I tried this rarity last weekend and figured I should throw in a review before I forget what it tasted like.
The addition of amarillo definitely gives it a more citrusy nose. Both the aroma and the flavor is surprisingly un-Duvel-like. The saaz dominated on the tongue, which I didn’t think was a bad thing. Despite the heavy-ish hops, the beer didn’t seem to have that Duvel dryness that I like in the original. It seemed a bit more sweet and the high ABV was more apparent. All-in-all, I’d say it’s an interesting and unique beer and deserves a try, but I think it’s a bit over-hyped.
I want to comment a bit further on the hype. This beer is hard to find and in high demand in Belgium. I find this very interesting. Time and time again I hear about the need and desire for “balanced” beers. Belgian brewers pride themselves on balance as do the consumers in their choice of tipple. So, I find it interesting that on the rare occasion a hop-forward beer comes on the market, Belgians just can’t seem to get enough of it.