Church Street Devil's Advocate 4Pk

Church Street Devil's Advocate 4Pk is a Belgian Strong Golden Ale brewed in Itasca, Illinois, at 10.0% ABV. Scored 93/100 by The Beer Connoisseur, this decoction-mashed ale balances potent strength with remarkable drinkability, channeling the classic Flemish golden ale tradition through a distinctly American craft lens.

Quick Facts: ABV: 10.0%  |  Origin: Itasca, Illinois, USA  |  Style: Belgian Strong Golden Ale  |  Brewery: Church Street Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Church Street Brewing Company, based in Itasca, Illinois, employs a traditional German decoction mash technique for Devil's Advocate — an unusual pairing with a Belgian-style ale that contributes deeper malt complexity. Each batch uses approximately 2,000 pounds of Pilsen malt alongside 500 pounds of Belgian candy sugar and cane sugar, fermented with an authentic Duvel yeast strain. The recipe was reformulated in 2015, raising the ABV from its original 8.8% to the current 10.0%, intensifying the ale's body and fruit-forward character while preserving its golden clarity and effervescence.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe pear and light orange citrus emerge first, followed by phenolic peppery notes and clove-like spice from the Belgian yeast. Underneath, subtle cotton candy sweetness and bready malt round out a complex, inviting nose.

Taste: The entry is deceptively smooth — doughy Pilsen malt and Belgian candy sugar sweetness give way to layers of stone fruit, apricot, and white grape at mid-palate. Spicy, herbal hop notes and pineapple hints develop toward the peak, balanced by the warmth of the 10% ABV. A bready, slightly funky yeast character ties the flavors together without any cloying sugar residue.

Finish: Medium-long and drying, with lingering peppery spice and earthy hop bitterness that counterbalances the residual fruit sweetness. A faint warmth settles in, a reminder of the ale's considerable strength.

How to Drink Devil's Advocate

Pour into a tulip glass or Belgian goblet at 45–50°F to allow the aromatic complexity to fully open. This ale is best enjoyed on its own, sipped slowly to appreciate the evolving flavors as it warms slightly in the glass. For cocktail-curious drinkers: try it in a Belgian Shandy with fresh lemon juice and a touch of honey for a refreshing twist; blend it into a Stone Fruit Radler paired with peach nectar to amplify the apricot notes; or use it in a Beer Mimosa alongside orange juice for a brunch-worthy combination that highlights the citrus aromatics.

Best For

• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who appreciates Belgian-style ales
• Sharing at a dinner party as a conversation-starting sipper
• Pairing with a holiday cheese board or special occasion meal
• Building a Belgian-style tasting flight alongside classic Flemish golden ales

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Devil's Advocate taste like? Devil's Advocate delivers ripe pear, apricot, and white grape fruit notes layered with bready Pilsen malt and Belgian candy sugar sweetness, balanced by peppery yeast spice and earthy hop bitterness. Despite its 10% ABV, the alcohol is well-integrated, making it dangerously smooth for its strength.

How does Devil's Advocate compare to Duvel? Both are Belgian Strong Golden Ales fermented with similar yeast strains, but Devil's Advocate uses a German decoction mash that lends a richer malt backbone than Duvel's leaner, more effervescent profile. Devil's Advocate also sits at 10.0% ABV compared to Duvel's 8.5%, delivering a fuller body with more pronounced stone fruit and candy sugar character.

Is Devil's Advocate good for sipping neat? Absolutely — this is a sipping beer by design, best poured into a proper goblet and enjoyed slowly as its complex fruit, spice, and malt layers evolve with temperature over the course of the glass.

Where is Devil's Advocate made? Devil's Advocate is brewed by Church Street Brewing Company in Itasca, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. The brewery specializes in European-inspired ales and lagers produced with traditional Old World techniques.

What foods pair well with Devil's Advocate? Soft-ripened cheeses like Brie or Camembert complement the ale's fruity sweetness. Roasted chicken with herbs mirrors its spicy, bready yeast character. Mussels steamed in white wine echo the Belgian tradition. Fruit tarts or crème brûlée align with the stone fruit and candy sugar notes. Spicy Thai cuisine works as a counterpoint, with the ale's sweetness tempering the heat.

What sizes does Devil's Advocate come in? Devil's Advocate is available in a 4-pack format, which is standard for higher-ABV Belgian-style craft ales.

Is Devil's Advocate worth the price? Devil's Advocate positions as a premium craft offering, justified by its labor-intensive decoction mash process, generous malt and sugar bill, and a 93/100 score from The Beer Connoisseur — strong credentials for a domestic Belgian Strong Golden Ale competing against imported benchmarks.

Why Devil's Advocate?

The combination of a traditional German decoction mash with a Belgian yeast strain and generous Belgian candy sugar addition is a production approach rarely seen in American craft brewing. That 93/100 rating from The Beer Connoisseur — scoring a perfect 10/10 on mouthfeel — validates the technique. At 10.0% ABV, Devil's Advocate delivers the warming potency expected of the Belgian Strong Golden Ale style while maintaining the drinkability and aromatic complexity that define the category's best examples. For anyone who admires Duvel but wants a bolder, more malt-driven interpretation brewed on American soil, this is the bottle to reach for.