Grimbergen Blonde

Alken-Maes (Heineken)
Brewed at Kronenbourg (Carlsberg)
Style: Belgian Ale
Jumet, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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Clear, honey-golden hued...thick, rocky, creamy white head. Sweet, candy-ish nose, reminscent of the typical tripel....citrus zest...minor whiffs of tropical fruit. Okey-doke. In the mouth, warm and hoppy, a bit fruity, turning dry with a quickness. Leaves the palate far too soon, but has a pleasant stay, as long as it lasts. Further flavors are revealed on increased inspection, more fruit, peppers a touch, but they still play in a minor key. Soft and pleasing, while still spicy and containing a particular kick. Not the greatest blonde/tripel/whatever, but a fine drink nonetheless. I put off purchasing this one for quite some time, due to the cost, $10 a 6-pack. Thinking on it, it’s much cheaper by volume than other Belgian ales, but considering the middling quality, you also get what you pay for. 72 ounces of this passable pale for $10 vs $8 -12 for 25 ounces of far Superior brew? That’s the choice we have to make sometimes, but I believe, when on a budget, I’ll choose this one again.

drught @ Riga. good carbonization, medium body, a little bit hoppy and wheat. Malty and Wheaty on the nose

Die Schaumkrone hält mittelmäßig. Es schmeckt fruchtig, leicht bananig-alkoholisch, recht lecker! Der Nachgeschmack ist malzig-süß. Fazit: Ordentlich, wie von Grimbergen gewohnt! Test vom 5.10.2009, Gebinde: Dose Noten: 9,11,10,11,9,11 - 10,55

Draught @ Den Enghel. Pours straw golden, clear. Sticky pearl white head. Sweet malty nose, sweet corn, syrup. Very much like Maes pils. But more sweet. Flat carbonation, creamy, velvety palate. The dullest dullyness.

Poor man’s Leffe? Maybe, similar all round, just a bit less body and flavour

Small bottle. Golden body, very small head. Aroma has weak perfumey sweetness. Taste is sweet with a hint of cloves. Pretty much like a watered down Leffe.

Pours a clear yellow body with a tall white head. Aroma of grain, yeast, grass, mustiness, cereal, florals, and pepper. Flavor of yeast, grass, florals, herbs.

Bottle. Hazy golden color with a medium thin head. Aroma is honey, citrus, herbs and floral. Fresh taste of honey and yeast with some sourness . Lively carbonation.

Pint at Cafe du Mogador is Paris. Pours a clear golden colour with a thin white head that dissipates very slowly leaving lots of lacing. Smell is kind of weak, a tiny bit of hops, maybe a bit of malt. Taste is much the same, quite bland. Not offensive, just bland. Palate is watery, moderate carbonation, and a slightly bitter hoppy aftertaste.

Small brown 25cl bottle, best before Feb 2008, drank June 2007. Poured into a Duvel glass, just because I can. Dull or old gold in colour, the head left before the bottle was replaced on the table, leaving a very thin collar around the glass and a little central island which was being produced by the Duvel glass. Odourless almost, a hint of yeast and hops, but only if I put my face into the beer. The taste was fine, a slight tangy bite with some citrus fruits trying to get out. The mouth drys quickly leaving a metalic, citrus, unbeer-like feel within. I have drank this before in both bottle and draught (on-tap) forms and it has been average, this official tasting session has opened my eyes to its poor quality. The initial taste was good, but the lack of smell and the aftertaste, plus the poor head retension pushes this beer towards the back of the pack when talking about Belgian Pale Ales.

Bottle. Hazy golden color with a medium-sized white head. Malty aroma with yeast and some fruitiness. Medium body, taste is sweet malt, spicy yeast, caramel and fruits.