“Inspired pretty much by Duvel and other strong golden ales of Belgium. It is medium-bodied, has a fruity/banana bouquet, and a dry, spicy finish.”
Glassware: Trappist Chalice.
Appearance: Light golden pour with a monstrous four finger head which takes an eternity to recede. As it does it leaves an absolute smattering on the glass.
Aroma: Now that the head has peeled off we can finally take in the classic Belgian yeast profile on offer – clove, banana, Angostura bitters etc. Big helpings of candied lemon, mixed herbs (lemongrass, coriander and parsley), peppercorn, Candi sugars/bubblegum and farmyard grains/straw and hay. Pear and apple also getting amongst it. Definitely has the Duvel character going on.
Flavour: As anticipated she’s yeast-forward and although the typical banana and clove are here they come later. Upfront it’s particularly malty sweet, doughy and offset by the earthy and spicy old world hops. A hint of candied lemon and Angostura bitters prelude the classic yeasty notes then it wraps up with an earthy finish of peppercorn and orchard fruits.
Mouthfeel: Dry and light on, mild-medium body. Medium-high Co2. 7.5% ABV…pretty much a carbon copy of Duvel.
Overall: Superb. As good as Duvel though? Not quite. It only just lacks the depth and complexity of its Belgian counterparts. Very enjoyable though, we expect no less from these masters.