De Koninck

Brewed by Brouwerij De Koninck (Duvel-Moortgat)
Style: Belgian Ale
Antwerpen, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

Nice amber beer, however not impressive, just an upgraded pilsener.

Amber with a small off white head. Sweet, yeasty aroma. Sweet rather fruity taste, a bit thin, but pleasantly dry. Raspberry perhaps? An excellent accompaniment to a typical English cricket picnic of smoked salmon, strawberries and cream, sultry heat and evening thunderstorms.

On draught.Copper-coloured with a smallish head (though I have seen it bigger before). Yeasty aroma together with hay hoppiness. Good toffee caramel and spicy fruit flavours. Clean dry finish. Medium body. Thirst-quencher Antwerp-style with a good character.

Quickly thinning head. Dark amber with a few large floaties. Sweet aroma a mixture of icing sugar, alcohol and vanilla. Flavour-wise the beer can be described as a Belgian session ale or a Belgian amber ale. No dominant flavours. A light vanilla flavour.

Bottle. Pours amber with a small white head. Lots of particles suspended in this. Nose is fruity and sweet with light honey and flowery notes. Taste seems a bit more bitter than the aroma would let on. Light hoppiness, dried fruits, thinned honey and light floral notes. Body is light-medium with moderate carbonation feel. Light bitterness throughout. Finishes with more fruit and floral notes, hints of caramel, honey and light hops. Not bad.

Grapevine Market, Austin Tx., 11.2 fl oz. Pours a dark copper with a silky smooth white head and decent lacing. Aroma is non distinct, slightly peppery. Flavor has some bitter notes, reminds me more of an Alt than a Belgian. Flavor is slighlty nutty with some fresh lake water notes and not much else. Slightly thin mouthfeel, but goes well with the bitterness. Good for session material.

0.25 l bottle. Amber color, diminishing head. Fruity, toasty and slightly spicy aroma. Toasty and malty flavor with tart fruitness, caramel, some metallic notes and hint of herbal hops. Light bitterness. De Konicnck is tasty on tap in Antwerpen but this bottle is quite boring.

(0,33 l bottle) Sampled at Pub Italia, Ottawa. Pours a medium, foamy, white head with an orange-amber body. The nose is mildly grassy malty and eggy. The flavours were much the same with perhaps a brief appearance by weeds. Nothing spectacular here...