Duvel is one of those Belgian beers that is exaggerated as being just as devilish as its name suggests. Okay, so it’s true that if you have bottle after bottle of it, it will severely incapacitate you, but it’s not all that lethal. It’s actually not too bad going down. Full-bodied, it is a light straw beer, most of the time with a slight cloudy hue, though if you pour it gently you can get it crystal clear. It is topped by a smooth, solid head of froth, that remains active all the way to the last drop.
The flavour contains lemons, wheat and orange, as well as the rind from the orange. The orangey taste rides through into the long, musty, hoppy aftertaste. Perhaps the texture of the beer is what is most foreboding, being rather sharp and fizzy. A musty, hoppy, wheaty bouquet emanates from this medium-dry beer. There are far better Belgian beers out there, with lots more character, but this one is a classic nonetheless. Try it; you’ll be pleasantly surprised. One sip, and it explodes to fill the senses!