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Duvel is produced by the Duvel Moortgat Brewery (Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat), which was founded in Belgium in 1871. The brewery's best and most renowned product is its Belgian strong golden pale ale: Duvel, which in Brabantian Dutch means Devil. This beer packs a punch at 8.5 ABV. The brewery also purchased the Brasserie d'Achouffe in 2006, which produces La Chouffe. Additionally the Duvel brewery produces a line of abbey beers: Maredsous
According to wikipedia this is how Duvel got its name:
To commemorate the end of World War I, the Moortgats named their main beer Victory Ale. But during the 1920s, an avid drinker described the beer as "nen echten duvel" (a real devil) - perhaps in reference to its formidable alcohol content (8.5% ABV) - and the name of the beer was changed to Duvel.
In any event it is a devilishly good beer and I love the bottle.
All hail to this dark prince of beers.
Presentation- Small brown 330 ml bottle with freshness date on back label.
Appearance- Golden with lively carbonation, a thick foamy white head, excellent retention and a lot of patches of lacing.
Smell- Malty, Grassy, yeast, citrusy.
Taste- Sweet at first balenced by a slightly bitter finish, yeast, malty, fruity with hints of citrus.
Mouth- Light, smooth, crisp and clean.
The bottom line: Duvel is an amazing beer, so enjoyable let it speak for itself. Outta this world.
***** (out of 5 *)
The Brasserie d'Achouffe, founded in 1982, is a Belgian Brewery based in Achouffe. In September 2006 the producers of Duvel (which we will be reviewing soon), Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat purchased the Brasserie d'Achouffe.
Brasserie d'Achouffe produces a number of different styles of beers, amongst them are:
- Belgian Dark Ale, 6.5% ABV: Chouffe-Bok
- Belgian Strong Dark Ale, ranging from 8%-10% ABV: McChouffe, N'Ice Chouffe
- Belgian Strong Pale Ale, 8%-8.5% ABV: La Chouffe, Kwelchouffe
This time we tried La Chouffe, Bière blonde D'Ardenne, 8% ABV. This beer is unfiltered, it is re-fermented in the Bottle or Keg.
Presentation: La Chouffe comes in a 750 ml green glass Champagne like bottle with freshness date on back label.
According to wikipedia: "The beers have gnomes on their label, a play on the town name Achouffe, since Chouffe means gnome or dwarf in a Walloon dialect."
The company website explains why such a large bottle, as La Chouffe only comes in 750 ml and up: "The size of the bottles encourages people to share the beer with friends and families, which is very sociable!"
and share we did.
Appearance: Cloudy gold with streams of small champagne-like bubbles. A Nice thick, coarse, bubbly white head which leaves a good amount of lacing on the glass.
Smell: Grain, fruity, spice/herbal, yeast, citrus.
Taste: Fruity sweetness which is balanced with the slightly bitter finish, honey, cloves, spicy, citrusy.
Mouth: Bubbly, live carbonation and light bodied, kind of like champagne.
The bottom line: An excellent beer, sweet but not overly-sweet, fruity yet balenced with hints of spice, very enjoyable. Although you may want it all for yourself, you will soon feel the effects of the 8% ABV considering how easilly La Chouffe goes down, so like they said, this one is nice to enjoy with friends and family.
**** 1/4 (out of 5 *)
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Presentation- Small brown 330 ml bottle with freshness date on back label.
