Duchessa
Birra Del Borgo

DuchessaDuchessa
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From:
Birra Del Borgo
 
Italy
Style:
Saison
Ranked #651
ABV:
5.8%
Score:
83
Ranked #24,374
Avg:
3.63 | pDev: 10.47%
Reviews:
37
Ratings:
103
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jun 15, 2023
Added:
Aug 22, 2011
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  23
No description / notes.
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Ratings by Wally_IPA:
Photo of Wally_IPA
Rated by Wally_IPA

4/5  rDev +10.2%

Dec 10, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.72 by NightINgale from Russian Federation

Jun 15, 2023
 
Rated: 4.04 by Robertas from Lithuania

Nov 17, 2021
 
Rated: 3.74 by Kiro from Russian Federation

Jun 25, 2021
 
Rated: 3.79 by igl from Russian Federation

Dec 17, 2020
 
Rated: 3.5 by RiceOwls27 from Texas

Aug 18, 2020
 
Rated: 3.85 by arzt from Germany

Jun 09, 2020
 
Rated: 3.65 by Silke_Neryn from Sweden

Jan 12, 2020
 
Rated: 3 by Dino1018 from New York

Dec 06, 2019
 
Rated: 3.5 by Griffith from Connecticut

Jun 27, 2019
 
Rated: 3.6 by JOBEERFB from Belgium

Jan 14, 2019
 
Rated: 3.69 by HopBelT from Belgium

Jan 12, 2019
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

3.87/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
This is the first Birra del Borgo that I've rated above average. I tend to be hard on Italian ales as they are pricey and are not a good value, let's say, 90% of the time. I'm glad with Duchessa that I found another of my 10%.

Looks are average. But Smell, Taste and Feel present an integrated ale that uses different grains (spelt and probably wheat) and a yeast that almost takes it the level of the Belgian masters (but not quite.) The yeast works the grain into a feast of flavor that is interesting; although too different to make me really excited this first time around.

Del Borgo's "Retkinking Ale" is a great motto and, frankly, its results take an open-mind to judge; which I wish I could say I have most of the time, but I doubt I do. An open-mind to changing conventional tastes takes work thinking about what the brewer is trying to achieve. But after looking through Del Borgo's website, I can see they have done inventive thinking. It also is no small feat to persist for a decade brewing ale in wine country. And for that, I give them a very big OA hug.
Dec 30, 2018
Photo of FLima
Reviewed by FLima from Brazil

3.55/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Amber orange color with a thin head with short retention and with a constant plate.
Aroma with lots of medicine piney notes, white wine, orange marmalade and musk.
Flavor with note of pepper, mild cloves, herbal medicine, malt sweetness, orange tartness, white grapes, soap, hay, banana, musk, salt, grains, flowers and pineapple. Dry aftertaste with a mild to medium bitterness.
Light to medium body with slightly effervescent carbonation.
Decent Saison with friendly notes but still with good complexity. It mixes fruit, spices, funk-tartness, medicinal and grainy (spelt?) notes.
Sep 03, 2018
 
Rated: 3.93 by thatsmyspot from Italy

Jul 04, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by paulish from New York

Apr 30, 2018
 
Rated: 3 by YvesB from Belgium

Feb 26, 2018
 
Rated: 3.64 by desint from Belgium

Jan 25, 2018
Photo of EMV
Reviewed by EMV from Pennsylvania

3.08/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Poured from a bottle into a tulip glass

L: Cloudy amber/copper pour. Thin white head... no significant lacing.

S: Slightly tart... citrus and fruit.

T/F: Very light bodied... toasted grains... citrus flavor... sweet up front with a bit of tart/funk. Grassy. Minimal complexity. Very light bodied... poor carbonation, felt nearly flat. Finish is sweet grains.

O: Pretty uninspired. Not one I'd have again.
Jan 11, 2018
Photo of The_Kriek_Freak
Reviewed by The_Kriek_Freak from Pennsylvania

3.39/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
It pours yellowish amber with a lot of floaties. The aroma is indicative of a bitter brew and it expresses a mild floral-ness. The taste is bitter upfront with some malts and yeasty flavors later on. It finishes with more bitterness of the quinine-like variety.
Nov 06, 2017
Duchessa from Birra Del Borgo
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 103 ratings