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De Koninck

Brouwerij De Koninck
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🌍 Belgium · Belgian Pale Ale · One of 11 Belgian Pale Ales in hopIQ

Antwerp's city beer, served in the iconic bolleke glass since 1833. A soft, biscuity amber pale ale with banana and bready malt on the nose, followed by subtle cinnamon spice and a gentle hop finish. Toasty maltiness sets the stage for a plum-cherry fruitiness and a subdued Belgian yeast profile. The quintessential session ale of Antwerp.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
golden8
See all Belgian Pale Ale alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Very crisp mouthfeel.

The texture leads here, with everything else held in gentle reserve.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Belgian Pale Ale.
Hop character
hoppy
Malt character
bready
malty
toasty
caramel
Fermentation & yeast
banana
yeasty
Distinctive notes
dark fruit
spicy
Compare with another beer →

FEATURED IN

Featured inThe Best Belgian AlesFeatured inThe Best Belgian Beers

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for De Koninck

Appearance

A clear amber pour with a luminous golden-copper hue characteristic of the style. The head is dense and persistent, clinging to the glass with fine Schaumkleiden that mark each sip. Carbonation is moderate and even, typical of the gentle bottle-conditioning tradition of Antwerp's breweries.

clear amberpersistent headwell-carbonated

Aroma

The nose opens with soft, grainy breadiness and toasted biscuit notes, followed by a subtle banana esters from the Belgian yeast. A whisper of cinnamon spice and mild herbal Edelhopfen character emerge beneath, with no aggressive aromatics—the overall impression is warm and inviting rather than complex.

bready maltbanana esterscinnamon spice

Taste

The palate is smooth and welcoming, leading with toasty maltiness and a gentle biscuit sweetness that frames the mid-palate entry. Dark stone fruits—plum and cherry—develop softly against the bready backbone, while low-level hop bitterness provides structure without dominance. The yeast character remains restrained, allowing the Malz and fruit to speak.

toasty maltdark fruitsoft bitterness

Finish

The finish is clean and moderately short, fading to a subtle caramel sweetness and a dry, slightly spiced aftertaste. No harsh edges or lingering bitterness—just a gentle fade that invites another sip.

dry finishgentle fade
80
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
82
Appearance
80
Finish
78
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of De Koninck

Serve at 7–10°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 7–10°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Goblet
Recommended for this style

The wide mouth and heavy base promote head formation and channel rich aromatics toward the nose. Traditional for Belgian strong ales.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with De Koninck

About Belgian Pale Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Belgian Pale Ale?

Pale Ales balance malt sweetness with moderate hop character at 4.5–6% ABV and IBU 20–40. Approachable with floral, citrus or earthy notes over a biscuit malt base.

Finding a similar Belgian Pale Ale

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

Other Belgian Pale Ales in hopIQ

Explore all Belgian Pale Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse Belgium beers →

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