Loving Duvel. Any suggestions?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by shwurr, Jan 14, 2013.

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  1. shwurr

    shwurr Initiate (0) Nov 15, 2012 California

    I'm relatively new to craft beer snobbery (but a beer lover for 50 years) and had fun getting into IPAs and Imp Stoughts. After getting a little burnt out on hopped up crafts, I tried some Belgians and Duvel brought me nearly to tears. It is in my opinion Nectar of the Gods. If I could buy this shit for a decent price, I could live the rest of my days at peace and content with the world. Any suggestions?
     
    Stockfan42 likes this.
  2. ImperialStoat

    ImperialStoat Initiate (0) May 20, 2009 Ireland

    Uhhh...Keep buying Duvel?
     
  3. Stignacious

    Stignacious Pooh-Bah (1,764) Aug 24, 2011 New York
    Pooh-Bah Society

    It depends on where you live, but Don de Dieu (Unibroue) is an excellent Belgian Strong Pale Ale for around $10 per 4pk
     
  4. Orca

    Orca Grand Pooh-Bah (4,441) Sep 18, 2010 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Revise your definition of a "decent price." You get what you pay for. Cheers!
     
    funhog likes this.
  5. BedetheVenerable

    BedetheVenerable Initiate (0) Sep 5, 2008 Missouri

    Well, it's certainly not the 'easy' way out, but it would be cost effective (eventually) to get a small, quality home-brew setup and brew a clone. Duvel is (if I remember correctly) simply Belgian Pils malt and white table sugar, with hops, and a yeast that's available commercially (from Wyeast, and maybe White Labs as well, I can't remember). The cheapest way to do this would be all-grain (though you could certainly go the easier route and do dry extract beers) and, if you brewed half-batches, you could even do this without getting a fancy propane burner and going outside. Granted, you're looking at several hundred dollars for the whole set-up (less, if brewing extract) but the beer itself would be FAR less expensive. Will it taste EXACTLY like Duvel? No. The book 'Brew Like a Monk' tells all about Duvel's fermentation/temperature control procedure and, if I remember correctly, it's pretty rigorous. Still, you could get pretty close, and for lots less than the commercial product.

    I'll probably be called out, but I've found very few to rival Duvel in it's particular style. I don't agree (though many do) that North Coast's Pranqster's a close approximation, or anywhere near as good. Unibroue's Don de Dieu would be my suggestion for you to try next (around $9.00 a 4-pk); it's somewhat similar to Duvel and deft. a bit cheaper.
     
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  6. fritts211

    fritts211 Initiate (0) Feb 19, 2011 Tennessee

    Move to Belgium.

    Or cash out your 401k and buy in bulk.
     
  7. DelMontiac

    DelMontiac Initiate (0) Oct 22, 2010 Oklahoma

    If you dig that Belgian Strong Pale Ale, then sift through these and knock yourself out. Some of my very favorite beers reside within this style.
    http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/55
     
  8. YogiBeer

    YogiBeer Initiate (0) May 10, 2012 Illinois

    Drink less (but better) beer.
     
  9. JimDH

    JimDH Crusader (404) Feb 7, 2011 Kentucky

    I second La Fin du Monde. Though it shares characteristics the flavor is unique and I would not call it a clone.
    http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22/34

    Also try Brooklyn Local 1 if you can get it. It's much cheaper per ounce, though I believe it's packaged only in 750 ml bottles.
    http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/45/35328
     
  10. Thickfreakness

    Thickfreakness Initiate (0) Oct 2, 2010 New York

    Brilliant beer! One of my all time favorites!
     
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  11. mattsander

    mattsander Initiate (0) Feb 3, 2010 Canada (AB)

    While Duvel and La Fin du Monde are both pale, strong and awesome, I would never call either a clone of the other, way different flavor profile. La fin du monde has huge yeast character.
     
  12. gatornation

    gatornation Grand High Pooh-Bah (9,502) Apr 18, 2007 Arizona
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

  13. highdesertdrinker

    highdesertdrinker Pooh-Bah (2,492) Nov 5, 2012 Arizona
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I love Belgian style beers and I love La Fin Du Monde! It is so sweet and strong @ 9% which is a tad higher than Duvel but hides the alcohol a little better than Duvel IMO and you can't beat the price for a world class beer.
     
  14. Zimbo

    Zimbo Pooh-Bah (2,281) Aug 7, 2010 Scotland
    Pooh-Bah

    Define 'Decent price'.
     
  15. Orca

    Orca Grand Pooh-Bah (4,441) Sep 18, 2010 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Society

    ???

    Ommegang and Duvel are owned (or at least run) by the same company (Moortgat) and, at least around here, priced pretty similarly: around $10 for a 750 of the standard lineup.

    But Ommegang doesn't even offer much in the way of BSPAs, aside from Gnomegang, which is more expensive and barrel-aged, and Duvel Rustica, which isn't as good. And neither are year-round beers, as far as I know.

    Like ImperialStoat above, I recommend that the OP just keep drinking Duvel. He's not likely to find a satisfactory replacement that's substantially cheaper.
     
  16. gatornation

    gatornation Grand High Pooh-Bah (9,502) Apr 18, 2007 Arizona
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    good god then throw in Maredsous just throwing out Ommegang brews dont need anal replies or troll
     
  17. Ri0

    Ri0 Initiate (0) Jul 1, 2012 Wisconsin

    I have the same dilemma. Love Duvel, but too expensive. I found Pranqster, from North Cost Brewery. Its awesome for the price. Give it a try.

    http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/112/411/?ba=Ri0
     
    rob133, bellce0 and TongoRad like this.
  18. TinCup69

    TinCup69 Initiate (0) Jun 26, 2012 West Virginia

    I love me some Duvel, easily one of my favorite beers.
     
  19. Pahn

    Pahn Initiate (0) Dec 2, 2009 New York

    keep buying duvel, and just experiment with other belgians. all the trappists are good. unibroue, allagash, ommegang, russian river, lost abbey all do decent north american takes on such styles.

    in my opinion, nothing quite tops duvel though. it's the epitome of what a "complex" beer should be: so much going on, but none of it is "difficult"--just all delicious. learning to appreciate its nuances is just a matter of finding more and more flavors, rather than learning to accept them or whatever.

    (as opposed to, say, wild ales, where lots of people have to reevaluate what they perceive as good--often to great results, since there's so many excellent wild ales, but still)
     
  20. loafinaround

    loafinaround Initiate (0) Jul 16, 2011 New York

    my first preferred craft beer was val dieu triple. mighty delish! Won't save you any cash though. it probably costs a few $ more than duvel.
     
    funhog likes this.
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