La Bavaisienne Ambrée

Brewed by Brasserie Theillier
Style: Bière de Garde
Bavay, France

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

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UPDATED: SEP 29, 2004 Rerate 9/29/04: Pours a rich copper amber with a thick, frothy, and well-lacing off-white head. Aroma is malty and rich with a touch of butterscotchy oxidation. Body shows some signs of age, even though I recently purchased this from a store that just got it in. Still, it has aged fairly well on its strong malt backbone. 1/20/03: Light, clear copper colored with a thin layer of off-white head. Has a subtle sweet malty aroma that leads into a mellow grainy flavor with a light, well balanced bitterness. The palate is thin, but has a silky caramel feel to it and a sweet candy-like finish. This has many of the characteristics of a good doppelbock. I was quite impressed.

Slightly hazy copper color with a creamy head that clings to the glass even as it dissipates. (I have notice the haze was only a chill haze, and now that the beverage has warmed it is quite a stunning dark topaz gem) Not to offend the French, but this has a real english malt nose, with a mild hopsack and farm yeast aroma. Caramel malts and more malts in the flavors. A bit sweet in the start but the spicy hops and alcohol take back the palate and make this a very warming ale. Malt lingers in the finish. Quite effervesent, but not the overflowing, big bubbly type. Very small bubbles that tickle the roof of the mouth and tongue. Quite smooth almost to a point of feeling thin, but that’s really not the case. This one is a great example of a balanced malty beer. Hops do not have to rule!

Bright reddish/copper hue, big foamy head with moderately fast dissipation and good lacing. Nose malty, caramelly, some cherry notes (flander red ale reminder), maybe just a hint of alcohol and ammonia. Very strong and distinctive. Flavor is wonderful, with vanilla cream at the very beginning, farmy lambic-type hints creeping in, huge malt, and an extraordinary smoothness just barely pierced by hints of alcohol and spices like cloves and coriander. Buttery finish. Absolutely wonderful, with one of the creamiest most quaffable textures I’ve ever experienced. Wish I had more than the one bottle.

Beautiful color of like amber honey. The head is full and fluffy upon pouring, but reduces slightly when sitting. The aroma is very pleasing, but not easy for me to describe. Sweet malts, a touch of citrus, some spiciness and even of the farm. It’s still a subpar description, but the best I can do. The beer is light and clean in the mouth. Again, it is a pleasantly sweet with a touch of spice. The finish is mild and refreshing. My first of the style and certainly not to be the last.

Biere de Garde is one of my favorite styles, and this is about the best one that I have ever had. If it was only SLIGHTLY less sweet, this would be in my top ten. Excellent balance of hops and malt. Very well done, if you can find it, buy it!

Unfortunate green bottling may be responsible for the distinctly skunky aroma I got off this. However, the beer otherwise seemed untouched by this frequently fatal flaw. Light, sweet toffeeish malt flavor with a nice peppery spiciness. Has a good bitter snap to it as well. Eminently quaffable.

UPDATED: MAR 18, 2004 Far richer malt, more apparent yeast, and softer hops in the aroma in this compared to 3 Monts, IMO. Fabulous nose. Presentation is quite dark. Lasting head as a rim around the glass. Nice soft round palate. Warms up a bit less white-winey than 3 Monts, more rounded and full. I am not a fan of Biere de Gardes, but oh my goodness this is the one to have.

UPDATED: OCT 22, 2005 Beautiful!Thick glowing amber liquid with off white lasting head.It clings to the glass in a ring all the way to the end.Aroma was extremely chewy caramel,earthy,hearty and short lived spicy/sour hop aromas. Huge clean malt flavors are the showcase here.The hops are barely noticable in finish and eventually just faded away.Replaced with a sweet,winey,alcohol finish.First of it’s kind for me.Excellent!!Thanks for sharing,Kev!

UPDATED: AUG 17, 2009 Bottle. Head is initially large, frothy, off-white to light brown, mostly lasting. Body is medium amber. Aroma is moderately malty (caramel, cookie, toasted bread), lightly hoppy (flowers, apricot), lightly yeasty (cobwebs, basement), with notes of peach, orange peel, autumn leaves, sweet pastries. Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is lightly sweet, lightly acidic, moderately bitter. Medium body, watery texture, lively carbonation. Clean and solid. Drier and more quaffable than I remember from many years ago, but still delightful.

Deep burnished rust in color; Head was dense, soapy and only slightly darker then eggshell; Nose was musky, hay- tiny hit of hop. Much maltier then usual. Round. Very little of the spice that I am used to in the style. Sweetness emerges at the 1/2 mark.