Duvel Belgian Golden Ale

I'll admit that when I looked at the giant D on this can, I just kind of assumed that this was a derivation of the Gulden Draak series from Van Steenberge. I even went to the point of looking for the goblet that I got with their logo on it before noticing that the two Ds were different. So, another big D from Belgium gets to be reviewed. I can't say I'm that upset.

It's a golden beer, just like it says on the can, but it's got a little pale yellow to it. It's very clear, and the head comes forth pretty easily from a simple poor. Once the bubbles dwindle down, they leave a lily pad of tiny bubbles in the middle and a string of similar bubbles clinging to the side. The aroma is predictably Belgian yeast. I smell little more than the yeast, but the Belgian yeast tends to be pretty overpowering, anyway.

First sip is good, but has more spices than I expected. The sip is very crisp, and the Belgian yeast is like a mist that you're walking through with the spices underfoot. But the crispness is the sharp sunshine that cuts through it all. The finish is a bit dry, but it's certainly not taking away from the taste of the beer.

Tip-in is yeast and grains backed by citrus and a mild carbonation tingle. The middle isn't exactly smooth, but it's not choppy. The yeast is thick while the citrus and grains are easy flowing underneath. The finish is a quick chop of resin and very light grains with a yeast dust trail off.

Bottom Line: A little complex for simple drinking, but it rewards a thoughtful review.

3.5/5