Duvel Moortgat Duvel

**Aroma:** “Fruity esters (pears). Spicy phenolics (pepper and cloves). Very light with some German hops notes and a touch of sweetness.” **Flavor:** “Initial impression is of curaçao orange peel, followed by carbonic acid and then a pleasant, long bitterness. Nice, round mouthfeel is a little heavier than is typical for a tripel, but it works. The orange component is unique and interesting. Slight sweetness with high carbonation.” **Overall:** “Nicely balanced by the sweet malt and medium bitterness. A little full for a tripel, but it works. The unexpected orange makes for a pleasant drinking experience, and this would work well as a so-called “brewmosa” with half orange juice at brunch. The finish on this beer is superb and the carbonation gives it lots of life. Just enough malt to support the full spicy flavors from hops and yeast.”

**Aroma:** “Bananas, gentle peppery phenols, shortbread, hints of bubblegum, faint grainy malt sweetness, some spicy, grassy hops notes. Orange and spices. Spicy phenolic clove notes.” **Flavor:** “Very much follows the nose. Honey-like malt sweetness when it first hits, but waves of pepper and clove phenols and banana esters merge with a lightly herbal hops presence for a cleansing finish. Finishes off-dry with a pleasing good carbonic bite and reassuring alcoholic warmth. Malt lingers into the finish, along with some of that honey sweetness. Crisp and refreshing.” **Overall:** “A wonderful textbook tripel aroma. Beer drinkers whose friends ask them, “What is a tripel?” should simply hand them a sample of this beer. The blend of spicy phenol and soft ester is dead on target. It’s refreshing and, while the flavor drops off quickly in the finish, each taste is bright and beautiful.”

**Aroma:** “Low fruity esters of citrus and peach, with some floral and spicy hops notes as it opens up. Some background sulfur and mineral notes, with slight biscuit and a malt sweetness that sits in the back.” **Flavor:** “The malt sweetness surprises on the taste and carries through to the finish. Biscuit and honey-like sweetness up front with some peach esters throughout and complementary orange and lemon. The hops provide a nice complexity of spice and earthy character, and the carbonation finishes clean and dry.” **Overall:** “A curious beer with some unique flavors. Leans more malty, but still light and refreshing. The aroma is less hoppy than expected, with the mineral notes. Despite the generous head, the carbonation level seems a touch less lively than desired. The lingering hops bitterness is refreshing, makes me want another sip.”