Kwak
Brouwerij Bosteels
- From:
- Brouwerij Bosteels
- Belgium
- Style:
- Belgian Pale Strong Ale
Ranked #154 - ABV:
- 8.4%
- Score:
- 86
Ranked #27,620 - Avg:
- 3.8 | pDev: 12.89%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 781
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Friday at 11:37 AM
- Added:
- Jun 30, 2001
- Wants:
- 74
- Gots:
- 439
SCORE
86
Very Good
86
Very Good
In Napoleon’s time Pauwel Kwak was a brewer and owner of the ‘De Hoorn’ inn in Dendermonde. Mail coaches stopped there every day. But at that time coachmen were not allowed to leave their coach and horses in order to have their thirst quenched along with their passengers. As a result, the inventive innkeeper had a special Kwak glass blown that could be hung on the coach.
In this way the coachman had his Kwak beer safely at hand. Today Kwak is one of the few remaining historic Belgian beers and is still served with respect for tradition in its original kwak glass. Recognizable, special and just as idiosyncratic as the taste of the beer itself.
Kwak is a traditional strong Belgian amber ale, a perfect blend of malt and hops with a great complexity of flavour.
In this way the coachman had his Kwak beer safely at hand. Today Kwak is one of the few remaining historic Belgian beers and is still served with respect for tradition in its original kwak glass. Recognizable, special and just as idiosyncratic as the taste of the beer itself.
Kwak is a traditional strong Belgian amber ale, a perfect blend of malt and hops with a great complexity of flavour.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Sinfull:
Reviewed by Sinfull from New York
3.92/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Amber color with some sediment. Big, off-white head . The aroma of malt , honey , dry fruits ,and yeasts. Rather sweet taste. Light bitterness at the end.
Jan 21, 2025More User Ratings:
Reviewed by DraftMonger from Denmark
4.05/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.05/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Olhão 18/7 2016. 33 cl bottle from Continente Modelo Supermarket. Drawing on the label of the infamous Pauwel Kwak holding his Kwak glass which should be used when drinking this Kwak beer. Unfortunately I do not have a Kwak glass. Must settle for a San Miguel glass (I know I hereby commit a heresy).
Pours slightly hazy dark amber with big white head. Settles as thick creamy white crown of foam several centimeters thick. Substantial lacing.
Aroma is quite intense with Belgian yeast, caramel, brown sugar, banana, a little citrus and a whiff of sour lemonade.
Light carbonation. Medium thick, soft, creamy texture.
Flavor is well on the sweet side being sugary and candy-like. Quite fruity aftertaste with a tart sour edge. Also a nice edge of alcohol.
My only objection is that the bottle only holds 33 cl. Truly a nice Belgian - with a fantastic name. Kwak, Kwak.
Apr 15, 2026Pours slightly hazy dark amber with big white head. Settles as thick creamy white crown of foam several centimeters thick. Substantial lacing.
Aroma is quite intense with Belgian yeast, caramel, brown sugar, banana, a little citrus and a whiff of sour lemonade.
Light carbonation. Medium thick, soft, creamy texture.
Flavor is well on the sweet side being sugary and candy-like. Quite fruity aftertaste with a tart sour edge. Also a nice edge of alcohol.
My only objection is that the bottle only holds 33 cl. Truly a nice Belgian - with a fantastic name. Kwak, Kwak.
Reviewed by katecincinnati from South Korea
3.75/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
S - Dates and cocoa
T - Dates, cocoa, honey and clove up front, followed by white vinegar and banana peel. Tangy wheat malt and corn in the finish.
The beer's website suggests that this is supposed to taste like orange marmalade. I imagine that's from the hops because my bottle was pretty old and had no citrus notes to speak of. I'm willing to try a fresher bottle.
Mar 01, 2026T - Dates, cocoa, honey and clove up front, followed by white vinegar and banana peel. Tangy wheat malt and corn in the finish.
The beer's website suggests that this is supposed to taste like orange marmalade. I imagine that's from the hops because my bottle was pretty old and had no citrus notes to speak of. I'm willing to try a fresher bottle.
Reviewed by CHickman from New York
4.02/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had on tap in the traditional Kwak long glass that rested in a wooded holder; it was dark amber color with a 2-3 finger thick foamy beige head that left nice lacing. Aroma and flavor were malt dominant with caramel, hints of dark fruit, yeast, orange zest, faint floral notes and a bready sweetness like French Toast covered with syrup. Body was on the thinner side with mild carbonation, this was a flavorful session brew that I could drink all night.
Feb 20, 2026
Reviewed by Spankyrightus from Maryland
3.89/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.89/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
On draught in a snifter.
Pours an amber tea color with a thin beige head and no lacing.
Nicely caramelized malts, Mellow spiced muddled fruit, apple, banana, plum, a little brandy like, with tea notes.
The yeast imparts pleasant fruit flavors as in most Belgian brews.
On the edge of booziness at 8.4%
Nov 22, 2025Pours an amber tea color with a thin beige head and no lacing.
Nicely caramelized malts, Mellow spiced muddled fruit, apple, banana, plum, a little brandy like, with tea notes.
The yeast imparts pleasant fruit flavors as in most Belgian brews.
On the edge of booziness at 8.4%
Rated by ttoadee from Texas
3.9/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.9/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
RB transfer
Aug 06, 2025
Reviewed by StBrewnard from France
3.86/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
3.86/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Loads of molasses, caramel, cooked sugar, spice. Some bubblegum, banana and nuttiness too. Not overly sweet, but not particularly bitter either. Unlike many over-spiced and cloyingly sweet Belgian dark ales. Approachable but interesting too.
Jun 15, 2025Reviewed by Sinte from Italy
3.85/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
3.85/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Bottle 0.75 L.
Hazy, amber body with a large tan head, mostly lasting with a nice lacing.
Moderate malty aroma (caramel) and light hoppy character (orange) with notes of sugar and spiced alcohol.
Heavy sweet flavour balanced by an acidic character which becomes more evident in the finish.
Medium body with an oily texture; soft carbonation; light alcoholic warming in the finish.
Satisfactory!
Mar 25, 2025Hazy, amber body with a large tan head, mostly lasting with a nice lacing.
Moderate malty aroma (caramel) and light hoppy character (orange) with notes of sugar and spiced alcohol.
Heavy sweet flavour balanced by an acidic character which becomes more evident in the finish.
Medium body with an oily texture; soft carbonation; light alcoholic warming in the finish.
Satisfactory!
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