In this video we take a trip out to the amazing Sunset Grill and Tap in Allston, MA for the official US launch of Duvel Green. This is the first time duvel has ever been available outside of the bottle and it is available in pubs right now. Duvel is a great bottled beer that has been around for a long time, with the unfortunate effect being that it has almost been forgotten by some (been there done that). So the Duvel Green brings a welcome reintroduction to this brand.
In this episode we get to chat with Simon Thorpe, President & CEO of Duvel. We also chat with Jake Feltenberger, Marketing Manager for Duvel USA/Ommegang Brewery and Marc Kadish President, Chef and Cellar Master of the Sunset Grill. What a great group of guys. It was certainly a fun night and one delicious beer. You can see Tim’s Duvel Green review here.
Be sure to try the Duvel Green and keep watching here for the beer. Cheers!
This killer image from beerlens.com, which is why it doesn't suck
So what makes this duvel Green? I actually wish they hadn’t named it “Green” as it gives the impression that they are just jumping on the “green” bandwagon like so many others. Which is a shame becasue in all honesty, this beer is awesome.
Of course, I am biased here as I tend to love Ommegang’s beers and their Hennepin is one of my all time favorites. (For those who don’t know, Duvel owns the Ommegang brewery. Duvel is brewed in Belgium, Ommegang is brewed in New York).
This draft version of the traditional Duvel bottled beer bares a resemblance to the Hennepin but is somewhat (frighteningly) more drinkable. I say frighteningly as it still comes in around 7% abv, but doesn’t give that impression at all. Very flavorful and delicious while still showing all the signs of a traditional Belgian beer.
Only available in the US on draft, and with the hopes of grabbing handles in taprooms everywhere, it looks like the plan with this one is to go up against another popular belgian lager, Stella. I think they have a good chance at grabbing some of the Stella drinkers out there, this beer is way more complex and flavorful. As we have heard, it’s the thinking mans Stella.
A great beer from a brewery that had been off our radar. I will be going green.
Even though the voices might not like you (see the picture) they love this beer. Ommegang Hennepin is on draft at a local pub and for that I am extremely grateful. I love Belgian beer and Ommegang is my New York mistress.
Ommegangs branding is a little boring and the tap handle does nothing for me, but its easy to recognize and I have a Pavlovian response to seeing it. Hennepin is sweet, smooth and dangerously drinkable. It’s the kind of beer you wouldn’t realize is higher in alcohol (around 8%) until the bartender is kicking you in the side and telling you to get off the floor. It goes down ohhh so easy. On top of that, it smells great and its got a great fresh flavor that is obviously farmhouse – but not overly yeasty. So good it even made me almost smile for the picture.
Perfect sunny day outside on the deck beer. I say drink the hell out of this one.
In this episode, we are in Washington, DC for the Inauguration of President Barrack Obama (be sure to checkout our Inauguration video). After the Inauguration we stopped into RFD, Regional Food and Drink to try the Obamagang Inauguration Ale made by Ommegang Brewery.
The Obamagang Inauguration Ale was in our opinion an excellent beer, but as for the Regional Food and Beverage, we were not overly impressed.
RFD had the feel of a sports bar and a lack of attention to detail like a chain restaurant. They had a wide beer selection but strangely listed in alphabetical order with no descriptions. The table we were seated at was dirty. We were initially seated next to the back door, which was very cold as people walked in and out from the back bar. We asked to change tables and we were seated at another dirty table. The server was not friendly, she seemed pretty inconvenienced to be there. We ordered two Brew Burgers and were never offered cheese on them. The food arrived quickly and was well prepared, but the plates were chipped. That was the last we saw of our server for the evening, having to go to the bar to ask for additional beers.
Part of me wants to say this was a really busy day, perhaps not a fair time to evaluate our experience, while the other part of me says it was no busier than a Friday or Saturday night would be (we only waited 20 minutes for a table). The most disappointing part was that the Inaugural parade on the TV was changed to make way for college basketball! I guess that certainly puts the nail in the “sports bar” definition!
Would we go back, probably – we always give second chances. But from this take, we think that RFD is just not for us. As for Obamagang, if anyone happens to have a bottle that they are willing to part with – please email us immediately!
