Duvel Single - Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat NV

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.26/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

Duvel Single

LOOK: Pours a clear yellow, with a large pillowy foam and good lace. Appears like what you might expect from a Belgian pale ale.

SMELL: Powdery Belgian yeast, fresh pear. A touch of flowery hops. Very clean and more than slightly inviting.

TASTE: Grainy malts and a strong burst of earthy, slightly sour noble hop variety. Leaves a light citrus, mint and grass behind. Acidic hop oils linger on the palate. This is a refined ale.

FEEL: Medium bodied, well carbonated. Has a soothing, refreshing character.

OVERALL: A very good pale ale. Solid flavors, nothing earth shattering, but a lot can be said about execution. I'd have this again. Duvel is a great brewery.

Serving type: on-tap

05-20-2013 21:49:25 | More by Stinkypuss

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.21/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Lumpy, near white head. Lots of chunky lace on the tulip glass. Nearly clear (mild chill haze?). Light gold color

Blend of pale malt, Belgian yeast and alcohol nose. A bit sour.

Starts with a rich body and the pale malt, but no graininess. Next comes the sourness, followed quickly by a notable and balanced hop. The aftertaste is short and mostly sour. The carbonation is low.

Serving type: on-tap

03-02-2013 21:12:02 | More by smcolw

CBearNM

4.69/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

The initial smell is very pleasant, kind of hoppy and flowery.

There is no bite or strong alcohol bite to it, very nice and smooth.

The aftertaste lingers without being overpowering.

I was very happy to find it available on tap for growlers in a local package store (QB's in Pojoaque, NM)

Serving type: growler

01-29-2013 01:38:06 | More by CBearNM

HalfFull

California

3.73/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A 25 cl bottlette poured into a wine glass. The diminutive size of the bottle was interesting and opened with a soft pop and quite unlike the robust nature of your standard Duvel. Pours clear and golden with a half inch of soapy white foam. Good retention and lacing follow despite the soft start.

Nose of light lemony Noble hops along with some Belgian yeast esters and a coarse graininess.

Taste is similar to Duvel but offers a lighter and less viscous body. The firm yet relatively light carbonation provides a good balance in that there is less residual malt to compensate for.

Feel is lemony and clean, full enough yet without being overly sweet. Finishes with more bready lemon character which lingers moderately on the tongue.

Overall pretty solid and better than the draft version in the U.S. with a more pronounced yeast spice character. Not as intriguing as your standard Duvel but surely more quaffable and of the same bloodlines.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 04:07:34 | More by HalfFull

sommersb

Tennessee

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tasted On: 06-02-2012
Freshness: Unknown
Packaging: Draft
Glassware: Snifter
Purchased: On tap at Wino's Depot, Bowling Green KY

Had this in a mini-snifter while browsing the bottle selection at Wino's...

A: Clear, bright and golden appearance, capped by a nicely sized white head. Lace and retention were good.

S: Spicy and peppery, with some citrus notes.

T: Tastes very similar to Duvel from the bottle, but this one is lighter in body and flavor. Still it is a very nicely balanced beer, with the sweet fruitiness matched by herbal hops and spices from the Belgian yeast.

M: Crisp, with lively carbonation. Medium body with a dry finish.

O: I really enjoyed this draft-only offering from Duvel.

Serving type: on-tap

06-02-2012 19:48:11 | More by sommersb

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A-golden with a very thick white head

S-great crisp pale belgian malts. very grassy as well! some honey. amazing scent. strong

T-comes in with a great taste of grassy, slightly bitter pale malts. some honey and slightly syrupy, only slightly. its a very crisp and light taste with an after-taste of honey and grains. has a lasting bitterness.

M-low carbonation with a semi-dry finish

O-a very drinkable and decent pale ale. has some off flavors, but they're forgivable. the carbonation is a bit off and gives the beer and almost watery aspect. an interesting try but a let down when compared to its big brother.

Serving type: on-tap

05-06-2012 01:33:16 | More by AdamBear

hopfacebrew

Colorado

3.73/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at The Cheeky Monk over lunch. The beer was served in a CM Tulip and arrived transparent yellow with a finger's width of white head, some retention and lacing. The nose is relatively mild with hints of pilsner malt, earthy floral hops, and toast. A hint of belgian yeast as well. The flavor is very similar to what is experienced in the nose. Mildly bitter with a more pronounced bready character. Mildly sweet.Lighter end of medium bodied and crisp yet smooth. Moderately carbonated and a hint of dry. Easy to drink but not a lot going on here. Was expecting more. Not bad just not fantastic.

Serving type: on-tap

05-04-2012 19:44:29 | More by hopfacebrew

tony223366

California

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Thin head poured on this duvet green. White and really fluffy. Color is a very pale straw golden yellow. Lots of action from the carbonation. Clarity is perfect.

S: Aroma is very fruity and bright. There are some spicy hops present that too. Really the bright fruitiness is what brings me in. Really bright beer.

T: it's a little too cold but it tastes great. So refreshing. The nice fruitiness is present along with some hop presence on the finish. The bitterness is relatively mild but just right for a Belgian pale ale.

M: huge carnation and a light body help carry this beer. Those factors, the bitterness and alcohol really work to clean the palate.

O: This is a really great beer and a surprise to have at BJs. Good for them. Not as tasty as duvel classic but perfect with dinner.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2012 01:04:52 | More by tony223366

metter98

New York

3.9/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Brabant, New York, NY

A: The beer is crystal clear yellow in color and has no visible carbonation. It poured into a tulip glass with a finger and a half high head that gradually died down and consistently left a thin head covering the surface and lacing running down the sides of the glass.
S: There are moderate aromas of spices in the nose along with some notes of floral hops.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and has flavors of bready and pale malts and a light amount of bitterness with some hints of sweetness.
M: It feels medium-bodied and smooth on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation. There is a slight amount of dryness, but this diminishes as the beer warms up.
O: This beer is a lot easier to drink compared to regular Duvel and seems to share some properties of a pilsner in the taste.

Serving type: on-tap

04-18-2012 00:28:55 | More by metter98

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served on tap at Brabant Belgian Brasserie in New York, NY

A: Pours a clear pale straw yellow in color . The beer has a two finger tall foamy white head that slowly reduces to a film, some condensed patches, and a thick ring around the edges of the glass. Significant lacing is observed.

S: This beer had aromas of light lemon, floral hops, herbal hops, and some yeast spiciness (maybe white pepper). Very inviting.

T: The flavor follows the smell, with a little bit of bready malts upfront followed by some light lemon/citrus, and a little bit of subtle sweetness. The finish is lightly bitter with hints of the floral and herbal hops.

M: Light to medium bodied (though certainly on the lighter side) with moderate amounts of carbonation. Crisp.

O: Very refreshing, easy to drink, and quite enjoyable. This was only the second time that I had the opportunity to try this beer but I will likely try it again when I come across it next.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2012 14:19:11 | More by dbrauneis

UCLABrewN84

California

3.88/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at The Daily Pint in Santa Monica, CA.

Pours a clear honey orange with a 1 inch foamy white head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of grain, yeast, and some slight fruity aromas. Taste is the same with a slight bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer but I prefer regular Duvel from the bottle much more than this.

Serving type: on-tap

04-16-2012 06:16:58 | More by UCLABrewN84

jdense

Oregon

3.58/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Apex PDX Spring Fling, day of the living Saisons/Farmhouse March 2012.

Quintessential Duvel head, billowing and broken, over clear deep gold body, numerous trails of bubbles rising up side of glass. Fairly hop forward in the nose, light malt touch. Taste is more hoppy than floral, clean malt bill, though taste isn't as assertive as 'regular' Duvel. Medium-light mouthfeel, good effervescence. Glad I was able to try this, but my preference runs toward Big Brother Duvel, IMO one of the world's best beers.

Serving type: on-tap

03-31-2012 16:58:32 | More by jdense

bashiba

Iowa

4.08/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at the beer bistro in Chicago, I was very let down that they had just run out of their cask of Two Hearted, but this was a nice replacement.

Served in a nice Duvel Stemmed glass, classic duvel appearance, hazy bright golden color with a huge pillowy white head.

The smell was light and a bit floral with a touch of sweetness.

The flavor was simple but very solid, with nice clean light belgian spices, a touch of sweetness and some nice floral hop flavors and a light lingering bitterness.

The mouthfeel had lots of carbonation zip with a bit of a dry yet resiny finish.

Very solid Belgian Pale Ale, could easily sit and drink this all day.

Serving type: on-tap

02-19-2012 16:23:58 | More by bashiba

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clean pale yellow color with a white head. In the aroma, Belgian candy sugar and a pils like hop. In the taste, sweet to small dry fruitiness and a note of a pilsner like hop. A small hop bite and a lighter bodied mouthfeel, with a small dry fruitiness to clean aftertaste. Easy and nice, quite pilsner like.

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2012 14:55:37 | More by OWSLEY069

Rayek

Colorado

3.95/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Manneken Frites in Arvada, CO. Served in a Duvel tulip, the beer arrived a slightly hazy gold with a soapy bone head. The foam sticks nicely and a bit of lace is left behind.

The mustiness of Belgian yeast hits first. Pear, coriander and a touch of pepper sit behind. The flavors fall nicely into a body that's a little too light. I was expecting a Duvel light feel, but this a different beast all together. It's extremely drinkable and a nice complement to the Frites I ordered.

Serving type: on-tap

01-29-2012 21:19:56 | More by Rayek

chinchill

South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a crystal clear, pale-golden brew with a large, effervescent head.

Light-to-moderate aroma, yet marvelously complex. Lightly spicy, hoppy, and fruity, with yeasty overtones and a hint of bubblegum.

Taste: largely follows smell, with hops and some fruitiness, but less yeasty and more malty. Excellent balance!

M: strong carbonation and effervescence. Champagne-like spritziness. A lovely dryness.

A: Compared to 'regular' Duvel, this is softer, milder and, most obviously, less strong. I need to try a head-to-head, but from memory I may actually prefer this little brother to the big devil due to adverse(to me) effects of the higher ABV.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 15:12:52 | More by chinchill

Tilley4

Tennessee

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Single fermented Duvel? Had to try this one...

Very similar in appearance to the standard... Golden, large white head... Beautiful...

Lots of Belgian yeasts present with hints of spiciness on the nose... Not unlike the regular version... Nice but not special...

Differs from the original here in that there isn't as much pop to the mouth... Much smoother and cleaner without the overcarbonation sometimes present in its predecessor... Still delicious with the yeast and earthiness but kinder to the palate...

A good beer for sure but there's not enough difference between the 2 beers to really stand out...

Serving type: on-tap

01-21-2012 21:58:04 | More by Tilley4

barleywinefiend

Washington

4.3/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured a golden color with good carbonation and a nice white cap, bubbles

S: Spice, banana and a hint at light clove

T: Tastes of Belgian yeast, spices, bananas, cloves, light fruits and sweet taste, dry, clean and crisp finish

M: Light to medium body and moderate carbonation.

O: I coulld drink alot of this! Great rep for the style

Serving type: on-tap

12-28-2011 13:37:52 | More by barleywinefiend

kojevergas

California

3.18/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served on-draught into improper glassware at a bar in St. Paul, Minnesota. Reviewed from notes. Expectations were high as I enjoy the regular Duvel.

A: Pours a two finger head of bad thickness, no cream, and bad retention. Colour is a semitransparent yellow.

Sm: Light cream, full barley, a handful of hops, and a light grainy wheat touch.

T: Slightly creamy, with a fairly full barley foundation. No alcohol comes through. Fairly complex. The crisp barley is pleasant. Balanced and well built. On draught, it has depth. I imagine this is best bottle-conditioned.

Mf: Slightly coarse but wet. Moderately suitable for the flavour and style.

Dr: It's a touch straw-laden for my tastes. Very drinkable for the ABV, but it's just nothing special.

Serving type: on-tap

12-18-2011 23:40:36 | More by kojevergas

jtierney89

New Jersey

2.65/5  rDev -32.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On tap

Pours a hazy golden hue with a frothy white head. Earthy hops with some banana bread and clove on the nose._

Taste is slightly similar with a spicy phenolic presence up front. Subtle Belgian yeast flavors delivered in a clean,  crisp and smooth fashion. Some bubble gum after taste. Hop presence provides a nice and smooth balance.

A bit hoppy for a Belgian which is nice

A good introduction to Belgian styles for someone not so familiar

Serving type: on-tap

12-09-2011 17:02:54 | More by jtierney89

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

4.22/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pint night at Tylers in Durham. Pours very slightly hazy yellow, almost like a half flitered hefeweizen. Ring head with great lacing.

Smells like a hefeweizen. Maybe Abbey single is Belgian for hefeweizen. Full of banana and clove. Smells like it has a full body. Esters everywhere.

Taste is full of Belgian yeast. Banana is the featured flavor here, with accents of clove. The yeast full-flavored, yet not chewy and over-done. Well dont, Duvel. I feel it at the back of my mouth. Sits very light and feels clean. It feels like a euro lager. All the flavors are there, but when you finish you drink, all the flavors fade insanely quickly. It makes you want all those good flavors to come back—making you drink more. Drinkability at its finest.

Serving type: on-tap

11-09-2011 23:01:31 | More by VncentLIFE

osusullins

Illinois

3.43/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The ultimate BPA I guess. Very popular around the bar I work, but it is not my favorite.

Pours a nice golden color with a thick white head.

Nose is of belgian malts and subtle banana. Some clove.

Taste is of tropical fruit and subtle belgian malts. Light bodied and easy to drink. Nothing that blows me away, but an ok beer. I would never order this for myself, but I know alot of people who like it.

Serving type: on-tap

10-31-2011 00:27:19 | More by osusullins

stephens101

Oklahoma

3.43/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On tap at The Old Monk in Dallas. Has a huge, resilient white head that slowly breaks into large chunks. Clear gold in color. Smells, malty, yeasty, spicy and phenolic. Bubblegum notes come through upon a second take. Tastes of apricot and apples, with an afterthought of malt. Dry and light to medium bodied. Feels empty, comparatively speaking, like it needs something else involved, but I can't quite put a finger on it. Needs some balls.

Serving type: on-tap

10-02-2011 01:39:54 | More by stephens101

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

clear, golden, huge, majestic head, much puffery, lovely to look at, delightful to know.

Angelic aromatics, utterly gorgeous. Lightly spicy, lightly fruity…just beautiful.

Taste: the same hops, the same fruit, the same effervescence, the same spark on the tongue is here, without some of the alcohol, and without certain of the complexities. Would be great to try side by side with a bottle of regular Duvel. Well, why don't I?

Great idea, here goes…

Duvel bottle…mmm, ahhh…, Wow! A blast of citrus fruit, mild spice, and intense carbonation and effervescence. Champagne-like spritziness. A joy in the mouth, dazzling, and delicious, and begging the mouth for more. This reminds me of why I love Duvel and why everyone else should. Damn, this is great stuff!

The draft version? Softer, milder, easier down the ol' gullet…lacking in several flavor areas, as well. But, if that's the best they can do to replicate it in a keg, well, they're doing okay. Not great, just okay.

What can I say? wish them the best of luck with this, but it in no way replicates the true joys of Duvel in the bottle. It is no substitute at all, and if they fear that this will hurt sales of Duvel in bottles at on-premise accounts, they need not worry.
There's simply no comparison.
But, perhaps there's a niche market for those looking for lighter, simpler experience. I'm not going to be in that camp.

Serving type: on-tap

09-11-2011 09:36:29 | More by feloniousmonk

beauweaver

Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Went to the Boston Belgian Beer Fest this afternoon. I rushed to the Duvel stand. I wanted to taste the Duvel Green I had heard so much about. Well, there it was under another name: Duvel Single. They changed the name as Green implied being green (saving the planet kind of thing), or being of a green colour and there was a lot of resistance from people. So they told me. Anyhow, I tasted the Duvel Single and it is all that I expected. It's a Duvel in a smaller package. Less alcoholic, more refreshing, like a everynight after work kind of beer. I truly enjoyed it. A nice alternative to a Leffe or a Stella which I tend to get a bit bored with at times.

Serving type: on-tap

09-10-2011 19:48:43 | More by beauweaver