Devil's Backbone - Real Ale Brewing Company

beerdiablo

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A flagship brewer of Ales in Texas whose quality continues to rise.

I am not a big Belgian fan, as my taste buds don't often allow me
to appreciate subtleties but from time to time, there is a ray of light
through the clouds and this beer is it.

The Devil's Backbone pours a heralding gold with a nice head with a slight
astringent bite with some spice to it. The aroma is complex, with sweet competing with astringent.

Serving type: on-tap

10-26-2005 01:33:05 | More by beerdiablo

Garrettshu

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +17.2%

06-19-2013 00:24:49 | More by Garrettshu

jngrizzaffi

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +17.2%

06-16-2013 22:16:04 | More by jngrizzaffi

RealAleBlanco

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +17.2%

06-15-2013 05:21:39 | More by RealAleBlanco

djre4orm

Virginia

4/5  rDev +4.2%

06-13-2013 19:57:48 | More by djre4orm

LifeByTheDrop

Texas

4/5  rDev +4.2%

06-13-2013 03:35:28 | More by LifeByTheDrop

BryantForestry

Texas

4/5  rDev +4.2%

06-12-2013 01:47:04 | More by BryantForestry

BSDA

Texas

4.09/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Being a huge fan of Belgian Ales, from this golden style to a deep, dark divinity like Chimay Grande Reserve, this one is right up my alley. The hoppy bitterness in the aftertaste is not strong like an IPA, somwhere around 35 IBUs? Poured from a bottle into a 16oz, short bell-shaped glass with handle. Color is a beautiful goldenrod, and smell is fruity, like subdued bananas and sweet malts. Feeling on the tongue and palate is thicker than wheat beer, but nowhere near amber or dark Belgian ale. Head dissipates very quickly in such a wide-mouth glass, and barely lasts 3min in a thin, fluted glass. No matter, because if you like a little bitter with your golden cream, then this is a beer for your roster. I give it a 4/5 because it lacks a little in complexity, though there are spices noted throughout the tasting experience. I will definitely buy again, as it delivers a simple Tripel experience without the Belgian Tripel price. A very Americanized version of a classic, this one is good for advocates to become acquainted with the heavier Belgian styles. Excellent for a sweet tooth, and quite refreshing!

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2013 23:04:27 | More by BSDA

Lawl3ss

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%

06-11-2013 08:02:54 | More by Lawl3ss

backphish

Texas

4/5  rDev +4.2%

06-10-2013 01:58:31 | More by backphish

LuisCaraballo

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%

06-07-2013 23:55:19 | More by LuisCaraballo

RandyPuckett

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -15.4%

06-04-2013 03:34:15 | More by RandyPuckett

ExaltedNecrosis

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%

06-04-2013 02:58:23 | More by ExaltedNecrosis

chrishensley

Texas

4/5  rDev +4.2%

06-02-2013 14:48:45 | More by chrishensley

Isotope

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%

05-23-2013 02:11:02 | More by Isotope

SmellsofMahagony

Texas

4/5  rDev +4.2%

05-20-2013 02:48:29 | More by SmellsofMahagony

aty11b

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%

05-19-2013 23:55:25 | More by aty11b

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

4.13/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Real Ale Devil’s Backbone ale has a very thin, fizzy, off-white head, a hazy, brilliant, golden-orange appearance, some streaming bubbles, little floating brown particles, a descending gray-brown cloud, and decent lacing film left behind. The aroma is of sweet hard candy, grain husk, sweet corn, and yeast zest. Flavor is of peppery, yeasty, sweet, sugary malt, candy, grits, and a mellow hop bitterness to close out the sip. Mouthfeel is rather watery, and Devil’s Backbone finishes semi-dry, crisp, not alcohilic, and decently drinkable.

RJT

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 16:40:21 | More by RonaldTheriot

greenbr

Texas

4/5  rDev +4.2%

05-14-2013 23:31:13 | More by greenbr

csfcmitchell

Texas

4/5  rDev +4.2%

05-13-2013 15:44:38 | More by csfcmitchell

Stinger80OH

Ohio

4/5  rDev +4.2%

05-12-2013 12:55:59 | More by Stinger80OH

ajisai

Texas

4.2/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Where/When: Austin, TX May 12th with best before date of October 22.

Serving: Bottle.

Scent: Really reminds me of Live Oak Hefeweizen. Sugary... Sort of banana-ish. A tad nutty.

Taste: The flavors are very light--the carbonation is constantly fighting with them. I feel a bit of vanilla and banana. Aftertaste is almost the same as initial taste; doesn't really change from sip to gulp. Lemon, banana, and vanilla is what I'd say overall.

Overall: Very nice drink. It's almost *too* deceiving because three of these will get me woozy. I would never think that this was 8% from how smooth it goes down. One of the more tasty beers from Real Ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 07:38:21 | More by ajisai

TOP

Texas

4/5  rDev +4.2%

05-12-2013 01:14:43 | More by TOP

Xzfgiimtsath

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +17.2%

05-10-2013 00:21:45 | More by Xzfgiimtsath

tastymug

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%

05-06-2013 23:32:58 | More by tastymug