Disappointingly, this came to the states only in the special, World Cup 4-packs with a commemorative glass. This beer has sod-all to do with the World Cup, oh how I hate marketing!

Pour offers the anticipated pale golden body with some broken lace forming below the initial, relatively wispy head. Some film and sticky lace.

The first thing I get from Imperial Blonde is a significantly drier character. I was anticipating a slightly amped up Duvel in terms of ABV – and that is part of the equation – but the drying feel is also apparent, and this feels like a very different beer. It lacks the taste profile of the original.

This is very drinkable, but not for reasons that you may expect. It’s rather bland, as in slightly tasteless other than some amped up alcohol. The alcohol is there, and that’s important, but it feels a little lacking in what one might call ‘genuine Duvel character’. As the beer warms we get some Tripel character, with some random soft fruits but they are all alcohol soaked. Finishes quite dry, but once again without character. Ho hum.

The beer is pretty clean (good), but for me it lacks a presence outside of the alcohol.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t dislike it per se, but in the final analysis I’m likely choosing regular Duvel over it every time. Duvel at 8.5% has a deeper taste profile than this beer. Sorry, but this beer should be more special than it is.