09

I really dug this beer on tap, in bottle, there isn't much difference.

Straight into a New Belgium goblet, color is a dark amber with minimal head retention. No lacing to be found. Sure this beer is from Belgium? Lots of yeast made it into the pour despite being extra careful.

Smells like puke/bile, ozone, and bubblegum. Interesting ..

The taste initially reminded me Tropical Punch Kool-Aid without the sugar added. Hints of unripe green bananas and burnt toast. Tart, but not sour. Some slight metallic taste towards the end. The hops don't add much flavor but add to the dryness at the end.

Its a bit watery on the mouthfeel, could have used more body definitely, but the slight tartness gives the beer a refreshing quality. This is probably the only beer I have ever 'session'ed' with three pints in a row.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2009 05:13:02 | More by diamondc

rvdoorn

Netherlands

3.35/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this beer from tap in an orginal De Koninck glass in the Cinema pub in Wageningen. The beers pours a nice amber color, with a decent fluffy white head, that changed into a nice lacing after a few minutes.

Smell: A bit weak, some spicy hops, grains, malts and some well hidden fruits.

Taste: The first sips, the beer had a clear metallic taste. After the initial metallic taste, the taste is grassy, spicy and hoppy, some clear malts are there too, some fruits (not sure what exactly, orange???), and a spicy, dry aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: smooth and creamy. Medium-high carbonation. Easy to drink

Overall: I have to admit that I had this beer after drinking Bommen en Granaten and 10 commandments at home first. So for me all the flavors were a bit weak this time. But of course I know how it tastes from the previous times I had it, and how I enjoyed it! It is a nice beer, really similar to Palm Speciale beer. The only thing I really didn't like, is the metallic taste this beer often has....

Serving type: on-tap

09-26-2009 14:54:35 | More by rvdoorn

FrothyBeverage

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on tap into a chalice like goblet. The apperance is on the darker side but i wouldnt call it dark. Sort of a burnt carmel color. Not too many aromas present on the taste. Tastes great, very creamy with carmel and molasses flavors, slightly malty. I like this mouthfeel, went down smooth and creamy. THis was a quality beer and i would drink it again.

Serving type: on-tap

09-22-2009 19:58:27 | More by FrothyBeverage

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured on tap into a De Koninck oversized wine glass. Appears a light brown in color with a creamy white head that provides a sheet of lacing.

The aroma was not very apparant to this beer, just a slight notion of malt and grain.

The taste revolved around the candy malt body. Quite smooth and medium bodied. Just a hint of butterscotch in there too, possibly some diacetyl. Mild earth tones are also present.

Mouthfeel is very creamy and smooth. It beckons for extended sipping. This beer is medium to full bodied.

This is a very nice treat of a beer. I would reccommend this as a session beer if it were more widely available in bottled form. An excellent draft beer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-19-2009 14:40:28 | More by Stinkypuss