Pauwel Kwak by Brouweij Bosteels

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Beer specs

Beer details: Rating: 82; Pauwel Kwak; Brewery: Brouweij Bosteels · Dendermonde, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium; Variety: Ale · Belgian / French Ales · Belgian Pale Ale; Alcohol: ABV 8.00% / ABW 6.40%; Preferred vessel: Goblet; Color: Copper (English pale ale) (10 SRM); Added by Dave S.

In Napoleon’s time, Pauwel Kwak was a brewer and the 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 coachmen 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. Recognisable, special and just as idiosyncratic as the taste of the beer itself.

Sweet, Malty, Fruity, Malty, Balanced

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Reviews

Review by Dave S.

Rating: 87

Dave S.

drank this beer from a Goblet in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Jan. 23rd, 2009 at 1:06 a.m.

Comment:
Pretty darned good. A malty and fruity Belgian ale that starts sweet and finishes with a pleasing nutty flavour. Hints of cherry and lemon make this one a winner.

Characteristics: cherry lemon malt
Review by Kris

Rating: 73

Kris

drank this beer from a Other in San Diego, CA

Feb. 3rd, 2009 at 7:50 p.m.

Comment:
Not one of my favorites, but enjoyable enough, even if it is a little uninteresting. Sweet and fruity, it kind of reminds me of hard cider.

Characteristics: fruity sweet
Review by Phil Dokas

Rating: 92

Phil Dokas

drank this beer from a Pint glass in Ann Arbor, MI

Feb. 15th, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.

Comment:
My first Belgian amber ale and definitely not my last. Ignore the almost silly nature of the traditional glass by today’s standards, this beer is rich and absolutely delicious – dangerously so due to its alcohol content. The taste is only very slightly bitter with much more maltiness coming through but by no means is there a roasted or smoky flavor present. It’s hard to describe just how balanced the sweet and bitter tastes in this beer balance each other, but they play back and forth wonderfully from start to finish with a warm alcohol kick the whole way down. If I had to name the taste it’d be of alcoholic raisins or maybe tart cherries but to call this beer fruity isn’t very apt.

Characteristics: balanced malty sweet
Review by jmhughes

Rating: 91

jmhughes

drank this beer from a Other in North Chicago, IL

March 14th, 2009 at 4:29 p.m.

Comment:
One of my favorite dinner beers. A citrus-sweet belgian, this beer well compliments a pork or fish. Plus, I love beer glassware, and this beer definitely has the quirkest out there.

Characteristics: citrus fruity
Review by Dustin

Rating: 76

Dustin

drank this beer from a Goblet in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

April 30th, 2009 at 9:08 p.m.

Comment:

Characteristics:
Review by kobak

Rating: 75

kobak

drank this beer from a Goblet in Budapest, Budapest, Hungary

Jan. 26th, 2010 at 2:13 p.m.

Comment:
Got this beer for christmas this year. 2 bottles done, two more in the fridge.

Characteristics: balanced malty