Devil's Backbone - Real Ale Brewing Company

OgreSanchez

5/5  rDev +30.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Got from Total Wine in Dallas. I was pleasantly surprised with this beer; it's by far the best I've had from Real Ale. A sweet start is topped off my a nice spicy, semi-smokey finish that perfectly masks the ~8% ABV. It is classified as a abbey style tripel, however it's not really like any style beer I've ever had before.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 03:08:56 | More by OgreSanchez

hwhead3

Texas

4.97/5  rDev +29.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Spotted bottles at HEB, Burleson, TX. Poured into tulip.

A: Excellent golden; didn't produce much head.
S: Wonderful fragrant tripel spice.
T: Spicy, fruity, full -- not boozy.
M: Slightly heavy, not quite syrupy.

Love it. Neck and neck with LFDM. Big ups to Blanco!

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2011 16:08:35 | More by hwhead3

shortedaman

4.9/5  rDev +27.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I prefer this beer from the bottle. I have had 50+ of these. The key to this one is freshness. I too have grown a fondness for real ale brewing. Since im in houston i get it pretty fresh.

I love this beer. I love the alcohol content, i love how its super easy to drink, i love the taste. Its fruity and fairly thick, medium carbonation, nice belgian yeast flavor.

drinking this one from the bottle seems to add to the style. Pouring it into a tulip is all well and good, however theres just something special about drinking straight from the bottle. It tones down the fruitiness and alcohol taste. This beer needs to be reviewed by the bros for sure.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 06:40:50 | More by shortedaman

marc956

Texas

4.6/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Best domestic tripel I have ever drunk. Not quite as good as La Fin Du Monde, but given the price difference I may have to switch! A ton of flavor, hops aren't overwhelming but you can definately taste 'em. Not a beer to mess around with due to its alcoholic content (8.1%) but I am glad to be trying it. Real Ale is making Texas residents like myself proud.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2010 04:39:10 | More by marc956

elNopalero

Texas

4.55/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Something about this latest batch of the Devil’s Backbone that I just found absolutely fantastic.

This pours a clear straw yellow in the glass. It has a light floral, almost pollen-like delicate aroma to it. Smells great!

Tastes light and delicate, with a lot of nuanced estery flavor I pictured lavender fields with a touch of honey at the end. Delicious.

Serving type: on-tap

04-09-2012 19:57:56 | More by elNopalero

twiggamortis420

Texas

4.53/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a slightly hazy medium golden color with some fast vanishing, small-bubbled white foam.

Nose is pretty classical tripel. Grainy, sugary sweet maltiness with a healthy dose of alcohol. Hints of peanut butter and Caramello candy bar. Light fruits suggesting perhaps some green grapes and unripe apples.

Silky smooth and creamy sweet malts! Lightly caramel with loads of alcohol and a nice crisp bittering finish. The mouthfeel on this beer is exceptional. With maybe 6-12 months, the flavors would meld together perfectly. It is really good now, but the individual components are a bit dramatic. Very good tripel, put this in a bottle please!

Serving type: on-tap

06-10-2009 04:15:27 | More by twiggamortis420

beerdiablo

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +17.5%
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

beergambit

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This is a mouthful of of just a different combos of spices and sort of a hint of banana cream. At first sip it is great then after a 3rd or even 5th sip you sense the alcohol taste and somewhat of a sting to your cheeks and gums. Its a drink you know the alcohol is there, but still is a great drink to chill with the friends not something I can handle all night and just chug.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2010 22:14:59 | More by beergambit

Fnord

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - Effervescent pale gold with a fairly large white head.

Smell - Saaz hops, hay, caramel, yeast, alcohol, lemon, and pepper.

Taste - A slightly sweet start, which gives way to a clean and spicy finish. The bitterness is not huge, but it is sharp. The aftertaste is yeasty.

Mouthfeel - Medium-thin body and high carbonation.

Notes - In my opinion, this is the best Texas beer out of a commercial brewery. We once did a tasting between this and Fin du Monde, and it was pretty much neck and neck. If you like tripels and you get the chance to try this one, go for it. You won't regret it.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2010 14:46:25 | More by Fnord

Morris729

Texas

4.45/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a bright golden color with a bit of an orange sunrise hue and a creamy white head. Nose is floral honeysuckle along with some Belgian spice and a hint of perfume. Taste begins with fruity orange citrus (and maybe a bit of pineapple?) and honey malt followed by some biscuity notes and a bit of clove. A thoroughly enjoyable beer.

Serving type: on-tap

10-06-2006 16:37:32 | More by Morris729

jujubeast6000

Texas

4.43/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed (Draft @ Alamo Draughthouse, West Oaks, Houston, TX):

Pours a pale cloudy body, with some foamy head, dIminishing. Has a belgiany sweet aroma, flowery. Smells good. Light taste, flowery, belgiany. Clean aftertaste. Warming up...a lot of spices. Tasty. Very good.

Serving type: on-tap

03-15-2009 20:21:05 | More by jujubeast6000

visualweasel

Washington

4.43/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: A cloudy golden yellow with a weak white head, leaving behind minimal lacing. Had to agitate the pour to get a nice collar, which then dissipated rapidly.

S: Fairly typical Belgian tripel aromas: bubblegum, candy sugar, bananas. Quite nice.

T: Follows the nose, with the bubblegum prevailing (in a good way). Very nice indeed for the style, especially from a Texas brewer.

M: Medium-bodied with weak carbonation. Would have liked to see a bit more, but not at all bad.

O: A very nice example of the style. I thoroughly enjoyed this and found it a notch or two better than the Dick's Belgian Tripel (Centralia, WA) which I also had the same night.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 17:01:57 | More by visualweasel

EnojysAnyBeer

Colorado

4.35/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A- Hazy and golden with a tight-bubbled, off-white head. Lacing is speckled on my tulip glass

S- A funk cloud from the yeast is spiced with gentle, floral hops

T- A light flavor dominated by the yeast byproducts that remind me of sour cream or the torula yeast commonly found on potato chips

M- Creamy and silky with perfect carbonation that bubbles just right

D- The alcohol is hard to find- the perfect body and funky yeast covers it all up.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2010 22:55:45 | More by EnojysAnyBeer

champ103

Texas

4.3/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a beautiful hazy golden/honey color. A dense two finger white head forms with excellent retention. Lots of sticky and spiderweb looking lace is left behind. Looks awesome in my Real Ale tulip.
S: Yeast and fruity esters like a good Triple should have. Though an off putting mineral aroma is present.
T: There it is. Lots of peppery, spicy, phenolic flavors. Yeast with fruity esters of bananas. Some pear as well. Some sweet candied sugar and a light lingering bitterness. Very nice.
M/D: A medium body with the perfect amount of carbonation. Very crisp and dry. Devilishly easy to drink. I have to remind myself this is over 8%.

An excellent Triple. I have always enjoyed this on tap when the season came. I am so happy this is now bottled. I think it is even better out of the bottle (which is the only reason I am doing a second review). Probably the best American version I have had of the style. Again, well done Real Ale.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2010 02:18:56 | More by champ103

dnarx

Texas

4.28/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: poured a nice deep yellow with a two finger head that left beautiful lacing down the side as it subsided.

S: mmmm...belgian yeast, esters, malt, and booze.

T: the yeast character was very apparent in the flavor of the beer, but this is too be expected. Also had a light pear, sweetness, and a bit of booze.

M: medium on body with a good carbonation

D: very drinkable despite a bit of booziness.

Serving type: bottle

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2011 02:04:19 | More by dnarx

bayougutter

Louisiana

4.28/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a tulip, yellow-gold color. Almost clear but a little haze. Small head that quickly left the scene leaving a little ring around the glass. Not a lot of lacing

Smell really well with a lot of spiciness, banana, cloves, belgium yeast. Robust aroma.

Taste is belgium yeast and bananas through out and the spices coming more at the end. A little candied sugar in the mix as well. The different taste melded together nicely.

Mouthfeel right on for a Belgium tripel

Overall I really enjoyed this one with the aroma and tastes just so harmonisously balanced. As a side note I bought a sixer in Houston at Spec's for 8.50. Above average Trippel and worthy of a visit.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2011 21:40:11 | More by bayougutter

Treebs

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Got this as an extra in a trade, Thanks Brad! Man I've written that a lot in my reviews, stand up BA right there.

A: Pours a deep golden straw, very hazy, with a one finger fluffy white that subsides into nice white ring.

S: The funkiest of yeast is prominent in the bad boy. Slight fruity esters with a bubblegum back. Some orange spice and some apples with a slight banana.

T: Same funky yeast with a some actual spice in there, I like it. There is a fruity tartness that peaks its head through, and it slowly subsides into mild sweetness. The finish is a temperate bitterness which really brings it home.

M: Medium bodied with a mile carbonation. Slightly coating on the palate with a nice sugar sweetness.

O: I loved this beer. It was very balanced and there was just enough funk and tartness in the taste to keep my interested and coming back for more. I recommend.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2011 01:14:23 | More by Treebs

bundy462

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Golden, clear, very clean with a frothy white head.

S: Huge Beligian yeast, tripel all the way.

T: Big Belgian yeast, fruity undertones, sugary. There is a medicinal quality to the finish from the heavy booze content.

M: Super smooth, goes down easy, easy drinker.

O: Awesome brew, great tripel. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 00:12:42 | More by bundy462

DeathbySexyBT

Texas

4.22/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Hazy wheat/gold with a miniscule khaki head and bitchin' lacing.

S: Sweet bready aroma that reminds me of fresh Challah bread. A definite yeast overtone that is mitigated by the honey and spicy hops.

T: Orange rind, cloves, and yeast are all riding a bitter foundation that is very delicately balanced. The cloves and yeast flavors grow as the beer warms.

M: Smooth and gentle going down.

D: A very strong effort out of Blanco, TX. I am always leary of Tripels that are outside of the Trappist traditions, but this is great. I will concede a local bias, though.

Serving type: on-tap

08-12-2009 20:18:51 | More by DeathbySexyBT

Jillwastaken

Texas

4.22/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The 2010 Backbone is great. The aroma is clean and fruity (pears, grapes, honey). It's a gorgeous translucent (almost opaque) amber in appearance, like clover honey. The head dissipates fairly quickly, with a bit of lace clinging to the glass and around the edges of the beer. It's very drinkable, even in a month or two when it's going to be warm here in Austin...dry, spicy, fruity finish. Yum, guys!

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2010 23:21:56 | More by Jillwastaken

MarkIntihar

Michigan

4.2/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the bottle into my Bell's snifter. Big thanks to Mike for this one!

A - Pours yellow Orange with half a fingers worth of white head. Very nice retention with some lacing around the glass.

S - Banana and bubble gum. Maybe a slight hint of honey, but wow, SUPER banana!

T - Follows nearly perfectly from the nose, with perhaps a touch more honey to smooth it out. Hides the 8% very well, with almost no alcohol coming through in the taste.

M - Very smooth, carbonated perfectly. No burn whatsoever.

O - Very impressed. One of the best pure tripels I've had.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2011 18:28:40 | More by MarkIntihar

DCon

Missouri

4.2/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Received a 12 FLUID OZ. (355 ML) bottle of this from cfh64. Poured from the White Labeled bottle w/ a Devil & his tail leading up to making a "Left Winding Road" Sign & "Limited Edition, Seasonal Release" into my 16oz iTap Passport Pint Glass. Has BEST IF CONSUMED BY THIS DATE, 11.17.11 on the back. Not worried about this...

Aroma- A very complexed aroma is present! Strong clove-like phenols, citrus, and a nice banana character are all hanging out. Hops are around as well.

Appearance- Pours a 1 finger head that dies quicker than it should. Has a deep golden colored body, almost orange with semi-hazing. Leaves thick rings of lace afterwards.

Flavor- The initial taste brings on a nice amount of spice and fruit. After this, malt and a peppery flavor brings it strong. Medium hops are present at the finish and has a perfect amount of bitterness to add to this well balanced Tripel.

Mouthfeel- Medium+ Bodied, High Carbonation, Effervescent, and a light amount of creaminess. Spice and orange finishes off on the palate.

Overall Impression- For my 1st brew from Real Ale, I may need to go back to TX to live again and see what other brews they offer from all their breweries! This Tripel was great and very complexed! I would definitely recommend this to anyone wanting a great example of this style or would like to have a fully complexed beer with tons of malt, sweetness, and spice.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2011 06:05:59 | More by DCon

ajisai

Texas

4.2/5  rDev +9.7%
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

IBUnit63

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap 4/24 @ Ginger Man Austin

Hazy natural honey color - extra thin head from tap

Heavy banana ester and orange zest with maybe vanilla in there. Very deep and pleasant aroma

Yeast and malt heavy up front with citrus tang and bready finish on back of palate. Classic chewy Trippel texture

Feels like some oak's in there-chewy and woody mouthfeel with slight bitterness to long spicy finish. Carbonation adds nice tingle

A pleasure to enjoy and savor-strength and weight make this a great sipper

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2008 14:03:18 | More by IBUnit63

donteatpoop

Ohio

4.15/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Firstly, big thanks to my man icepigs for this Texas brew.

Secondly. My God.

Poured a hazy pail orange/yellow color with a thin white head; slightly foggy but transparent enough to see through it.

Even before the pour though, I was salivating from the smell of it. The yeast gives a light fresh-banana odor. It is sweet with aromatic floral hops, the combination of scents makes this a beatiful blend. I almost want to snort it.

After tasting it, I am glad I didn't snort it. Not only might I have drowned but I wouldn't have been able to taste the complexities of the beer. This 8.1% alcohol content has covered its tracks nicely. I knew it was a tripel so I figured it would have a high alcohol percent but after sipping it I had to verify the number. You don't really get the alcohol burn until half way through the beer, and even then it is not unpleasant.

I really wish this beer was available where I live. Devil's Backbone is a full bodied beer. Honestly, this is one of the best examples of the style I've ever tasted.

The bottle claims this as a seasonal, the back of the bottle says "Keep Cold" and "Drink Soon" at the bottom. Thought that was funny.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 03:22:01 | More by donteatpoop