Duvel - Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat NV

mjgooner13

New York

4.53/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A- Golden, straw color, very nice looking beer with a fluffy white head that stuck around for a while.

S- A lot going on in the nose, sweet honey and citrus hit me first followed by a clove spice scente and some belgium yeastiness.

T- Very similar to the smell and i'm really enjoying this. Great balance of sweetness, orange-grapefruit lemon and some spice...

M- One of the best mouthfeels a beer can have, the flavor coats all areas of the mouth, it is crisp, medium body and has fantastic carbonation...some welcomed dryness at the end which makes me want more

O- An exceptional beer, has a few quality flavors that work very well together. Great smell and fantastic mouth feel. I will certainly be seeking this out again in the near future

Serving type: on-tap

06-15-2011 18:35:36 | More by mjgooner13

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on 2010-05-15 at the Ommegang tent at the Brewfest at Mount Hope Winery in Lancaster County, PA (from tasting notes)

A - Pale golden yellow with pillowy white head and some lacing.

S - Lemon, green apple, yeast and hop floral.

T - Yeasty biscut, lemon and apples, with spice and some alcohol. Finishes sour and mildly bitter. I liked the Ommegang Abbey a little better than this.

M - Light body, heavy carbonation. Very effervescent.

D - Definitely worth coming back for a second glass.

Serving type: on-tap

12-12-2010 18:29:32 | More by Tucquan

ThaCreep

Belgium

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The head is very abundant and thick. The nose is powerful fresh hops but some also reveal the apple and pear. Beer is cool but it still remains very powerful and sparkling, we also feel a slight tingling pleasant and characteristic of language. And despite the undeniable taste of alcohol mild and dry, it remains mild in flavor and thus easier to digest. Archetype International and mother of all Devil beers, this beer is always pleasant at a terrace.

Serving type: on-tap

01-02-2010 13:35:10 | More by ThaCreep

rvdoorn

Netherlands

3.93/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this beer on tap in a pub in Utrecht. The beer had a nice golden yellow color, with a three finger thick fluffy bright-white head, that stayed there during the drinking.

Smell: fruity, spicy, alcoholic, and some smell I couldn't define, a bit like sour sewer water.

Taste: a mixture of apple cider and champagne, fresh taste! A bit sour-bitter hoppy after taste. Spicy and some hints of alcohol

Mouthfeel: thin and smooth. Medium high carbonation
.
Overall a nice refreshing beer. Not my favourite because of the smell, but will never refuse one.

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2009 21:52:48 | More by rvdoorn

leighton

New York

4.75/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

As far as the 'standard' Belgian beers go, I like Duvel over Chimay or Hoegaarden. You can get it anywhere in Belgium and many places throughout Europe - as well as in the USA. Duvel has an attractive, thick and creamy head. The flavor is rich yet the beer itself, by my estimation, is relatively light. (The alcohol is hidden but it hits you. Hard.) This is a beer to be sipped slowly and appreciated.

Serving type: on-tap

06-25-2009 01:53:04 | More by leighton

smanders

Virginia

5/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Enjoyed from the tap at Pub Concorde in Caen, France.

Appearance - Sediment-filled glass with cotton candy-like head.

Smell - Unbelievable. Fruit, spice, a little sugar.

Taste - Bubbles of sugar and spiciness all at the same time. Notes of fruit and grain. Fantastic!

Mouthfeel - almost creamy.

Drinkability - It's not one of the best beers on the planet for nothing. If you think you know a lot about beer but haven't had Duvel, stop and enjoy a pint right now. Your education (and enjoyment) level will increase to the nth degree.

In case you're wondering, it's still phenomenal from a bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

05-18-2009 20:30:47 | More by smanders

deanhead

Vermont

4.05/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Brilliant straw colored with an enormous dense frothy rocky
Aroma is yeasty and earthy, with hint of spice
Taste is warming and solventlike.
Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied.
Lingering astringency with this beer. Slight medicinal notes that overshadow the finish of the beer.

Serving type: on-tap

04-02-2009 01:35:41 | More by deanhead

BillyB

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is an amazing beer!

Appearance alone is something to behold. Shaving cream thick white head that lasts and lasts. . .
When served in a Duvel glass the bubbles do a dance that I could stare at like a lava lamp.

Smell is sweet candi sugar, slight hops, lemony zest and sweet, sweet malt.

Mouthfeel is excellent and refreshingly light, tingly.

I could drink them all day and all night long. Just excellent.

Serving type: on-tap

06-03-2006 02:27:39 | More by BillyB

DogFood11

California

4.45/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

One of those beers I've enjoyed for years that I've never bothered to jot one single note down until now.

Pour this baby carefully or it could get away from ya, It's manageable especially when chilled down a bit below serving temp. Huge white head developes perfectly in a tulip, as it settles it leaves chunky lacing and forms mountain peaks in the frothy goodness. Tons of fine carbonation billow to the surface. A touch on the unfiltered side but I've read this is from the yeast.

Yeast is evident along with some candied sweetness, some spiceyness.

Taste: Whoa this is one carbonated pup. Extremely crisp and sweet. Fruity and malty are the main focus but it somehow finish clean and bitter with a nice alcohol finisher.

Notes: This is a monster of a beer. The best appearance I've seen in a pale and great taste to boot. This is hella easy to drink at 8.5%.

Serving type: on-tap

12-23-2005 22:06:29 | More by DogFood11

baugherlager

Indiana

4.47/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Sweet malty goodness. I first had this beer in Maarssen the Netherlands at a bar. Poured golden with a white large pure white head that lasted forever.

The taste is of sweet malt, pears, and fruity sweetness. just a hint of hops.

The mouthfeel has alot of body but the beer is well balanced. I get excited everytime this beer is spoke of. This beer will always have a place in my heart.

Definately a must for someone experiencing belgians for the first time.

A truely remarkable beer!

Serving type: on-tap

08-11-2005 05:57:06 | More by baugherlager

JerzDevl2000

New Jersey

4.16/5  rDev -3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Picked up this beer at Top Hops, having never tried this before. Although it packed quite a punch, this was a great Belgian Strong Pale Ale once I was able to get past the sweetness in the taste and the booze that was the undercurrent beneath everything else. It was never overtly present and the beautiful appearance and complex light fruit flavors hid it well, leading to the "Devil" in this beer that eventually made its presence felt!

The pour to this was wonderful, as the golden hue, strong head, and sheets of lacing combined for a pleasing effect. I even swirled in the yeast on the bottom, as it slowly settled into the beer like the downdraft during a thunderstorm. The aroma could have been a bit stronger, as the alcohol and sugar combined for a acrid sharpness. They weren't as strong in the taste, as apple, pear, grass, straw, and clove could all be felt in sip after sip. Banana and bubblegum were in the back as this almost reminded me of a Witbier as the aftertaste set in. This was too strong and without the wheat but the appearance and notes of that style were enough to take this beyond a typical Belgian Strong Pale Ale.

That stylistic moniker was appropriate for this, as this was quite strong and took a while to fully enjoy and savor. Because the carbonation was so persistent and easily discerned, this felt like a champagne squared by the time I finished it off. Although this isn't a type of beer that I prefer, there's no doubt that this is the standard by with all other beers of this style are measured up against. Dancing with the Devil may not be for everyone but all beer lovers out to give this a try to see if they're up for handling it , since this is one brew that deserves a try by all.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 12:57:29 | More by JerzDevl2000

CaptCleveland

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

330ml bottle purchase for 1.79 Euro ($2.34) at G20 Supermarches in Paris (their "supermarket"). Best by date 4/15.

Golden, slightly hazy elixir poured into tulip. Huge two finger head of white foam, thick lacing.

Banana, cloves, vanilla, spice.

Tangy, tart citrus, spice, sweet fruit. Nice.

Medium to light body, highly carbonated, tart.

Nice Parisian "cheap" brew. Á votre santé!

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 18:18:41 | More by CaptCleveland

StoutHunter

Michigan

4.28/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

I picked up a bottle of Duvel a couple weeks ago for $4.29 at The Lager Mill. I have never had this beer before, I have always wanted to try it but the price put me off a little, but I decided it was time to try it, so lets see how it goes. Best before 02 2015. Poured from a stuby Belgian 11.2oz brown bottle into a Belgian tulip.

A- The label looks good, it's got a nice clean and classic look to it, I like it. It poured a slightly hazy pale straw yellow color that took on a bight golden yellow hue when held to the light with four fingers worth of rocky and fluffy white head that died down to a thin layer that stayed till the end and it left tons of lacing behind. This is a very good looking beer, it's pretty close to being perfect, I really like it.

S- The aroma starts off with a medium amount of sweetness followed by a nice citrus rind aroma with lemons seeming to stick out the most followed by lots of grassy, hay, earthy, and straw like aromas that are followed by a slight bit of biscuit malts. Up next I get some spicy yeast with cloves seeming to stick out the most followed by some lighter tart aromas towards the end. This beer had a pretty good aroma that I thought was very true to style, I enjoyed it.

T- The taste seems to be very similar to the aroma and it starts off with a medium amount of sweetness followed by a Some nice bready and slight biscuit like malts followed by some citrus rind with lemon still stickint out the most, it's similar to lemon grass and it's followed by some grassy, earthy, and straw like flavors with some banana flavors that are a little on the lighter side and are followed by some spicy yeast with cloves still sticking out the most. On the finish there's a lighter amount of bitterness with just a little bit of tartness to go with it, with an earthy, grassy, and citrus rind like aftertaste. This beer taste pretty good, it was very true to style and the flavors were very well balanced, I enjoyed it.

M- Smooth, crisp, refreshing, a little dry, medium bodied, with a higher amount of carbonation that was pretty prickly. The mouthfeel was pretty good, the higher prickly carbonation worked really nice with this beer.

Overall I thought this was a very nice beer and a very good example of the style, I've had more than of a few of this style and this beer seems to do the best job at showing what this style is really about and all the aspects of it seems to be balanced nicely. This beer had good drinkability, it was smooth, refreshing, not filling, and the flavors did a great job at holding my attention, it would be nice to drink a few of these during the summer, but the price prevents me from doing so. What I liked the most about this beer was how true to style and balanced it was and the appearance was also very good. What I liked the least about this beer was the price, it's a very high quality beer, but I still don't think it's worth the price, that's the only downfall with this beer. I would buy this beer again, but it wouldn't be often because of it's price, this would have to be a once in a while beer. I recommend this to anyone who likes Belgian Pale Ales, it's a very good and true example of the style. All in all I was pretty happy with this beer, I had some higher expectations for this beer since it's highly regarded and it met my expectations nicely and I think this beer gets all the respect it deserves. It made for a good fist impression and I will be on the look out for some different Duvel beers, great job guys. So far there is no doubt that is my favorite Belgian Strong Pale Ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 03:48:33 | More by StoutHunter

glenviewjeff

Illinois

2.3/5  rDev -46.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

I’m going to go out on a limb and say that this is the most overrated beer on beeradvocate.com. I’d never had Duvel before–I didn’t realize it was a Belgian. It has to be one of the worst Belgians I’ve ever tasted. It struck me immediately as skunkorama–a la Beck’s.

It did taste quite a bit better when drunk later while eating--with some spicy shrimp and grits. They tended to mask the skunk. Generally, I'd rather not have to worry about masking unpleasant flavors in my beer.

Generally I’m pretty much in agreement with beeradvocate.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 22:48:10 | More by glenviewjeff

arfenhouse

California

3.88/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A: Hazy golden straw with large white head. Retention is good and has decent lacing.

S: Mix of sweet malt, sour apple, orange, and lemon. Slightly herbal. Yeast funk is present but low.

T: Very slightly sour lemon mixed with a light apple taste. Some sweetness comes in. Ends with lemon, herbs, and some spicy hop.

M: Medium bodied with medium-full carbonation. Prickly and semi-dry.

O: I usually don't like beers with funky yeast but this beer kept it low. Decently tasty, coming from a person who usually doesn't like these kinds of beers.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 07:45:56 | More by arfenhouse

Thaddeus

Michigan

3.34/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Light goldenrod color. Beer has a large, white foamy head, very high in protein.

Aroma & Taste: Sharp smell and taste to it, acidic. Beer has an average length of finish and contains slight grapefruit and herbal notes. Also has a slight spice to it along with some bitter hops.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 16:44:15 | More by Thaddeus

MichaelNickerson

Michigan

4.44/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - probably the best looking beer I have ever had. It's a pale yellow with an unbelievably long lasting head that is a pure, pillow white

Smell - very light and not too noticeable. yeasty and some hops noticeable

Taste - great crisp, harsh on palate... excellent. Some yeast components with a finish of light hops

Mouthfeel - dry, crisp and leaves the palate wishing for more

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 15:30:56 | More by MichaelNickerson

finstadp

Michigan

3.65/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Duvel is a great Belgian Strong Pale Ale. The appearance is a yellow or goldenrod color. The smells contain both wheat and fruit notes. The body was very full bodied and bold. The taste is very refreshing and bold with strong wheat notes. This was my first Belgian Strong Pale Ale and I was very impressed with the style.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 20:01:38 | More by finstadp

AmitC

Indiana

4.01/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a small Duvel bottle of white color and red markings, into a snifter.

Color is straw pale. About one and one-half finger white colored head with decent retention. Good lacing on the sides. Some bubbles. Cloudy and hazy appearance. Suspensions.

Aroma is the weakest thing about this beer. I don't know if the bottle was too old or whatever. It is highly unlikely though. Slight Belgian yeast. Very little hop aroma, dry nuts, Crispiness, effervescence, malts. Some yeast. Strength is moderate at best. Very low profile. Complex - definitely.

Taste follows the nose. A lot of things going on simultaneously. But I think I have better and more intense BSPAs than this beer. A big disappointment or rather lack of aptitude to be a big beer - my personal opinion. Finish is dry.

Mouth feel is light to medium. High carbonation. Easy to drink. Hides the strength very well.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 04:35:57 | More by AmitC

J_Dub

Texas

3.94/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Golden yellow with lots of bubbles and a thick, white head.

S: Citrus fruit right away with some grassy notes. I also smelled some spicy cloves at the end and yeast throughout. Very clean and crisp.

T: Similar to the smell. Spicy hop flavors dominate but a mixture of banana, cloves and malt are also noticeable. Perfect balance of flavors and very drinkable.

M: Tons of carbonation that almost overwhelm your tongue. Crisp finish. Did I mention the assault of CO2 bubbles on your entire mouth?

Overall, this is a "dangerous" 8.5% beer as the alcohol is hidden underneath a wonderfully crisp flavor that leaves you wanting just one more sip. One of my (many) go-to beers for warm summer months.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 21:04:37 | More by J_Dub

estlinska

Arkansas

4.53/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle to a large tulip glass at The Pantry on 4/16/13. The beer pours a glossy yellow-gold like very fine jewelry with an eruption of rocky white head. The head retains for most of the life of the glass of beer and leaves streaks of fine lacing all over the glass. The light penetration is pretty good, though there is a little haze from the pour. The nose on this beer is phenomenal and by far the highlight of the beer. There is hoards of bright fruit notes and esters that seem to jump out of the glass. At first you are hit with lots of ripe banana peel and candied sugar drops. There is a good spicy hop aroma that lingers along as well. As the beer warms a little and you give it a nice swirm, bright and fresh lemons come out as well. The malt is present too with a little soft bready smell as well. The 8.5% alcohol is nowhere on the nose. The taste is also quite good with fresh fruit, especially golden raisins, dates, and a touch of maybe some cherries as well. I tend to think of the cherry flavor in sour beers, but this is more of the sweet side of the cherry flavor. The hops are present, earthy and spicy, very much like a noble hopped beer. The mouthfeel was a little overly-dry, almost like something produced from a champagne yeast (though I have no clue if it is used in this brew), but otherwise has great body to it. The alcohol, at 8.5% is impressively well hidden. I never even got any sort of burn from it. Overall, this beer is fantastically well done. The only detriment I found was the dryness which I thought was a little over the top. Nonetheless, it was overall an exceptional beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 20:29:11 | More by estlinska

beercansandwich

United Kingdom (England)

3.78/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Wasn't what I expected after seeing the alcohol content on the bottle. I was expecting something more along the lines of Leffe. Has a citrus smell and is a refreshing pale yellow to amber colour. Taste reminds me of an English ale as there's a slight hoppy bitterness as well as banana notes. There's also a smoky deeper notes reminiscent of whiskey. Effervescent refreshing mouth feel, that makes for a surprisingly easy drink, goes down like a regular beer so be warned!

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 17:49:37 | More by beercansandwich

Roguer

Connecticut

4.41/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

A - Golden, straw-colored, but cloudy with yeast. Thick, three-finger head. Not unlike a tripel with a thicker head. Bubbles difficult to see through the cloudiness. Leaves a beautiful lace along the glass.

S - Fruity, slightest tinge of alcohol. A little citrus.

T - This is very nice. A little sour (not at all in a bad way), but not overly sweet. Very well balanced and complex. Difficulty picking out individual flavors. Despite the high(ish) ABV, the alcohol flavor really fades into the background beautifully. Not at all unlike a tripel, but with the flavors more balanced, less pronounced. Bright and forward, but not particularly hoppy; certainly not bitter. Mildly spicy, and lovely malts.

M - Lovely. Swishes like a medium-bodied ale, but clings with a lovely finish in the mouth.

O - This is one of the better beers I have tried. More complex than my limited palate can truly appreciate. The overall aroma, taste, and mouthfeel complement each other perfectly. Every sip seems to reveal something new.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 20:42:56 | More by Roguer

trxxpaxxs

New York

4.31/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: Pours a completely translucent pale gold with three full fingers of pure white head. The foam takes a bit to settle, leaving a huge rocky layer all along the beer. Huge bubbles dominate as the smaller ones break. Lots of good lacing as it drinks.

S: The nose is light and sweet with notes of fresh cut grass, mild spice, and mild fruit. This beer smells light and refreshing.

T: This beer starts out with sweet and spicy. The spice is mild and dances on the palate. I get some ripe bananas, come clove, and some mild earthiness in the middle. As the beer transitions to the finish, the sweet malt dominate.

M: Light bodied beer. Sweet and spice play off each other in great balance up front. The beer coats the palate, but slides off smoothly. It's a bit sticky in the back end but dries up once the beer is gone.

O: Very nice beer. The flavors are really good, the mouthfeel is very good, and I don't get even the slightest bit of alcohol in this beer. It's unbelievably well done. Might be one of the best Belgian Pale Ales that I have ever had.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 17:01:06 | More by trxxpaxxs

kylehay2004

Florida

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Very large white foam head with long retention on a clear bright golden body. Aroma of Belgian yeast, coriander, herbal hops, lemon custard, musty malts. Flavors provide an excellent Belgian experience with nice yeast presence, very herbal hop flavors, tart citrus, some pine resin and a little more alcohol presence than I feel us typical of the style. Medium body and moderate to high carbonation with a dry finish. As stated above, the Belgian character is excellent with this one being very complex and yet still nicely drinkable. I am surprised I have gone this long without having tried this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 21:42:54 | More by kylehay2004