Country of Origin: Belgium
Price comparison: About 1½ times what I pay for everyday beer.
Alcohol percentage by volume: 8½%
Cute bottle/label? You can get a four-pack of twelve-ounce bottles, but I opted for the big stupid 750ml bottle of lurve with the cork again, like the Chimay. (I might not have, had I not found that the IHOD also carries bottle stoppers so that I could reseal the open bottle rather than be obligated to finish the lot.) Black label with red writing (hence, Duvel "Rood") but I was impressed by "Anno 1871", which means the brewery is exactly 100 years older than I am. I like stuff that's older than I am.
Appearance: Pale. A bit cloudier than the standard pale ale at first, but I may have accidentally swirled the bottle while pouring, because it cleared as it settled. The color changed the closer I got to the end of the bottle; while the original shade was like the skin on a Golden Delicious apple, the later shade was more like the skin on a Granny Smith. Long-lasting foam like shaving cream. More on that in a moment.
Scent: Black pepper and citrus (grapefruit and lime). A nice combination.
Flavor: A pronounced bite, with slight acidity and an aftereffect of clove or cinnamon with vanilla. Lots of yeast at the bottom of the bottle.
Impressions: Couldn't stop concentrating on "damn, this head isn't giving up here, is it?" The foam never settled at all and the empty glass looked like the dishwasher had broken before the rinse cycle. Preoccupation with suds aside, definitely a nicely balanced and enjoyable flavor.
This is indeed quality beer, but it struck me as very much a spoiled high-maintenance bitch of a beer. You lose part of your investment in the masses of sediment at the bottom of the bottle, and drinking it out of a glass means you lose even more unless you're willing to ask for a spoon to eat the foam, which I imagine is frowned upon in your nicer establishments. Also, it's a very strong ale that you don't want to drink on an empty stomach, yet the sorts of foods that it would match well with are not standard beermates like nachos or pretzels, but more expensive fare such as grilled scallops or veal.
Will I buy this beer again? Overall, yes. I admit she's a bitch and a diva, but she pays off very well in the end. I do feel that it will be worth my while to pursue the relationship.
Rating:
4 out of 5 cute beer glasses
Reviewed: September 26, 2003
