Leffe Radieuse

Brewed by InBev Belgium
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Leuven, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

Bottle. I liked this quite a bit, it’s like Chimay Bleu with a bit of plastic in the taste and a slightly thinner mouthfeel. And of course, it wasn’t a 7-year old sample that led to my inflated 4.9 rating of the stuff. Bready taste and flavor. Strong, heavy malts. Prominent yeast, some grapes, plum. Feels about right for 8.5%, with the alcohol just peeking out like my ex-girlfriend’s thongs always did. Oh, how I love modern fashion. Good stuff.

Bottle. A strong malty aroma, some bread and light alcoholic (red wine). The head is medium large, dark white and creamy with a normal duration, the body is dark red. The taste is very malty, light bitter, some chocolate. The body is medium strong, very creamy light oily with a normal carbonation.

Ranks as possibly the first Belgian I ever laid my lips on. Picture a young Texan at picnic in the hillcountry circa 1985 with 50 gallon trashcan filled with ice and imports. Somehow I was prepared for it, even if my tulip glass was late in coming. Friends have long held that Leffe is middle of the road for Belgian ales. Guess I would go along with that. But damn, those Belgians sure know how to pave their roads.

One of the rarest of the Leffe, other than 9 degrees because its so new. Very unique and has a color that is a dark amber. Head is thick but fades away. Aroma is nice and spicy and the beer drinks very smooth and you enjoy sipping it slowly. Very nice

Bottle at the Habbit in Ghent, Belgium. It poured a clear golden liquid with a dirty white head. Fruity, sweet and malty smell. Mild taste, fruity and malty sweet. It felt like this one was missing parts, felt one-sided.

UPDATED: OCT 26, 2005 Satisfying big-flavoured strong Belgian ale. Poured a bottle-brown colour with a short but lasting head. The nose is heavily alcoholic but with plenty of fruit and a hint of toast! Full-bodied and almost port-like in intensity. Ripe cherries and spices on the tongue, with hints of whisky and then a rummy bitter finish. Complex and satisfying. This has more body than the Vieille Cuvee. (Bottle)

Aaah... I’ve waited for this bottle a couple of years now. It’s old, but not yet bb. The aroma promises well, with fruitful cherry-notes and some oakyness. This is dark brown, with a small white head. I’m drinking this from a real La Trappe (champagne-shaped) glass, and the foam looks intriguing, like a swamp actually. The first sip is good with its fizzyness. The alcohol warms in a good way. More woody flavours and less fruit. Long, full finish. My kind o’ play thingie.

A great into for novices in to belgian beers as it forgoes the belgian spicy yeast, though is a little plainer for it. A multinational abbey it checks all the boxes without highlighting them. Sweet and smooth.