Grimbergen Blonde

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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UPDATED: OCT 3, 2006 Pours with a frothy, initially three-finger thick, pale tan colored head. The beer is more amber and copper hued than it is blond and it is brilliantly clear as well. As I pour this beer fruity notes of pear and apples waft from my glass. The fruit notes are certainly the dominant note in the aroma, but are joined by notes of vanilla, a touch of caramel and just a wisp of toasted grain character. As my nose gets used to the aromas notes of honey, wild flower nectar, and some grassy notes start to become noticeable. All in all this is a pretty enticing aroma, it makes me think that the flavors of this beer might lean towards the sweet side of things.

The taste is a touch sweet, but not at all cloying and in fact much more lightly so than the aroma suggested. Herbal honey notes and some vanilla add some complexity to the light sweetness. Hints of clover, a touch of astringency, even something like dandelions all seem to lightly be noticeable in this beer as well. I would describe this beer as being really soft. It is not just quaffable, but somehow seems simplistic despite the flavor complexities. I can’t quite make my mind up on this one. There is certainly nothing wrong with this beer, and it is definitely tasty, but it just seems a touch too ordinary for some reason. Maybe I am just being picky, because I would certainly have this again.

Purchased: Plaza Liquors, Tucson AZ

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.