Duvel Tripel Hop--Mosaic

Duvel Tripel Hop, Special Edition Golden Ale, dry-hopped with Mosaic, 9.5% ABV. (this one was $18 for a 4-pack, versus $20 for a 750ml bottle previously.)

Hazy, golden hued. Beautiful. gorgeous. lace-leaving, ivory head of foam. Lovely looking.

Aroma: ah! Ahh! Ahh, ahhh, ahhhh, ahhhhh, ahhhhhh!!! Nothing but …wait, did I use up my adjectives? It's luminescent, is what it is. Zap-tastic, pretty much. Tropical fruit, some citrus, a glimmer of pine, lemon and pineapple, it's zestful, to be sure.

Taste: On the palate, it's pretty much Duvel Plus, if that helps you. Everything you expect from a well-conditioned bottle of Duvel with this extra addition of Mosaic, which is a most complex and rewarding hop.

Man, if you're in need of relief from a bad day, drink this, buddy. If you want extra succor, something to soothe you after some hardship, this is the key to the salve of your salvation. If you're a dyed-in-the-wool hop-head of course. You're not? Why are you reading this?

Most delicious, this. Tons of hop bitterness, but never too harsh.

From Hedwig Neven, Brewmaster: "For this edition, I have selected Mosaic. This new U.S. hop variety enhances the beer with a tangerine sweetness, hints of tropical fruit and an interesting blueberry flavor."

Here's the thing. Mosaic does have that "blueberry" thing, but I never pick it up until I read something else. Oh, yeah, blueberry, I get it, now.



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Here are notes from December, 2010, of an earlier version, dry-hopped with Amarillo:


Duvel Triple Hop. Special Edition Ale. 750 ml bottle. Complete with lushly illustrated booklet. Saaz, Styrian Goldings, plus Amarillo, the newish tropical-fruity American hop. $20 bottle. I don't usually drop that much on a single beer. But, this is Duvel. And, well, I've heard good things. Brewed on May 18, 2010.

In a Duvel goblet, of course. Bright golden coloration, fierce, incessant carbonation, bubbles rising valiantly to the top, with a typically enormous, bone white, lacy, and lovely head.

Aroma spills out at first pour, and distracted me while describing the appearance. This addition of Amarillo to the usual combo of Saaz and Styrian Golding hops was ingenious. Floral, fragrant, aplomb with many associations found in these hops, the citrus, the spice, the distinctive pungent "cat pee" , well, that one peeks out, but is smothered by the pleasanter feelings. And underneath the pretty floral and fruity emanations, comes the bitterness. Beautiful bitterness.

Taste: Light is the body, and high is the bitter hop flavor. A great cornucopia of hoppy goodness. Fruit, spice, and bitter-tangy. Some pineapple pops up, with a twist of lime, trickle of pepper. Smooth down the throat, and over the palate, with the pleasing hop flavor riding along. Each sip is quenching and bracing, with bitterness. You get the sizzle of the Saaz, the classic feel of the Belgian-y Styrian Golding, the funky twisted nature of the thing, with the tropical fruity American Amarillo bringing that pineapple, mango, banana. Wonderfully hoppy. And, as it ages, it gets better an

This = yum.  Unfortunately, it won't be returned to, due to the price. Amazing, for what it is. And I love it. Mmmm, mmm, mmm...