About This Beer
Duvel 666 Blonde 33cl 6.66% is a refreshing Belgian Blond Ale that combines the brewing heritage of Duvel Moortgat with a softer, fruitier and more contemporary flavour profile.
Created in 2021 to celebrate the brewery's 150th anniversary, Duvel 666 offers a distinctive alternative to the iconic Duvel Original.
While Duvel Original is celebrated for its substantial 8.5% ABV, brilliant clarity and pronounced dry finish, Duvel 666 takes a different approach.
At 6.66% ABV, it is lower in strength, with a smoother flavour, gentle bitterness and lively citrus aromas.
The result is a Belgian blonde beer that retains the character of Duvel while offering a particularly refreshing drinking experience.
One of the beer's defining characteristics is its use of six different hop varieties.
The recipe includes Saaz and Styrian Golding, two hop varieties also associated with Duvel Original, alongside four additional varieties selected to create a balanced aromatic profile.
Rather than simply increasing bitterness, the brewery uses this combination to introduce fresh, fruity aromas.
Dry hopping contributes additional hop character, while the measured addition of orange zest brings a bright citrus dimension.
This combination creates a beer that is aromatic without becoming aggressively bitter.
Duvel 666 also differs from Duvel Original in appearance.
Rather than the brilliant clarity associated with the classic beer, Duvel 666 has a gentle natural haze.
The brewery achieves this through its brewing and filtration approach, preserving some of the beer's natural character.
The result is a golden blonde ale with an inviting appearance and a generous white head.
On the nose, orange zest and fruity hop aromas are particularly noticeable.
Gentle citrus notes combine with subtle herbal characteristics and the familiar fruity fermentation profile associated with Belgian brewing.
The flavour is smooth and rounded, with restrained malt sweetness providing balance to the citrus and hop character.
Its bitterness is deliberately gentle, allowing the beer's fresh fruitiness to remain prominent.
The finish is refreshing and softly fruity, making Duvel 666 noticeably different from the drier and more bitter Duvel Original.
Natural secondary fermentation in the bottle contributes carbonation and additional complexity.
The lively bubbles help balance the beer's fuller texture, creating a drinking experience that remains refreshing despite its 6.66% strength.
The 33cl bottle is particularly suitable for customers discovering the wider Duvel range.
It offers an opportunity to appreciate the brewery's distinctive yeast character in a beer with a softer and more approachable flavour profile.
Duvel 666 also provides an interesting comparison with modern Belgian IPAs.
Although it uses six hop varieties and dry hopping, its restrained bitterness and smooth finish distinguish it from many intensely hopped beers.
For customers who enjoy traditional Belgian blonde ales but prefer something refreshing and fruit-forward, Duvel 666 is an appealing choice.
Discover more speciality Belgian beers in our Belgian & Trappist Beer collection.
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Golden blonde with a gentle natural haze, lively carbonation and a generous white head.
Aroma: Fresh orange zest, citrus and fruity hops, supported by subtle herbal notes and Belgian fermentation character.
Taste: Smooth malt sweetness, refreshing orange and citrus flavours, gentle fruity hop character and delicate bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Soft and rounded with lively carbonation, a refreshing texture and a smooth, fruity finish.
About the Brewery
Duvel Moortgat is a historic Belgian family-owned brewery based in Breendonk, Belgium.
Founded in 1871 by Jan-Leonard Moortgat and his wife, the brewery has become one of Belgium's most internationally recognised speciality beer producers.
Its flagship beer, Duvel, is particularly influential within the Belgian Strong Golden Ale tradition.
The development of Duvel began in the years following the First World War.
Inspired by British brewing traditions, the Moortgat family developed a distinctive strong ale using a yeast culture originally sourced from Scotland.
The beer was initially introduced as Victory Ale before adopting the name Duvel in 1923.
The name, meaning devil in a Flemish dialect, reflects the beer's deceptively powerful character.
Over subsequent decades, Duvel developed into the highly carbonated golden ale recognised internationally today.
Its combination of pale malt, expressive yeast character, refined hop bitterness and substantial strength helped establish the reputation of Belgian strong golden ales.
The brewery continued to expand while remaining under family ownership.
Its range developed to include different interpretations of Duvel, allowing the brewers to experiment with new ingredients and flavour profiles.
The Duvel Tripel Hop range explored the contribution of additional aromatic hop varieties.
These releases introduced pronounced citrus and tropical fruit characteristics while retaining the familiar strength and dryness of Duvel.
Duvel 666 emerged from a different objective.
In 2021, the brewery celebrated its 150th anniversary and introduced a new beer designed to be softer, fruitier and more accessible.
Rather than simply reducing the alcoholic strength of Duvel Original, the brewers developed a distinctive recipe.
The beer uses six hop varieties, including the familiar Saaz and Styrian Golding.
Four additional varieties contribute further aromatic complexity, while dry hopping helps preserve the fresh qualities of the hops.
The addition of orange zest provides another distinctive element.
Its citrus character complements the hop aromas, creating a bright and refreshing flavour profile.
The brewery also uses its distinctive Duvel yeast, maintaining an important connection with the fermentation character of its established beers.
A combination of malted barley and malted wheat contributes to the beer's rounded character.
Unlike Duvel Original, which is celebrated for its brilliant clarity, Duvel 666 retains a gentle natural haze.
This reflects the brewery's decision not to filter the beer completely.
The result is a beer with a different appearance and texture while retaining the lively carbonation associated with Belgian bottle conditioning.
Duvel 666 undergoes natural secondary fermentation in the bottle.
This process contributes to its carbonation and helps develop its characteristic flavour.
The beer's introduction also marked an important development in the brewery's draught offering.
Duvel 666 became the first Duvel beer made available on conventional draught, alongside its bottled format.
This reflected the brewery's intention to create a refreshing blonde ale suitable for a wider range of occasions.
The beer received recognition during its launch year.
In 2021, it won a gold medal in the Haute Fermentation/Blonde category at the Concours International de Lyon.
It also received gold in the Belgian Style Hoppy Blond category at the International Beer Challenge in the United Kingdom.
These awards recognised the beer's balance of traditional Belgian brewing character and contemporary hop expression.
For customers interested in the development of Duvel Moortgat, Duvel 666 represents an important addition to the brewery's history.
It demonstrates how a brewery celebrated for strong golden ales can create a different drinking experience without abandoning its established identity.
The result is a beer that combines Belgian brewing heritage, aromatic hops, citrus character and a refreshing finish.
Food Pairings
Duvel 666 is particularly versatile alongside food because of its citrus aromas, gentle bitterness and smooth, refreshing character.
Its combination of orange zest, fruity hops and lively carbonation complements a wide range of savoury dishes.
Roast chicken is an excellent starting point.
Chicken prepared with lemon, garlic and fresh herbs offers flavours that naturally complement the beer's citrus character.
The carbonation helps balance the richness of roasted chicken skin, while the gentle bitterness provides a refreshing contrast.
Grilled chicken with a light herb marinade is another appealing option.
The beer's fruity aromas work well with thyme, rosemary and parsley without overwhelming the dish.
Seafood also pairs particularly well with Duvel 666.
Grilled white fish, mussels and salmon prepared with citrus or fresh herbs complement the beer's orange and hop aromas.
The relatively gentle bitterness allows delicate seafood flavours to remain prominent.
Belgian-style mussels are a particularly fitting choice.
Moules marinières prepared with white wine, garlic and shallots provide savoury flavours that contrast with the beer's fresh citrus character.
Duvel 666 is also suitable for cheese pairings.
Brie, Camembert and other soft cheeses offer creamy textures that are balanced by the beer's lively carbonation.
Aged Gouda and Comté provide nutty and savoury flavours that complement its gentle malt sweetness.
For a lighter pairing, consider goat's cheese served with salad leaves and a citrus dressing.
The acidity and freshness of the dressing complement the beer's orange zest character.
Vegetarian dishes offer several attractive options.
Roasted cauliflower with lemon and herbs, grilled courgettes and vegetable tarts provide savoury flavours that complement the beer's fruity hop profile.
A mushroom and herb risotto offers a richer contrast, with the beer's carbonation helping refresh the palate.
Duvel 666 can also work well with moderately spiced dishes.
Thai-inspired chicken with ginger, lemongrass and coriander provides aromatic flavours that complement its citrus and fruity hop characteristics.
Indian-inspired dishes featuring aromatic spices and herbs can also be suitable, particularly when the heat level is restrained.
Very hot chilli dishes may accentuate the warmth of the beer's alcohol, so gentler spice levels generally provide a more balanced pairing.
For casual meals, Duvel 666 works well with pizza, savoury pastries and grilled chicken sandwiches.
Its refreshing finish makes it particularly enjoyable alongside salty or moderately rich foods.
The 33cl bottle is also an excellent accompaniment to a simple tasting platter.
Combine soft cheeses, savoury crackers, olives and roasted nuts for a selection of flavours that complement the beer's citrus and malt character.
The brewery recommends serving Duvel 666 at approximately 6°C.
A clean Belgian beer glass allows its natural haze, lively carbonation and generous white head to be appreciated.
As the beer gradually warms, its fruity aromas and gentle fermentation character may become more noticeable.
Because Duvel 666 undergoes secondary fermentation in the bottle, some yeast sediment may be present.
Pour gently if you prefer a clearer appearance.
Try More Like This
If you enjoy Duvel 666 Blonde 33cl, Duvel Original 33cl is the natural next beer to explore.
Both share the same brewing heritage, but their flavour profiles are noticeably different.
Duvel Original offers a stronger 8.5% ABV, brilliant clarity, more pronounced bitterness and a crisp, dry finish.
Duvel 666 is softer and fruitier, with orange zest, six hop varieties and a gentle natural haze.
Comparing the two provides an excellent opportunity to appreciate the versatility of Duvel's brewing traditions.
For customers who enjoy aromatic hops, Duvel Tripel Hop Citra offers a stronger and more hop-forward alternative.
Its pronounced grapefruit and citrus aromas come from the addition of American Citra hops, creating a different expression of Belgian golden ale.
Duvel Tripel Hop Krush provides another interesting comparison, with tropical fruit characteristics including passion fruit, mango and peach.
For a richer and stronger Duvel, Imperial Blond 10% offers a contrasting experience with greater malt character and softer bitterness.
For a traditional Trappist alternative, Westmalle Tripel provides an opportunity to explore a golden Belgian beer from a monastery brewery.
Its 9.5% ABV, fruity fermentation character and dry finish distinguish it from the gentler profile of Duvel 666.
Another excellent comparison is Delirium Tremens 33cl.
This celebrated Belgian Strong Golden Ale offers expressive fermentation aromas, gentle spice and warming strength.
Customers interested in exploring Belgian blonde beers can also consider La Chouffe, which offers a distinctive combination of fruity yeast character and gentle spice.
Explore our Belgian & Trappist Beer collection for more Belgian speciality beers and traditional golden ales.
Whether you're discovering Duvel for the first time or looking for a softer alternative to the brewery's stronger releases, Duvel 666 Blonde 33cl offers a refreshing combination of orange zest, fruity hops, Belgian yeast character and gentle bitterness.
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