Belle
Devil's Canyon Brewing Company

BelleBelle
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Devil's Canyon Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
Bière de Champagne / Bière Brut
ABV:
6%
Score:
82
Avg:
3.58 | pDev: 9.5%
Reviews:
16
Ratings:
42
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 29, 2020
Added:
Mar 20, 2012
Wants:
  4
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by mactrail:
Photo of mactrail
Reviewed by mactrail from Washington

4.04/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Attractive golden brew with a modest foam in the Troubadour tulip. The warm wheat taste is so inviting. There is just a touch of yeastiness, and the dry finish does reveal the Belgian character, though rather shyly. Fruity aroma with a pleasant pear taste.

Light bodied but definitely malty. Totally drinkable, mild, and mellow, but with a Belgian yeasty zing. I think this is a category that should be explored more by American brewers. From the 750 ml bottle purchased at Whidbey Beer Works in Oak Harbor for $8.25.
Jun 08, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

3.65/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Snagged from the remainder shelf at Total in Naples. Another clue was the last review was four years ago. But just because a good ale is past its prime doesn't mean it shouldn't be enjoyed; adjusting for its age.

Belle has interesting pale-amber Looks... but it's not producing any foam anymore. Smells are faintly cidery, fruity, some sweet malt. Tastes have no stand-outs, just a pleasantly semi-dry finish and good enough to drink again. Feel has lost lots of bubbles, but that's expected when you age. (It will happen to you, kids !)

Seems like Devil's Canyon is a cool enough brewery. They have the sustainability certification. It focusses on its brewing and only opens up its taproom/beer garden on weekends. Belle has four flavored renditions, so the brewer takes this obscure style seriously. I suspect they don't do the champagne process with as much panache as they do in Belgium/France; but there is plenty of champagne producers not far from where Belle is brewed. If I am ever in San Carlos on a Friday with nothing to do (and stuck in traffic on 101), I just might stop in and gleefully ease the anxiety of that congested corridor.

2/2/22 Two years later, I find the last copy on the remainder shelf at the same Total in Naples. I've edited the above review and will check-in @ UnTappd.
Jan 29, 2020
 
Rated: 3.5 by Cuervo_PCB from Florida

Jul 19, 2018
Photo of MikeWard
Reviewed by MikeWard from Pennsylvania

3.71/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
poured from a 750ml bottle into a flute. no dating that i could see.

looks very attractive, pale yellow with lots of small carbonation. head is small and bright white.

mild aroma, slightly champagne like.

taste is also very mild, some maltiness, quite pleasant really, just no particular powerful flavor. could probably slam this all night.

feel is a tad below medium, only slightly dry at the finish.

overall, an interesting experience. likely wont be avidly hunting this style down again, but would consider it if one popped up on the shelf.
Apr 08, 2016
 
Rated: 3.89 by jwswigs from California

Feb 06, 2016
 
Rated: 3.1 by Chuck13 from Massachusetts

Aug 22, 2015
 
Rated: 4.17 by drummerdwzp from Connecticut

Aug 04, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by WasupBeerQueen from Massachusetts

Jun 04, 2015
 
Rated: 2.96 by Coorsy from Massachusetts

Jun 02, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by dental from Massachusetts

Jun 01, 2015
 
Rated: 3.18 by BAsbill from California

May 29, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by bostonryan from Massachusetts

Mar 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3.49 by aquazr1 from California

Mar 17, 2015
 
Rated: 4.08 by chris1919 from Florida

Oct 29, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by Raziel313 from California

Oct 25, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by Paccamacca from California

Aug 17, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Beervana from Canada (BC)

Jul 16, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by GClarkage from California

Jul 08, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by watchnerd from California

Jun 27, 2014
Photo of CalgaryFMC
Reviewed by CalgaryFMC from Canada (AB)

3.69/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Large format bottle decanted into a flute over the course of several pourings. This effervescent sparkly brew is a light lemon yellow color with a frothy persistent white head. Aroma prominently features doughy pilsener or pale malt, apple and pear-like esters along with a little Belgian yeasty funk, hard fruit candy, and faintly fragrant and earthy hay-like hops. Smells like a hybrid continental lager/Belgian or French ale, quite unique, although the aroma was subdued overall. Palate was also quite distinctive and surprising, a solid backbone of doughy sweet malts propping up a strong gooseberry hop flavor that gathered steam over the course of the session and some mellow yeast-derived phenols. There is quite a pronounced residual sweetness that almost veers into cidery territory, the carbonation is much lower than expected (or than the appearance suggests!), and the mouthfeel is almost chalky and thicker than expected. Finishes rather hoppy, more gooseberry jam and candied lemon. This beer does not jive particularly well with written descriptions of the style (e.g., Larson's "Beer Select-o-pedia", 2014) although it does convey some Belgian character and is interesting on the basis of its own merits. I probably wouldn't move mountains to obtain another bomber.
May 18, 2014
Belle from Devil's Canyon Brewing Company
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 42 ratings