Birra del Borgo Duchessic

Please note, all of this post was written prior to AB-InBev’s purchase of Birra del Borgo. While the beers still may good, I can not give money to a company that is actively undermining the craft beer industry world-wide. If you’d like to read more about AB-InBev’s malfeasance, please click on this link to a post I did that lists a very small percentage of the unethical acts they perpetrate.

Birra del Borgo is one of the leading new craft breweries of the Italian craft beer scene.  Along with their brewing friends at Baladin, they’ve become the most visible representatives of the new movement in Italian beer.  While I haven’t tried any of their main beers, I’m eager to find some and give them a taste.  Especially after this fun one.

Duchessic is actually a collaboration between Birra del Borgo and Cantillon, or at least it involves beer from both breweries.  Duchessic is a blend of 80% Birra del Borgo Duchessa (a spelt Saison) and 20% 1-year old Lambic from Brasserie Cantillon.

Appearance: Hazy blonde, off-white head, good retention.

Aroma: Earthy, mango, fruity, lemon, light funk.

Taste: Lightly tart, lemon creme, mandarin orange.  High carbonation leads to a very creamy and velvety mouthfeel.

Overall Impression:  This is a delightfully enjoyable beer.  The two beers meld together nicely to make a whole new creation.  If you see this, I can’t recommend it highly enough.  You get the elegance of a Saison blended with the tart funk of a Lambic.  The flavor combinations and high carbonation will also make this beer an excellent food pairing option, especially some funky cheeses.

Availability: Highly Limited and disappearing.  This was a one-time project and what you see is what you get.  Imported by B. United International.

5.3% ABV

To read more about Birra del Borgo and my other reviews of their beers, go to my page dedicated to Birra del Borgo. Or you can read more about Cantillon on their dedicated page.