Benelux La Garde

Brewed by Benelux Brasserie Artisanale
Style: Bière de Garde
Montreal, Canada

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

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A blonde ale with a thin lacing off white head. In aroma, light herbal caramel, with notes of curacao and yeast. In mouth, a nice oily mouthfeel, with good malt, orange peels, and warming alcohol. Rich and smooth. On tap at brewpub, March 27 2009.

Bright orangey-amber color, with a white head, yeasty, spicy, light peachy, pear, apricot., litchi and marmalade esters in the nose with a mild honeyed pale, biscuity malt accent, with a hint of sweet candyish honey lolipop in the aroma follows through on a medium-bodied palate with a candyish, pale, toasty, malty, sweet fruity candied orange peel character, with a hint of brandy liquor warmness and a mild flowery hop citrusy, tangerine, leafy accent, leading towards a fruity, honeyish, light lingering hop dryness finish.

En fût. Verre de 12 oz à la brasserie. Arôme: Légère odeur d’agrumes et d’épices. Apparence: La couleur est orangée légèrement voilée. Présence d’un moyen col beige mousseux et d’une large dentelle sur le verre. Saveur: Léger goût d’épices avec une pointe fruitée. Durée moyenne de l’arrière goût. Palette: Le corps est moyen avec une texture légèrement onctueuse. Moyenne effervescence en bouche. Légère présence d’épices en arrière goût. (Rating #2237)

Draft at the Brewpub in Montreal. Pours a clear orange body. Taste is good, but strong. Alcohol taste towards finish.

Had this on tap at the brewpub in Montreal. I liked this a lot more than the other offerings. Very sessionable, but packs a bite for the style. Dry finish. Served in a goblet.

un verre sur place. bière jaunâtre pas de mousse, nez sucrée, la bouche est fade et bizarre, sucrée, manque quelque chose. déception

In short: A clean, doughy and sweet golden ale of some kind. Nourishing and rather pleasant
How: Tap at brewpub. First batch ever (winter 2008/2009)
The look: Clear dark golden body topped by a small white head
In long: Pleasant nose of candies and bakery. The yeast and sweet malts come together and create a sweet doughy backbone that I’d describe as pasta dipped in honey (?!) or maybe sponge candy. Very light citrusy fruity notes. No alcohol presence. This beer is all about a doughy sweet cereal mixture. Certainly not rustic like the superior true Bières de Gardes and a bit on the sweet side but this is a highly drinkable 8+% nourishing brew. I had it freshly put on tap so maybe it will develop a true Bière de Garde character in a week or two. You know you’re in a kick-ass pub when you’re disappointed by a good beer. In its early days Benelux was the best kept secret in town but not anymore. Now the best kept secret in town is that it is I who own the erasers for all the miniature golf pencils

My Bottom Line:
This cleanest of Bière de Gardes offers orange-scented cereals and diplomatic herbal hops in a drinkable, lean vehicle.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A slice of foam floats atop the might light amber.
-This might be a tad too sweet for my liking in this style.
-Alcohol is not important in the flavor profile, which increases drinkability greatly for an 8% brew.
-I’d say this lacks some "attic" character to really be an authentic representation of what Northern French breweries brew. As is, it is extremely clean and well-brewed, but it could have a more rustic personality, imho.

On tap at the brewpub.