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Winterkoninck

Brouwerij De Koninck
Belgium·Ale
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Toasty, roasted notes from the dark malt sit alongside bitter notes in this deep amber, slightly cloudy winter special with a cream-coloured head. Its arrival marks the start of wintertime at the brewery, and it holds twice as much caramel malt as the regular Bolleke. Top-fermented, with Saaz hops, 6.8 % and 21 IBU.

ABV
6.8%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter21 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark29
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
toastyroastedcaramel
toasty
roasted
caramel
noble hop
malty
Aroma
Toasted grain and roasted malt dominate the nose, underscored by caramel sweetness from the elevated malt bill.
not found:hoppy,bready,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Winterkoninck

◎ Appearance

Deep amber with a slight haze, characteristic of its top-fermented nature. The cream-coloured head builds confidently and adheres well to the glass walls as you drink. Carbonation is moderate and steady, creating fine bubbles that rise through the cloudy body.

deep amberslightly hazycream headgood lacing

◌ Aroma

Toasted grain and roasted malt dominate the nose, underscored by caramel sweetness from the elevated malt bill. Saaz hops add a subtle noble-hop character with gentle spice and herbal notes, while a soft yeast presence rounds out the bouquet without overtaking the malt-driven profile.

toasted grainroasted maltcaramelnoble hops

◐ Taste

The palate opens with broad toasted and caramel flavours, supported by the substantial malt foundation. A restrained bitterness from Saaz hops and the 21 IBU arrives mid-palate, providing balance without dominance. The creamy mouthfeel carries the roasted character through, finishing with a lingering malt sweetness.

toasty maltcaramel sweetnessbalanced bitternesscreamy body

◑ Finish

The finish extends with a warm, slightly dry roasted note that persists pleasantly on the palate. A gentle noble-hop bitterness and malt memory linger, marking the transition from sip to aftertaste.

roasted drynessmalt memorywarming
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
82
Appearance
80
Finish
80
Serve at 6–8°C

Cold enough to sharpen the hop aroma without numbing the palate. Around 7–9°C keeps the citrus and pine vivid without losing bitterness definition.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Drink fresh — hop aroma fades fast. Best within 3 months of canning or bottling.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Winterkoninck

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About Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Ale?

India Pale Ales are hop-forward ales with ABV typically 5.5–7.5% and IBU 40–70+. Bold citrus, pine or tropical aromas alongside firm bitterness and a clean dry finish.

Finding a similar Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same toasty, roasted, caramel character as Winterkoninck will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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