De Koninck

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

Bottle into tulip glass at De Garre cafe in Bruges. An orangey-red beer with a good sized off white head and nice lacing. The aroma is grainy malts and mild lemony citrus. Taste is similar with a medium to light body and an easy drinkabilty. The finish is bittersweet and uncomplicated providing ample refreshment. Better than average.

Serving date: 2009-01-30. Served in tulip. Presentation: 330 ml bottle with freshness date on the label (Best before 2009-08-03. Actually no other information of any interest on the bottle. Very clear amber/dark copper color with very lively initial carbonation. The two finger off-white head is very sparkly and rocky but dissipates a bit too quickly, leaving small lacings. Fruity aromas - mostly banana - and sweat malts, some yeast as well as faint notes of some sourness. The smell of this one is ok, but a little to anonymous and withdrawn. The taste has more fruit up front, coupled with faint flavors of citrus fruits and cinnamon. Some yeast and sweet malts are there as well. It’s a bit sour in the middle. Some flavors in this one is presented in a rather sharp fashion, which is very pleasant. The finish has a slight bitterness to it, with notes of spices and more juicy malt. Light body. The carbonation in this beer puzzles me a bit: At first, the carbonation is generous, almost too generous since it almost overpowers the different flavors. However, the carbonation decreases rather quickly, and for a while the mouthfeel becomes very pleasant with a great mix of gentle bubbles and nice fruity and spicy flavors. At this state, the beer was at its most enjoyable condition. But towards the end, carbonation is almost completely gone leaving the beer a bit bland (worth mentioning here is also that I finished the beer in about 30 - 40 minutes). This is an ok beer, and it drinks quite easily. It taste quite nice as well, but I can’t help feeling that it falls somewhat short. But bluntly, it’s a bit flat. However, considering the low ABV and it’s decent overall character, I could see myself having it again. But I recommend serving this one in a glass with a more narrow body than a Duvel-sized tulip, considering the successive loss of carbonation. Serving type: bottle (Copy of old Beer Advocate review)

Amber in color. A small white head. A nose of malt. Taste is slightly metallic, malty and perhaps some fruits in the background. A nice finish.

Appearance: light clear amber with a quickly dissipating eggshell head; leaves behind a small collar and a little lacing. Aroma: earthy dark malts, caramel, dark brown sugar, with a whiff of saaz hops. Taste: not as sweet as the aroma indicates; well-balanced and crisp, with smooth lightly sweet malts over the peppery bite of saaz; not too bitter. Finish: crisp, slightly sweet and dry, giving way to lingering spice from the hops. Notes: A very drinkable Belgian ale with a light palate and good carbonation married to well-balanced, if not super-complicated flavors. A workmanlike ale, and pretty sessionable.

Bottle 33cl. A clear red-golden colour with a small, beige head. An aroma of malt and fruit. The taste is light sweet and light bitter. A medium body, oily texture, soft carbonation and a light bitter finish.

draft: very dominant spices especially in the aftertaste coupled with caramel & malt, body is kind of thin, it is not a bad session beer which is what it is mostly for

Copper colour with little head and no cloudiness. Aroma is of toffee and spices with a slight earthiness. Light body, not a lot of character but quite a tasty casual drinking brew. Taste is bitter sweet, toffee with a hint of apple and banana.

Bottle. A murky brown belgian ale that’s a solid but uninteresting example of its style.