Ommegang Duvel Rustica - Brewery Ommegang

superspak

Michigan

4.23/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle into signature tulip glass, bottled on 8/30/2012. Pours hazy and cloudy golden straw color with a 2 finger dense and fluffy white head with good retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Spotty foamy lacing clings down the glass, with some moderate streaming carbonation retaining the head. Aromas of lemon, pear, apple, clove, pepper, bread, wheat, floral, herbal, grass, light banana, light bubblegum, and yeast earthiness. Damn nice aromas with good balance and complexity of fruity/spicy ester notes with light-moderate malt. Taste of big lemon, pear, apple, clove, pepper, floral, grass, bread, wheat, light banana, light bubblegum, and yeast earthiness. Lingering notes of lemon, light fruits, clove, pepper, wheat, and earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Fantastic balance and complexity of fruity/spicy esters with moderate malt; with a great fruity/spicy ester balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium bodied; with a slightly slick and moderately crisp mouthfeel that is very nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a highly excellent Belgian strong pale ale! Great balance and complexity of flavors; and very smooth and crisp to sip on. A highly enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 04:23:16 | More by superspak

RickS95

Indiana

4.15/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle

I thought I gave it a good pour, but there's only a tiny head. The color resembles Duvel, but isn't quite there. It looks more like grapefruit juice or a wit with its cloudy, milky golden color. While it's pale, it's still opaque. With a good swirl, you get a thin lace, but you shouldn't have to do that.

The smell reminds me a lot of Duvel. There's a Belgian sugar sweetness combined with a green grapey scent.

Pretty good for the style. The green grapeyness is there, as well as some white pepper. Belgian sugar is faint, as is the hop presence. Alcohol is mostly present, but dominating, along with some orange peel.

Complex, like the beer it's recreating. Sweetness, spice, citrus, acid, savory, and tart. It's light in color, but medium bodied. There's a lot happening to the palate, but every sip ends with the bite of carbonation and a clean tongue ready for the next drink.

Not quite as world class as Duvel, but a really good try. It's a good sipping beer and the alcohol is tame despite the large ABV, but I'd go with the real thing and pick up an actual Duvel for about half the price.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 02:40:18 | More by RickS95

Shumania

Virginia

3.91/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

22 ounce bomber poured into a snifter

a: hazy yellow/orange. lots of carbonation and appears to be a lot of yeast sediment.

s: sweet belgian yeast and phenol, bumble gum, pepper, slight citrus

t: very similar to the smell...yeast and phenol up front, pepper, clove, bumble gum

m: medium body, no hint of the alcohol

This is a very good attempt at a interpretation of Duvel. Very solid beer!

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 00:33:53 | More by Shumania

curasowa

New York

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

Appearance: Cloudy, golden yellow color with two fingers of head that fades slowly with a solid curtain of lace.

Aroma: Fairly light smelling, somewhat like a Hefewiezen. Light fruit notes, lemon and yeast

Taste: A quick flash of sweetness of the bat, then lots of chaulky malt, with layers of light, fruity hop bitterness. The finish goes out a touch metallic with some more chualkyness.

The Rest: Full bodied and yet refreshing, this beer has a nice depth, yet is somewhat fun and refreshing at the same time. Quite good.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 22:25:59 | More by curasowa

JoEBoBpr

Missouri

3.9/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured into a Chimay goblet from a 750ml bottle.

Pours a nice golden straw color with a slight haze to it. There is a nice thin white head that forms and dissipates quickly.

Aroma is delicious slight lemony notes with some nice vinous notes as well. A slight yeasty phenol is present in the aroma with some nice grainy bread notes. The yeast gives the brew a nice slight fruit (Apple) juice note.

Flavor is really nice. Starts off with some nice slight vinous and slightly fruity notes quickly followed by a nice earthy and bready grain note. Very delicious slight husky and funk notes are present with some slight grassy hops on the back end. The brew is really clean and each flavor is really well crafted. Pretty straight forward BPA. Nice grainy notes mixed in with some yeasty sweetness and a slight grassy note. Finishes dry and slightly sweet. Very nice. Mouthfeel is nice and fluffy.

Overall this is a solid BPA. I don't know why I pass up Ommegang brews so much sometimes their take on Belgian brews is awesome. There is a nice dryness to this brew with some good yeasty esters and nice bready notes.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 22:52:39 | More by JoEBoBpr

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.23/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

(Served in a tulip glass)
A- This beer has a touch of haze to the deep lemon yellow body and a rocky snow white head that last for the full beer. There are microstrands of microbubbles directed toward the surface.

S- The cider note turns into a bring hop aroma that blends into a fruity ester finish.

T- The club soda taste has a touch of sweetness that leads to some nice yeasty esters that grow into a juicy fruit flavor. There is the classic ommagang yeast character to follow with a clean fruity dry lemon hop finish. A bright cider and clove note linger for just a moment after each sip.

M- This beer has a light mouthfeel with a gentle fizz that compliments the spice phenol in the finish.

O- This is a very nice blend of yeast characters with bright hops in a very drinkable beer.

Serving type: on-tap

04-23-2013 16:59:33 | More by rhoadsrage

OBeerMeGreatOne

California

4.11/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured from a corked and caged 750ml into a Bruery tulip. The hue is a nice hazed gold. It's a bit more watery looking than Duvel. A nice 4/5 of an inch of head starts this out. It disapates but never disappears, no real lace to speak of.

Blood orange, white bread, grass and Belgian yeast dominate the smell. Strawberry candy finishes it. Very interesting. Not as much like Duvel as the text on the bottle would lead you to believe.

Pale malts and yeast start off the taste. Fresh mown lawn and citrus enter shortly after. The fruity candy smell doesn't manifest in the taste, though it is slightly sweet, more like a fresh baked country white bread. A yeasty, dry note with a hint of booze finishes this off.

This is more like the bastard sister of Duvel than it is an American recreation. I liked it more than I expected. I would encourage anyone who is a fan of the style to give this a go. Solid brew all the way through.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 00:06:35 | More by OBeerMeGreatOne

dar482

New York

4.08/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

This beer comes in a hazy gold color.

It has a huge Belgian yeast aroma with a similar Duvel aroma. It's a bit less fruity however, with some spice.

The taste has grape, breadiness, Belgian yeast, citrus, and spices.

The aftertaste however is of astringent bitterness and a bit of medicine. It tastes less fresh, champagne like, and clean as Duvel.

Serving type: on-tap

03-29-2013 06:37:36 | More by dar482

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

An interesting earthy and somewhat slightly spiced Belgian ale. Seems an odd marriage of Belgian style ales with a saison. Not sure if that is the goal for this beer, but that's what I get. It works, but it's a bit unusual. I can dig it though for what it is.

Serving type: on-tap

03-26-2013 19:00:23 | More by RblWthACoz

SHODriver

California

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

A: pours a bright and cloudy yellow with a small white head that fades somewhat quickly into a duvel tulip
S: smells of peppery yeast, a bit of grass, some citrus, and some pale malt
T: tastes of sweet and doughy malt, a bit of citrus and some fruity esters, slight grassyness and a bit of yeasty funk plus some spice. swallow brings a bit of fruity alcohol, some more funky yeast and more fruity esters
M: medium and smooth with soft bottle conditioned carbonation
O: very good. I haven't had Duvel in awhile but this is a pretty good beer. Good flavors and complexity plus it's very balanced.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 03:17:57 | More by SHODriver

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.23/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Draft at The Pour House in Westmont, NJ.

Pours a very cloudy, very dark golden yellow color that's almost ripe banana brown.  Completely opaque and murky with a half finger off-white head that quickly settles into a thin ring.  Minimal spotty lacing left behind.

Slightly earthy aroma with some farmhouse must, peppery spice, pale malt and estery light fruit notes.  Bready with the yeast being the strongest presence.  Not too rustic farmhouse like with lots of sweet apple and pear along with pepper, biscuit malt and crisp, grassy hops.

Medium bodied with tight carbonation and a crisp, earthy funk that lingers over the pale malts, earthy hops and estery fruit notes into a tart finish.  More complex than expected with a strong earthy barnyard funk presence.  Dry, earthy and tart followed by some resinous hop bitterness.  Grassy with some pine needle flavor followed by alcohol and light fruit sweetness.  Hints of apple, pear and light grape along with biscuit malt backbone.  A touch boozy and over carbonated with a weird combo of spice, funk and esters.  Kind of like wild farmhouse version of duvel but I prefer the cleaner flavor profile of the original.

Serving type: on-tap

03-24-2013 00:39:15 | More by corby112

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Goldy-blonde in color with a sticky white head. Lacing galore. Proper glassware.

Straw-like yeast, lemon rind, white grape, macadamia, and very light bosc pear. Winey like a pinot grigio.

Recognizable Duvel yeastiness and big booze, but with an almost farmhouse slant. More straw and light pomme and pilsner-like malts. Mostly dry. The finish is exceptionally dry. Notes of bitter almond and light citrus. Exceptionally potent, if that's your thing. Dance-y carbonation creates a bushiness. Body is above medium. Drinkability is half-decent. Would be bonus if it had more of an estery quality.

A really nice BSPA. A nice blend of Ommegang BPA and Duvel with a hint of Hennepin (obviously not actually blended). A satisfying one-timer. No real need to promise to revisit.

Serving type: on-tap

02-28-2013 05:01:47 | More by thecheapies

Nascartailgatefa

New York

4.11/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 750 ml bottle into a pilsner glass. light head and good lacing. Pale amber color, hazt and ample carbonation. Slight citrus smell.

Crisp tast, slightly dry finish. Typical full mouthfeel for a Belgian brew. Overall a very good beer from my favorite class. On the pricey side from where i purchased, but would definitely drink again.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 00:52:10 | More by Nascartailgatefa

JMScowcroft

Vermont

3.8/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Ommegang - Duvel Rustica - 1pt 6fl oz

Look - Pours light golden with a bubbly, creamy head. Unfiltered with heavier carbonation.

Smell - Citrus and sweet, definitely coriander and lemon.

Taste - Coriander and lemon, smooth at first and ending with some zest. Carbonation minimal in terms of the taste.

Mouthfeel - Somewhat mild and dry, would not call it crisp or refreshing per se, actually ends warm in the belly, alcohol content is obvious.

Overall - Decent, not amazing but not horrible either. Not quite what I'd expected from this brew, wanted it to be more crisp but it faded too quickly.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 13:16:08 | More by JMScowcroft

KajII

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

[Suggested Glassware: Trappist Glass]

The pour was a hazy yellow amber with an average (1-2 finger) white creamy head that reduced to a thin film and medium collar, with very good sheets of lacing.

The aroma was of a light grain malt, floral hops and a musty Belgian yeast with notes of citrus (lemon), green apple, pears and a touch of coriander.

The taste was mildly sweet and very fruity from the get go and pretty much lasted throughout, progressing slightly with a bold yeast presence along with a spicy citrus taste towards the finish. The flavor hung around for a good long while following the swallow, with a nice citrus yeast taste that was complemented by a mellow alcohol warming sensation.

Mouthfeel was just past light in body with a mildly dry yet creamy texture and a carbonation that just went beyond mild in intensity.

Overall I have to say this brewer never seems to disappoint, and this is no exception. This beer is a fantastic representation of a Belgian Golden Ale with a great taste and superb drinkability...

http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 23:50:06 | More by KajII

zeff80

Missouri

4.13/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

A - Poured a cloudy, golden-yellow color with a one-finger, white head of foam. It left sticky rings of lace on the glass.

S - Fruity and yeasty with a bit of funkiness.

T - Nice spicy bite up front with a sweet caramel backbone. Good fruity sweetness, too.

M - Crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium bodied ale with a dry finish.

O - This is a very tasty Belgian-style ale. I forget how good Ommegang can be.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 00:10:11 | More by zeff80

KTCamm

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured from champagne bottle into a perfect pint glass.

Pours clear golden, completely see through. Some white on top. Yeast in the nose more than anything else. Gritty malt too. Clean taste, flash of citrus that vanishes and evolves into a forceful hop. Mild, but full of flavor. Really good ale, flavorful and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 14:11:26 | More by KTCamm

beerthulhu

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: Full coverage of yeasty matter covers the entire bottom of the bomber. Pale lemon brass coloring shows a bit of light misty haze and a moderae dense and nimble rise of carbonaiton bubbles. Chalky white head is milky and creamy on the surface, sits a finger high, and stays nicely. Love the pale coloring, misty haze and strong carbonation presence as well lengthy stay of head retention. Heavy stratified ring lacing encircles the glass. Second pour showed a even dense nature, pea soup consistency of suspended yeasty matter. mmmm.

S: Fresh pale grains, a hint of lemon peel and good deal of yeasty indications. Soft orange and nobel flowers are ever so slight but supportive. Fresh greenery.

T: Flavor was grainy, musky and yeasty. The yeasty nature is truely the highlight here. Musky lemon and flowers. Tart and dry, bready with some wheat hints. Some orange, very crisp, with some noble flowery hops and some fresh greenery, hay and spiciness upon warming.

M: Crisp, bubbly, tight, tart, and dry with warming yeastiness. Bready.

O: Overall dry, tart with an empowering yeastiness and noble fresh green hopping. Pale malts, pale colored and an excellent tribute to a classic. You really have to appreciate ommegangs clean brewing technique and musky yeasty nature to thier beers. A sure rated A beer in my eyes per style.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 00:20:36 | More by beerthulhu

Joshpu

California

4.49/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a duvel glass.

A: Poured a hazy light honey color with about a finger of white head which dissipated quickly. Alot of carbonation. Gets darker as I got to the bottom of the bottle.

S: I smell alot of the yeast. I also smell very light citrus fruits, an apple and pear smell. Also getting the peppery clove smell.

T: The taste is alot like the smell, except im getting the sweeter malt backbone. Gets more peppery as I got to the bottom of the beer.

M: Full bodied. Its a pretty crisp beer and you can definitely feel the sweetness to the beer.

Overall it is a delicious beer. Tastes pretty similar to a duvel, which is what it is modeled after as it says on the back of the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 06:42:18 | More by Joshpu

DIM

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

a: This was a slightly hazy golden straw color. It was served to me with a medium sized, uneven, frothy cap.

s: Pepper and clove from the yeast plus grassy, lemony hops and some graininess.

t: Dry overall. A wonderful mix of light pears and grains up front with grassy lemons and peppery yeast at the end.

m: Chewy with very active carbonation.

o: Just an awesome beer, as expected.

Serving type: on-tap

01-28-2013 21:05:37 | More by DIM

prototypic

Ohio

4.16/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

Duvel Rustica pours a very hazy yellow color. Looks a bit like straw. The haze is quite cloudy. Backlighting gives it a brighter, more yellow look. A soft, white head covers the top. It rises to about two fingers in height and held firm for quite a while. I’m not sure it will completely dissipate. Lacing was sticky and moderate. Looks good.

The nose is impressive. Belgian yeast is noted early. Smells delicious. It spices things up nicely. Pepper and clove are present. There are some fruity notes of apple and pear. It’s very earthy, grainy, and grassy throughout. The grassy hop scent is definitely noble hops. There might be a little musk in the house. A bit of lemon is noted late. It’s secondary. Alcohol is there, but doesn’t come through very strong at all. Smells good.

The flavor is every bit as good. It kicks off with a slightly sweet, malty flavor. Belgian yeast follows quickly and adds spicy flavors of clove and pepper. It’s extremely tasty. Apple and pear flavors blend well with the spicy notes. There’s a little lemon, as well. It is very earthy, grainy, and grassy throughout. There are some light musky notes, but they’re subtle. Noble hops are definitely in the mix and are extremely grassy and dry. Alcohol is blended very well. It seems much lighter than 8.5%.

Duvel Rustica has a body on the lighter side of medium. It feels a little too thin. Carbonation is light and soft. It has a pretty good feel, but it feels just a little light. Definitely easy drinking, especially for a bigger beer.

Brewery Ommegang did a nice job with Duvel Rustica. It’s not quite as good as Duvel, but it is impressive. I wouldn’t a little more body and perhaps a little less of a noble hop flavor. Small complaints though. This is really good stuff. Easy recommendation.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 04:07:16 | More by prototypic

thagr81us

South Carolina

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

Served from tap into a Trappe Door tulip. Poured a golden pale yellow with a three finger white head that subsided to one finger very slowly. Maintained phenomenal lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, wheat, banana, fruit, spice, and earth. The flavor was of sweet malt, banana, fruit, wood, spice, and subtle sweet alcohol. It had a light feel on the palate with high carbonation. Overall this was a good brew. I really found this to be a pretty solid offering from the style if I am honest. All of the right flavors were present and all of them were there to complement each other very nicely. This made it quite easy to drink and rather enjoyable throughout the entire tulip. It was crisp and refreshing making it a good brew to enjoy quite a bit of without every really letting it wear out your palate. A definite must try for anyone if you have not done so before.

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2013 21:50:11 | More by thagr81us

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

75 cl

Pours a light, hazy lemon gold, sugar white head at a quarter of an inch, dissipates to a lacing.

Bretty yeast, coriander, lemon, candi sugar and orange zest in the nose.

Taste is of grassy, wheaty malts, lemon citrus, candi sugar, and a whisper of hop bitterness.

Medium to full body with tingly carbonation on the tongue.

Pretty good strong ale, not the best I've had, but good enough that I would have it again and recommend it. Ommegang is always solid and this is no exception.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 23:38:29 | More by Cylinsier

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

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

Ommegang Duvel Rustica

LOOK: 22oz bottle opens with a slight pop, poured into a chalice. Pale yellow with white head and no lace.

SMELL: Grassy, peppery and slightly earthy aroma. Smells like the country air on a beautiful spring day. Some would classify these scents as the "funk" often too complex to adequately put to words.

TASTE: Belgian ale yeast flavor with green pear and apple notes. Hint of earthy Saison like tartness but quite mild. Candi sugar is present balanced by notes of grass and green peppercorns.

FEEL: Medium bodied, well carbonated, but not too dry.

OVERALL: A tasty, earthy American made Belgian ale that does share some similarities with its Belgian brethren. A worthy selection if you're reaching for something different and like saisons/Belgian pales.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 23:25:08 | More by Stinkypuss

ZethOfTheNorth

Louisiana

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

750 ml bought for $12.99, poured into Hill Farmstead tulip.

A: As others have noted, very weak on the head, especially for the style and extra-especially for a beer with the word "Duvel" in its title. Not nearly the carbonation activity of its parent beer and hazier.

S: Interesting and refined. White wine-like. Some bubblegum from the yeast. Clean.

T: Quite good, though I like a little sweetness in this style and that's not quite there. Some green grapes and apples. A little booze and bubblegum. Quite saisonish.

M: Thin and undercarbed. A disappointment. Really dry back end.

O: As much as I wanted not to like Duvel Rustica because of the carbonation/head issues, the subtleties of the taste and smell kept me interested enough to jam through a whole 750. Almost a saison hybrid.

Would I buy this again? Given the higher price point and my clear preference for Duvel or Moinette Blonde, probably not.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 15:31:46 | More by ZethOfTheNorth