Blonde

1 Star, Blonde, Brouwerij Palm NV

Steenbrugge – Blond by Brouwerij Palm NV

Pours a hazy deep gold with a rapidly vanishing fine bright white head. Yeasty aroma with banana and clove. The beer is buttery smooth with medium carbonation, a little sweet, some citrus fruit and banana flavors but clove and yeast flavored dominate. There is some classic Belgium blond in there some very nontypical flavors more associated with a German hefeweizen.

1.5 Stars.

4 Stars, Blonde, Brasserie Du Buisson

Cuvée Des Trolls by Brassiere Du Buisson

I believe the translation to be “Tank of Trolls”…

Pours a golden straw colored, light haze with a fizzy and rapidly disappearing white head. Full aroma; strong fruit and yeasty.  Taste is fruity, yeasty, malty, balanced well with some bitterness. The beer has a lager like lightness dispite the 7% abv (I had to check, it is a lager).  Refreshing, flavorful and easy drinking, what’s not to like?

4 Stars.

2 Stars, Blonde, Brasserie Vanuxeem

Queue de Charrue – Blonde by Brasserie Vanuxeem

Pours an amber gold with a finger of frothy, long lasting, cream colored head. Aroma of pit fruit, citrus rind, light spicyness and a surprising amount of hot alcohol (it’s a small amount but any amount is unexpected for the style).  Well carbonated, smooth mouth feel, fairly sweet, some fruit, some spicyness, some bitterness and grain flavors at the end. Meh. Sweetness overwhelms the rest of the flavors.

2.5 Stars.

Blonde, De Struise Brouwers

Kloeke Blonde by De Struise Brouwers

Very light cloudy straw color in appearance with white head collecting in the center of the glass. Strong, strange, herbal aroma with some yeasty esters. Same strange aroma is the predominant flavor, though not as strong.  Fairly dry. Overall an odd beer that is full of a flavor I cannot quite place and do not think I have experienced in another beer. I also cannot say that I particularly like it.  This beer has no expectation date on the bottle but I am going to surmise that it has passed.

3 Stars, Abbaye de Abdij van Leffe, Blonde

Leffe – Blonde by Abbaye de Abdij van Leffe

Pours a bright golden blond color with loads of rapidly dissipating frothy white head. Herbal (clove?) and banana notes; the aroma reminds me a bit of mead. Light bitterness, fairly sweet, odd bubble gum slightly chemical flavor, finishes malty. Despite the description an easy drinking beer. Does not stand out as having the Belgian character I would expect for the style. Not bad but not great either.

3 Stars.

4 Stars, Blonde, Deca Services

Antiek – Blonde Old Strong Ale by Deca Services

Another in my recent run of 8% Blonds, each by different brewers but all brewed at the same brewery, Deca Services.  So how does the brewery who brewed all brews own brew hold up?

First look shows a crystal clear blond with a small amount of long lasting bright white head.  Bitter hop aroma, apricot and classic spicy Belgian yeast character greet the nose.  Well balanced and smooth, flavors lining up with the aroma, not a trace of alcohol to be found.  Long lasting spicy aftertaste.  Very reminiscent of Trappist Blonds.

4 Stars.

4 Stars, Blonde

Papegari by Brouwerij Verstraete

Pours a golden straw with no head accumulation.  The nose picks up a strong spicy yeast aroma, some earthy fruit notes as well. First sip, wow, this is the spiciest Belgian Blond I have ever tried. Bitter orange peel, pepper, finishes dry with a long pleasant fruity aftertaste.  Leaves a tingling feeling on the tongue. 8% but not a hint of alcohol to be found. Very interesting beer, I am not accustom to a Blond that packs so much flavor that it almost overwhelms the  palate. I really like the beer, it may push the boundaries of the style but it is great to see what different flavors a Brewer can accomplish with the same set of ingredients.

4.5 Stars.

4 Stars, Blonde

Klets by Brouwerij Bier & Karakter (B&K)

Pours a crystal clear blond (at least until I emptied too much of the bottle into the glass and clouded it up). Loads of bright white fizzy head. Luscious aroma of mandarin oranges, sweet malt and spicy Belgian yeast character.  Complex flavors greet the tongue; spicy, peppery, mild hop bitterness , pleasant long lasting aftertaste. 

Label aside a solid 4 stars.

2 Stars, Blonde, Kustbrouwerij

Dunekuen – Goublond by Kustbrouwerij

Appearance is a fantastic hazy golden orange with a small, white, fizzy head. Smells of spicy yeast character and faint citrus peel, quite nice.  Tastes spicy, sour fruit, lightly bitter, finishes dry with a faintly grainy aftertaste. Light easy drinking beer, possibly could serve as an introduction to classic Belgian blond flavors without being overpowering.  Not a bad beer at all but overall underwhelms.

2.5 Stars.

4 Stars, Blonde, Westvletern

Blond by Westvletern

Pours a clear golden color, lots of visible carbonation, small bright white head that lasts and lasts. Aroma is of light malt, hop crispness. Taste is well balanced; fruit, again malt, wheat, yeasty and pleasant bitterness with a faint grainy finish. A great beer for sitting in the shade with a few friends on a hot day.

4 stars

5 Stars, Blonde, Brasserie d' Achouffe

La Chouffe by Brasserie D’ Achouffe

Wow, this is a what the Belgian’s call a blonde? If only all tasted so good. You are immediately greeted with a strong apricot and herbal aroma. The flavor is the same, but slightly bitter with very pleasant carbonation.  I want to take large gulps, which might not be such a good idea with an 8% beer.  I have got to admit I have always passed on the brewery with a gnome on the label, I wont judge (on that criteria) again.

5 stars.