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Duvel Rustica
Brewery Ommegang
- From:
- Brewery Ommegang
- New York, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Pale Strong Ale
- ABV:
- 8.5%
- Score:
- 88
- Avg:
- 3.93 | pDev: 11.45%
- Reviews:
- 92
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- May 31, 2020
- Added:
- Oct 20, 2012
- Wants:
- 37
- Gots:
- 22
Duvel Rustica Golden Ale is our long-anticipated collaboration with Duvel. It's our first Belgian-style Golden Ale, a elegant ale noted for using simple ingredients to create complex flavors and aromas. We worked closely with Duvel on the recipe and processes, yet added our own signature notes. This Duvel collaboration created a fine ale, one with all the depth and breadth of Duvel's classic Belgian Golden Ale, along with rustic notes, including fruity esters from our yeast.
In keeping with our rustic farmstead roots, Rustica pours a golden hue, the aroma and flavor mixes maltiness and citrus from hops while the yeast produces notable fruitiness. The body is lean and rounded, while the finish offers dry warmth & firm hop bitterness.
In keeping with our rustic farmstead roots, Rustica pours a golden hue, the aroma and flavor mixes maltiness and citrus from hops while the yeast produces notable fruitiness. The body is lean and rounded, while the finish offers dry warmth & firm hop bitterness.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ZethOfTheNorth:
Reviewed by ZethOfTheNorth from Louisiana
3.74/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.74/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
750 ml bought for $12.99, poured into Hill Farmstead tulip.
A: As others have noted, very weak on the head, especially for the style and extra-especially for a beer with the word "Duvel" in its title. Not nearly the carbonation activity of its parent beer and hazier.
S: Interesting and refined. White wine-like. Some bubblegum from the yeast. Clean.
T: Quite good, though I like a little sweetness in this style and that's not quite there. Some green grapes and apples. A little booze and bubblegum. Quite saisonish.
M: Thin and undercarbed. A disappointment. Really dry back end.
O: As much as I wanted not to like Duvel Rustica because of the carbonation/head issues, the subtleties of the taste and smell kept me interested enough to jam through a whole 750. Almost a saison hybrid.
Would I buy this again? Given the higher price point and my clear preference for Duvel or Moinette Blonde, probably not.
Jan 16, 2013A: As others have noted, very weak on the head, especially for the style and extra-especially for a beer with the word "Duvel" in its title. Not nearly the carbonation activity of its parent beer and hazier.
S: Interesting and refined. White wine-like. Some bubblegum from the yeast. Clean.
T: Quite good, though I like a little sweetness in this style and that's not quite there. Some green grapes and apples. A little booze and bubblegum. Quite saisonish.
M: Thin and undercarbed. A disappointment. Really dry back end.
O: As much as I wanted not to like Duvel Rustica because of the carbonation/head issues, the subtleties of the taste and smell kept me interested enough to jam through a whole 750. Almost a saison hybrid.
Would I buy this again? Given the higher price point and my clear preference for Duvel or Moinette Blonde, probably not.
More User Ratings:
Rated by pathman from Ohio
4.5/5 rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
05/31/20 bottle @ home
May 31, 2020Reviewed by mothmanscott from Georgia
3.89/5 rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.89/5 rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
From notes 2/17/13: Pours a semi (not quite hazy) clear, medium gold producing a single finger of short-lived, finely bubbled, white head that leaves only minor lace. Aroma is pale malt, grain, a hint of lemon and orange zest, yeasty: musty with wet hay, hints of Noble hops and a stale ash-like note that I don't find pleasant. The nose is a Duvel disappointment. Taste is more Duvel like and "Rustica" fits this brew very well. Flavor is grainy, bready with a hint of wheat, tart, dry, musty with yeast fruity notes of lemon, orange and a blend of white fruits. The Noble hops are detectable but barely. The stale ash of the nose is there as is a herbal/floral hint similar to dried flowers. Alcohol, spice and a drying bitterness intensify as the brew warms. Mouthfeel is moderate to heavy bodied, crisp and lively with carbonation/acidity; dry, tight and drawing with astringency in the aftertaste.
Oct 29, 2019Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina
3.78/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.78/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: Produces a classic Belgian pour, with three fingers plus of rocky foam planted atop the hazy amber liquid; fairly good in the retention department with splotches of lace left around
Smell: Bready and peppery with hints of clove and candi sugar; fruity tones bring banana, pear and white grape
Taste: Yeasty and bready, up front, with a peppery tone being matched by the candi sugar and fruit (banana and pear) elements; rather phenolic, through the middle, with a touch of butterscotch, through the finish
Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation; some warmth in the finish
Overall: After three years, the hop elements have faded and the malty flavors have oxidized; I think this beer is done
Thanks, BerBen, for the opportunity
May 10, 2016Smell: Bready and peppery with hints of clove and candi sugar; fruity tones bring banana, pear and white grape
Taste: Yeasty and bready, up front, with a peppery tone being matched by the candi sugar and fruit (banana and pear) elements; rather phenolic, through the middle, with a touch of butterscotch, through the finish
Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation; some warmth in the finish
Overall: After three years, the hop elements have faded and the malty flavors have oxidized; I think this beer is done
Thanks, BerBen, for the opportunity
Reviewed by pat61 from Minnesota
4.5/5 rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
L: Pours hazy gold into a tulip glass supporting a persistent 2” fluffly and clingy white foam collar.
S: Fruit, spice, citrus with a faint hint of smoke.
T: Big spicy fruit palate with orange, peach, apricot, slight over ripe fruit and barnyard funk and long fruit aftertastes.
F: medium body to medium light, creamy soft medium high carbonation produces sense of fullness.
O: A big, full flavored beer that needs just a touch of bite or sharpness somewhere to become really interesting.
Jul 16, 2015S: Fruit, spice, citrus with a faint hint of smoke.
T: Big spicy fruit palate with orange, peach, apricot, slight over ripe fruit and barnyard funk and long fruit aftertastes.
F: medium body to medium light, creamy soft medium high carbonation produces sense of fullness.
O: A big, full flavored beer that needs just a touch of bite or sharpness somewhere to become really interesting.
Reviewed by Cyberkedi from Georgia
4.24/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Pours a hazy, bubbly golden yellow with a fairly thick, if not persistent, snow-white head. Aroma has only average strength, but tempts with notes of apple, pear, butterscotch and malt plus a hint of yeast. Lip-smacking flavor has good fruity (apple and pear, plus a hint of banana), malty and yeast notes with a bitter hoppy undertone and a hint of butterscotch. Smooth, firm texture has plenty of fizz and leaves a sweet fruity finish with a bitter, woody hops undertone. Rusticate with this one whilst you can!
Jun 09, 2015Rated by sfortunato from California
4.58/5 rDev +16.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.58/5 rDev +16.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Distinctive, complex taste. Smooth and drinkable
Apr 26, 2015Reviewed by PatrickCT from Connecticut
4.36/5 rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.36/5 rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
750ml bottle into a tulip.
a: Golden. Clear with a little haziness from the yeast. The color and carbonation remind me of Krug.
s: Dense bready yeast, dried apricots, pineapple, orange zest, slight maltiness.
t: Yeasty, peppery, fruity. Dried apricots, raisins, orange zest, pepper and cloves. Finish is like orange peel and slight hoppiness.
mf: Crisp and peppery. Medium body with champagne bubbles.
o: If someone handed me this beer in a flute and told me it was Krug I might have believed it.
Mar 20, 2015a: Golden. Clear with a little haziness from the yeast. The color and carbonation remind me of Krug.
s: Dense bready yeast, dried apricots, pineapple, orange zest, slight maltiness.
t: Yeasty, peppery, fruity. Dried apricots, raisins, orange zest, pepper and cloves. Finish is like orange peel and slight hoppiness.
mf: Crisp and peppery. Medium body with champagne bubbles.
o: If someone handed me this beer in a flute and told me it was Krug I might have believed it.
Reviewed by MattyG85 from Minnesota
4.45/5 rDev +13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.45/5 rDev +13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a 750 ml corked bottle into a Duvel tulip glass.
Appearance: Pours a bright and hazy golden orange with a moderate amount of bubbles. Solid finger of white head which settles into a thin patchy layer.
Smell: A yeasty, fruity, and zesty Belgian style aroma with hints of fruit, funk, and spice. Belgian yeast with some hints of clove, farmhouse funk, white pepper, and coriander. Sweet hints of Belgian candied sugar. Solid mix of fruit esters with hints of banana, pear, green apple, lemon zest, orange, and white grape. Malt hints of grains, straw, wheat, and cracker. Subtle earthy and floral hop hints. A very good smell.
Taste: Like the smell, a yeasty, fruity and zesty Belgian Golden Ale taste with good notes of fruit, spice, and funk. Upfront Belgian yeast with notes of farmhouse funk, clove, white pepper, and coriander spicing. Big taste of fruit esters with some notes of banana, pear, lemon zest, green apple, orange, and grapes. Soft pale malt presence with notes of straw, wheat, grains, and cracker. Very subtle earthy hop presence. A really nice Belgian style taste.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a high level of carbonation. Creamy, spicy, and juicy with a somewhat drying finish. Alcohol heat is hidden well.
Overall: A very good take on a Belgian Golden Ale. Good mix of fruit and spice flavors. A little sweeter than the original Duvel but it’s far from cloying.
Jan 23, 2015Appearance: Pours a bright and hazy golden orange with a moderate amount of bubbles. Solid finger of white head which settles into a thin patchy layer.
Smell: A yeasty, fruity, and zesty Belgian style aroma with hints of fruit, funk, and spice. Belgian yeast with some hints of clove, farmhouse funk, white pepper, and coriander. Sweet hints of Belgian candied sugar. Solid mix of fruit esters with hints of banana, pear, green apple, lemon zest, orange, and white grape. Malt hints of grains, straw, wheat, and cracker. Subtle earthy and floral hop hints. A very good smell.
Taste: Like the smell, a yeasty, fruity and zesty Belgian Golden Ale taste with good notes of fruit, spice, and funk. Upfront Belgian yeast with notes of farmhouse funk, clove, white pepper, and coriander spicing. Big taste of fruit esters with some notes of banana, pear, lemon zest, green apple, orange, and grapes. Soft pale malt presence with notes of straw, wheat, grains, and cracker. Very subtle earthy hop presence. A really nice Belgian style taste.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a high level of carbonation. Creamy, spicy, and juicy with a somewhat drying finish. Alcohol heat is hidden well.
Overall: A very good take on a Belgian Golden Ale. Good mix of fruit and spice flavors. A little sweeter than the original Duvel but it’s far from cloying.
Reviewed by MarkNichols from Iowa
3.15/5 rDev -19.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75
3.15/5 rDev -19.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75
I love most of what Ommegang does. This guy was a miss for me. It looked great in the glass, and the aroma was what I'd come to expect from Ommegang and the character of the yeast the they generally use. The taste didn't do it for me though. It screamed Belgian, but in a bit of an unorganized way. Rustica, yes. It had a but of farmhouse character, and I very well may have accepted this beer easier if I had thought it was going to be a saison. It had fruit character, but just a mess of it. And there was that touch of spicy character from the yeast, but dull. Obviously not a bad beer---the guys at Ommegang know what they're doing. But the ball was not hit out of the park.
Jan 02, 2015
Duvel Rustica from Brewery Ommegang
Beer rating:
88 out of
100 with
288 ratings
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