Duvel - Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat NV

dar482

New York

4.23/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It comes in a hazy yellow and a bit of green. Almost like a champagne with its carbonation. It comes in a huge huge head that does not go away from the bottle conditioning.

Fresh citrus smelling of orange, but big Belgian yeast, bready, and malt. It’s so fresh smelling.

Quite complex beer. It jumps out at you with a bit of hop. There a vibrant yeasty bready malt. However, it isn’t heavy. It’s weird to have something very carbonated and refreshing, but remind me of bread. What keeps it vibrant however is the fruitiness in there. The lemon and banana reminds me a bit of hefeweizens, but it has some more punch, spice, and breadiness to it.

The finish has a bit of stank and booze. It’s quite a lovely beer.

I taste tested this with La Chouffe and I would say I prefer that one.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 02:55:40 | More by dar482

falloutsnow

Illinois

4.19/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

From: Binny's, Champaign, IL
Date: Best by 01/2015
Glass: New Belgium globe glass

Duvel's flagship beer is an excellent BSPA. In summary, if you the idea of a pilsner on steroids that's been fermented with Belgian yeast sounds appealing to you, this beer, and the style in general, are something you must try. The beer is simultaneously filling and refreshing as it masks its alcohol content with ease. Flavors include pilsner malt, Belgian yeast and its byproducts, dried hay, and satisfying hop bitterness.

Pours a 2.5cm head of small, white bubbles, which gradually coalesce into larger bubbles, giving the appearance of a white sponge, as the head very slowly breaks down to a thick lacing atop the body of the beer. Lacing is very good, thick washes in a variety of patterns adorn the insides of the glass. The body itself is a transparent golden color, with light bringing out bright yellow hues. Carbonation is quite active and plentiful, rising from the bottom of the glass.

Aroma is crisp, fairly clean, and primarily light and sweet. The pieces are of pilsner malt, light lemon, pineapple, lightly flowery European hops, and Belgian yeast byproducts. Good, though I perhaps enjoyed De Proef's take on the style more, which included a bit of one or more Brettanomyces strains to increase fruit-like esters and add further complexity.

Note: I don't recommend adding the yeast, despite the desire to see what it's like. It simply seems to dilute the aromas/flavors.

Front of palate is of bright, somewhat sweet pilsner malts with a pleasant spiciness from hop usage. Mid-palate is where the full flavors appear, like a strong Belgian pilsner. I find sweet pilsner malt that's been bittered substantially by European hops, with additional characters of dried hay, slightly medicinal phenols, and granny smith apple. Back of palate finds sharp bitterness, slight ethanol, and sweetish malts. Aftertaste is of lingering pilsner malt with slight graininess, sharp bitterness, and Belgian yeast notes.

Beer is medium bodied with medium-high levels of carbonation. The resulting mouthfeel is slightly fizzy, but quickly becoming smooth and foamy. Closes quite dry, somewhat astringent, with little residual stickiness lingering across the palate.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 03:53:08 | More by falloutsnow

DenverLogan

Colorado

3.91/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

From a corked bottle into a mid-size Duvel tulip glass.
Modest cork pop.
Pours a clear light yellow with big initial head.
Aroma of hay, powder sugar, candy sugar, light spice.
Medium carbonation and mouthfeel.
Flavors of rich malts, white and black pepper, funky fruit rind, light honey, spicy esters from the yeast., field straw hops. A big and bold beer that makes me think of a Stella Artois gone wild with mild steroids and minerals, a touch of spice and challenging yeast.
I can't say how many decades I've been tasting this brew, but it's many. The brew has changed over the years, and a corked bottle can be quite different from draft or small bottles (or the huge bottles). Generally respectable and gotta love the new marketing effort with designer glasses.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 04:47:23 | More by DenverLogan

Slyguy

Alberta (Canada)

4.98/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I honestly could not describe this ale in a way that is sufficient to acknoledge the exceptional taste of this beer.

This beer have a very rich and sharp taste that cannot be compared to anything else, it is the standard of the belgium ales and maintains the top place of most beer advocates.

The substantial head and odour immediately draw you in and the first taste, you will realize how much you have missed. I could not recommend a better brew than this impressive ale from this Belgium brewery.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 05:33:10 | More by Slyguy

Groomsy

Kentucky

4.43/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bomber poured into a tulip glass.

This renowned ale pours a dark, clear golden color and is topped by a head of two fingers, consisting of bright white foam that leaves walls of lacing all over the glass. Carbonation jets from the bottom of the glass, and the beer stays lively through all the drinking. Excellent looking stuff.

Duvel's nose is somewhat faint, but what's there is excellent. Compared to the only other Belgian strong pale I've had (Delirium Tremens), I would say this lies more on the spicy/alcoholic end. There's some grainy/biscuity maltiness in there too, but predominantly, I get spices and some alcohol with some fruity esters (apple and clove?) in the background. Subtle, but incredibly enticing.

Oh sweet Moses, the taste on this bad boy. With a somewhat aggressive spicy/herbal note from the hops, this beer asserts itself on the palate at first, only to smooth out with bready malt and some slightly fruity yeast on the finish. Some characteristics of green apple and clove come to mind, specifically. Some alcohol bite comes in the finish, but it's well-disguised by the other taste characteristics. This is a very refreshing drink, surprisingly so for the ABV, but it is robust enough to be qualified as a sipper.

Duvel's mouthfeel is what makes is somewhat... dangerous. This does NOT drink like a beer at 8.5% ABV. Its crisp body and aggressive carbonation remind one more of a pilsner rather than a strong ale. The dry finish also has a tendency to make you want another drink, but be wary - drink this one slowly to savor it.

There's not much for me to say that hasn't been said. Duvel is a great beer and is worth checking out, even moreso since it's widely available. Best enjoyed with contemplating the deeper things of life, such as R.W. Emerson's essay, "The American Scholar" (my personal choice). Absolutely a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 02:25:41 | More by Groomsy

Wrigfen

South Carolina

4.93/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured great in a chilled glass, served cold. Hazy golden color with a rich thick foamy head.
Dynamite tasting beer. I am not good with words, so I would just recommend you buy some and try it yourself. Small bottle gives it a neat look but cuts by of 12 ounces by .8 but gets away with it in my book by it's great taste and nice alchol content. If more affordable I would drink it more frequently. Hope you enjoy some.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 01:49:41 | More by Wrigfen

TheMultiYeast

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Cork pops off with ease, beer pours clear pale golden yellow with a glacier of white head and clumpy lacing.

Fruity yeast and apples dominate aroma. Juicy fruit, gummy candy, skunk, esters, banana, tinge of alcohol, leafy hops, cereal grain.

Lightly sweet grains again in check with dominant yeast. Overly ripened fruits, mealy pear, welcomed alcohol, quick hit of bitterness as yeast flavors fade. Smooth ester aftertaste.

Body could be the best part of this beer. Feel is nearly burning with carbonation. Substantial, just big enough, satisfying.

Any beer lover should try Duvel. Go on...

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 03:05:25 | More by TheMultiYeast

WaringYouOut

South Carolina

4.04/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A - The pour is a hazy medium yellow, big head, small lacing
S - Strong yeast with sweet overtones
T - First taste is incredibly full and sweet, reminiscent of bananas. Herbs include mostly clove with a bit of nutmeg and vanilla
M - medium-light, a bit creamy towards the end, lots of lively carbonation
O - On tap, the beer lives up to the hype. I find that in the bottle, the first impact is a bit too heavy; give the beer a bit of time to breathe before partaking. When possible, find on tap, the effect is much better. By far one of my top choices among the Belgian beers. I prefer on tap a bit on the chilled side. Once warmed, the sweet flavored really stand out to the point where it's almost overpowering - a bit strong for my taste.

Serving type: on-tap

03-14-2013 01:47:20 | More by WaringYouOut

DWatson

West Virginia

2.75/5  rDev -35.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Appearance and aroma similar to what a lot of guys on here have already said, but I wasn't crazy about the taste. Had a more experienced beer drinking buddy over and he said it might have been exposed to too much light. I will definitely try this again in the future, but as of now, I'm not crazy about it.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 04:00:11 | More by DWatson

TheSixthRing

California

4.18/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance - Pours a hazy straw yellow color with a massive, pillowy 3 finger head. Good retention. A nice layer of bubbles remain on the surface, thickening around the edges. Lacing is spotty with good stick.

Smell - Sweet, sugary and fruity esters dominate the aroma. Green apple, subtle touches of unripened banana, slight spice.

Taste - Follows the aroma. Green apple sourness upfront, smooths out with estery sweetness by mid-taste, allowing a touch of clove spice to shine through. Mild grass bitterness hits near the finish, before a clean, crisp aftertaste.

Mouthfeel - Medium in body, with lively carbonation. Entirely smooth and inviting; almost creamy on the tongue. Crisp, clean, semi-dry finish.

Overall - Really beautifully crafted beer. Wonderful flavor, combined with a fantastically drinkable smoothness makes this a joy to drink. My only drawback? The price. At $3.50 for an 11.2 oz bottle, it's nothing I'll be buying with much frequency.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 02:43:34 | More by TheSixthRing

FlatRabbitRed

Arizona

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

If you like Belgian beers this one holds up pretty good, had three different ones tonight, and this one fits the bill.

Belgian beers have this fruity Honey twang to them followed by a slight bittering after taste. They are definitely in a class by themselves! I drank this one "Golden Ale"right after a Atomium "Grand Cru" ...and you know what, they were pretty much the same thing ...to me anyway. I noticed a difference in the triple and that was that it had three times the flavor!

The review before this one said it tasted like a Heineken ... No!

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 14:30:54 | More by FlatRabbitRed

SometimesIfart

Michigan

3.1/5  rDev -27.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Welp, Time to be " that guy " once again.

A - Poured a limestone color with a monster white frothy head that left a small amount of lacing.

S - Smells like an adjunct. A lot of creamed corn and rice adjunct along with a bit of pepper and yeast.

T - Some hay and westmalle yeast followed by a bit of creamed corn and pepper. That's about it.

M - Medium bodied with medium carbonation.

O - I'm sorry, but this beer is so unbelievably overrated that it is ridiculous. IN MY OPINION, It tastes like a glorified Euro Pale Lager. I love how I'm seeing people review this beer noting it's flavors which compare quite well to adjuncts, Yet they are rating it so highly simply because they feel obligated and they are completely biased. i deliberated this beer with two friends, Both craft drinkers. One of them has been drinking craft only for over twenty years and they both completely agree that this beer does not live up to any of the hype. One of them actually called it " Rancid Bud Light ".

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 04:58:34 | More by SometimesIfart

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.09/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

This may be the most famous beer I've not gotten around to reviewing. I do remember probably trying it for the first time at a Belgian Beer tasting many years ago, when the concept of a beer over 5% ABV was unknown to me. Needless to say it was a messy night. This is a 330ml stubby Belgian bottle purchased from Dan Murphy's in Alexandria.

Pours a clear, effervescent golden colour, with a frothy, crackling head of white fed by that effusive and exuberant carbonation. Lace forms as patches of bubbles left behind. body is very light, certainly not 8.5%'s worth of residual sugar sitting around in this baby. Overall, it's refined and sophisticated.

Nose is spicy but crisp. Some phenolic characters come through, along with some apple skin, wine barrels, a little vanilla and some white pepper. Dusty, earthy tones are also noticeable. The vanilla becomes more prominent as it's warmed, and the phenols and detection of booze subsides. Nice stuff.

Taste is clean and bright, with a long palate that stays fluid and light throughout. Alcohol is well hidden, just a slight upturn of those phenolic characters on the finish. As it warms, sweeter notes come through as well. More of that vanilla aroma, along with some banana esters and a hint of marzipan. Very tasty, but always subdued and pulled along into that all-encompassing cleanness.

Feel is very light and smooth. It really shouldn't be any other way.

Yes, dangerously light and drinkable, and exceptionally refined. This is a very well made strong Belgian ale, and a worthy canonical example.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 04:26:09 | More by lacqueredmouse

RoninTK3

Rhode Island

4.51/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 750ml into Corsendonk tulip.

A - Bright, translucent gold with a ton of head that settles to about 1 finger but sticks around.

S - Yeast, grapes, sweet fruit and a bit of spiciness. Definitely very fruity and sweet.

T - Yeast with some bready malts and fruit. A bit spicy with just a touch of tartness in the finish. A lot going on with this beer.

M - Light with TONS of carbonation. Very champagney and crisp.

This is about as perfect a Belgian golden ale as you're going to (easily) get. Tons of flavor with a lot of complex notes. Crisp and refreshing. Love it.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 01:02:08 | More by RoninTK3

Maakun

Afghanistan

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

Served in Duve glass. Pours a pale straw/gold, with a big bright white head. Lots of carbonation in the glass.

Smell: yeasty, some bananas, bread, slight hint of fresh mowed grass, some herbs, and even some mint. Later on some hint of lemon. It's all quite fresh, but very complex.

Taste: starts with yeast, very light malts, toast. Then some citrus (lemon) with a nice bitter touch of hops, alsmost like lemonpeel. Aftertaste is slightly sour and fades into more bitterness. Slighty less complex than the nose, but wow I really like this a lot.

Mouth: quite dry and medium bodied. Perfect carbonation. This feels light for the ABV, but it really works very well. Love it.

Overall: a true classic. Complex but very drinkable. Hard to beat in the style.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 19:31:05 | More by Maakun

kawilliams81

Illinois

4.24/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 11.2 oz bottle into a AleSmith Horny Devil snifter.

A- pours a hazy, dark lemon color with a 2" white head. Big clumps and bubbles of lacing remain on the glass.

S- sweet and sour lemons with lots do spices from the Belgian yeast.

T- pale malts, some caramel, lots of lemon and lemon rind, nice amount of spices and light pine bite.

M- medium body and high carbonation. Crisp, nice and creamy with slight dryness.

O- nice Belgian pale. Has huge lemon and spice characteristics.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 02:55:33 | More by kawilliams81

Melikeydahop

New Jersey

4.54/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Duvel pours a beautiful hazy yellow with almost 3 fingers of fluffy white head. Smells of apples, bananas, and whole wheat bread. The taste is smooth and dry, with hints of fruit, spice and cracker. Very little hop bitterness..if any. Just a fantastic mouthfeel, it's like what a good champagne wished it could be. Light bodied, highly carbonated, very light sweetness, dry.

I had never tried this beer before and although it's not my usual hop-bomb type of brew, I decided to delve in with a 4 pack anyway. The first bottle I thought was just OK...By the last of the 4 pack I begrudgingly came to this realization...this is one of th finest easy drinking, alcohol hiding, delicious beers I have ever had. It will now be a staple in my fridge, and would most likely choose this beer over the many IPA's I drink on a regular basis. Advice...drink this bad boy nice and cold.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 21:29:51 | More by Melikeydahop

Kacer24

California

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

Note to self- first pilsner to not hurt my head.
Also, heed advice on label, "Pour unhurriedly".

Good stuff... I'm just trying to make this enough characters to submit. Wow, it's a lot harder to get to 250 characters than I remember in school. If only there was a way to make notes without a review. Or if there is, hopefully I'll figure it out soon.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 19:16:45 | More by Kacer24

emyers

Illinois

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

11.2 oz. bottle poured into a tulip glass. Best before 05/2014.

Appearance: Crystal clear pale gold with a huge fluffy white head. The head drops to about a quarter inch within a minute and then holds. Leaves a nice lacing down the glass.

Smell: Bursting with fruity, estery aromas. Really accentuates the Belgian yeast well. There's a bit of tartness to the smell, almost a sour green-apple, along with some clove. The smell is very clean despite all of the esters.

Taste: Similar yeast-dominated flavor profile. Very fruity, with the same subtle tartness that I picked up in the aroma. A little bit of bready maly balances out the yeast, but it's barely apparent beneath all of the yeast character. Once again, I'm extremely impressed by how clean the flavor profile is - I often find Belgians come off a bit messy due to too much going on with the yeast, but this is perfectly crisp and clean.

Moughtfeel: Light, very dry, extraordinarily crisp. Very thirst-quenching and near-impossible to put down.

Overall: I'll admit the Belgian pale ales are not near the top of my list of favorite styles, but this is a damn-near perfect example of the style. Extremely flavorful, quite complex, yet very clean. Similar to champagne in many ways (although I'd take Duvel over most any champagne in a heartbeat).

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 22:34:34 | More by emyers

GandalfTheGrey

Michigan

4.49/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Drank from a tulip glass poured from a 750mL bottle.

A - pours a nice foggy golden. About a 2 finger head.
S - crisp with lemony tones
T - similar to the smell, crisp with citrus tones, slight sour finish.
M - crisp, bubbly, and smooth
O - If you're a fan of belgian style beer, Duvel is the definitive golden ale.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 16:55:15 | More by GandalfTheGrey

brodericksloth

Oregon

4.65/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

mild earthiness, well integrated yeasts, don't throw out the dregs

moderate carbonation; one finger head; excellent lacing

spicy, fruity, really different at first sip but really grows on you

nice medium bodied beer that hides the alcohol; not filling

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 18:38:05 | More by brodericksloth

scot_chale

Minnesota

3.78/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- whitish, yellow body with champagne like carbonation. a solid two fingers of head that doesn't seem to be fading.

S- I want to say european fuggle hops? Not a whole lot giving me an indication what I'm in for.

T- It's nice. It sure doesn't taste like 8.5%. It's kind of sour, but in an interesting way. Very balanced though.

M- It's champagne. There's very little left to the imagination.

O- It's good. It's historical. It's my first one of it's kind. It will be one of those beers I have to go back to after trying more examples of the style. I wonder if the temperature was held correctly during conditioning or if the priming sugar was off because I did not expect it to be this spritzy. I have a hard time imagining I got a bad bottle of Duvel though.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 07:22:48 | More by scot_chale

Chrysostom

Ohio

4.31/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: Pale golden colour, with a slight bit of cloudiness. Poured from an 11.2 fl oz stubby bottle in to a Chimay chalice, because that's what I was using for my St Bernardus, and I forgot to switch to my Duvel tulip. It looks the same in both glasses. Large, two-finger head even in chalice (leaves 3-4 finger head in tulip), which recedes slowly, leaving heavy lacing and a mountain of thick-yet-light foam in the shape of a cone in the middle of the beer. In two words, the head is MASSIVE and ROCKY.

S: The chalice has adversely affected the smell on this, in the sense that it is lighter and not as pungent as it is when it is served in a Duvel tulip. It has an alcoholic Pilsener smell, with reminiscences of what you wish malt liquor tasted like, and a pronounced smell of both pepper(?) and Yoder's or Helluva Good ground horseradish with vinegar (i.e. the kind of condiment you buy prepared to slather on Kielbasa or other Polish sausage). Spicy hops (dry-hopping?) jump out of the glass. There are subdued undertones of Belgian yeast and biscuity bread

The carbonation veritably jumps out of the glass, so it also has a "tingly" smell. The 8.5% ABV is noticeable in the aroma, although it's mostly covered by the pepper and horseradish.

T: Spicy, alcoholic Pilsener with horseradish and white pepper with undertones of citrus. Right off the bat, you can taste (and feel) the hop bite - quite a change from my normal Dark Belgians and Trappists. It's a bit bitter and astringent, although not very hoppy: I think the bitterness comes from the alcohol. There is also a smell of funky Belgian yeast in there, although not as funky, nor within 100 miles as being as strong as that in a Belgian Strong Dark/Quadrupel Ale. The malt is subdued, the hops are present and accounted for, There's a bitter, puckering, incredibly clean (cleaning?) sensation as the beer exits the mouth. There's a sweet-and-sour aftertaste, much more pleasant than, but akin to, an American macro lager or Stella Artois after Emeril Lagasse "kicked it up a notch".

M: Carbonation, and carbonation. It adds to the bitterness and astringency. A dryness and carbonation which, combined, finish more like Champagne (especially Moet et Chandon White Star) than most beers, something I've found is common with quite a few Belgians.

D: Very high, considering the very light and airy taste for 8.1% ABV.

O: This beer is expansive in the mouth, and contracts on the finish. I don't know of a better way to put it, except for using spacial terms. If you've not had it, try it. A solid 4, maybe a bit higher. For the style, it's a 5.0, but I've never had any other Belgian Strong Pale Ales to compare it to, so I'm going off of my personal taste, which tends towards maltier and heavier beers, such as Trappists, Porters, and Stouts ("a meal in a glass"). For those who like lighter, hoppier, spicier, airier beers (as compared to the malty denseness of my favourites) this will be ranked more highly - but it's a delicious beer even for my unaccustomed taste buds. I generally buy a 4-pack of this whenever I head to the package store to replenish my supply of good beer every week or so. (Damn, I spend $150 on beer a week. Damn. I'll have to do something about that. Maybe Miller High Life? or cheap liquor?)

I'm judging much on personal taste, and not-so-much judging based on the style alone. There goes my BJCP certification.

Food pairings: Kielbasa jumps to mind as ideal - and food pairings rarely occur to me. I often have to use the internet to pair beers and meals. Secondarily, fare such as sauerkraut and bratwurst come to mind: German pub fare or Oktoberfest staples.

Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 14:30:28 | More by Chrysostom

ironchefmiyagi13

New York

4.56/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served chilled in a large goblet wine glass

Pours a beautiful golden liquor with a big fluffy head that settles into a thin layer of foam.

As soon as I poured this beer, I could smell it while it was a foot away from my face. Its aroma is reminiscent of a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc in terms of crispness and citrus notes. Hints of banana and cloves with just the faintest notes of earth and stone fruit rounding it out. Alcohol is hidden masterfully.

Flavor profile is quite carbonated, which is pleasant because it isn't a 'sharp' or off-putting carbonation. Buttery and oily mouthfeel that coats the palate and leads to a long, dry finish. Nice chalky/dry pull and a pleasant bitterness round out a wonderful drinking experience.

I bought a 4-pack and most definitely will purchase a corked bottle to age. A true triumph!

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 01:00:50 | More by ironchefmiyagi13

Andrew61923

Connecticut

4.36/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from bottle at roughly 40 degrees into, what else, my Duvel tulip.

A: Extremely clean light gold with a huge white three finger head. Looks perfect in this glass.

S: Again, very clean. Some lemon and citrus mixed in with a note of white grapes.

T: Damn that's crisp. A good amount of spice at the front, but mellows out. Just a very well-balanced beer.

M: I keep coming back to this word, but the best way to describe this beer is clean. A good amount of carbonation (which adds to the pleasant appearance). Would be very easy to have too many of these without picking up on the ABV until you stand up.

O: I will never call myself a huge fan of Belgian-style beers, but this is one of the best I've ever had. Add in the fact that this beer looks simply perfect in its own glass, and this was an enjoyable experience.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 18:46:11 | More by Andrew61923