La Bavaisienne
Brasserie Theillier

La BavaisienneLa Bavaisienne
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From:
Brasserie Theillier
 
France
Style:
Bière de Garde
ABV:
7%
Score:
91
Avg:
4.08 | pDev: 11.76%
Reviews:
82
Ratings:
111
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 27, 2018
Added:
Jul 11, 2002
Wants:
  43
Gots:
  6
No description / notes.
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Ratings by MJR:
Photo of MJR
Reviewed by MJR from Missouri

4.6/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Appearance: Pours a dark amber surrounded by copper edges. The body has excellent clarity, with lots of carbonation bubbles slowing rising to the surface. The tan head is thick, rich, and holds well, leaving a nice pattern of lace down the glass.

Smell: The aroma is quite rich with a heavy dose of smooth, rounded caramel balanced by faintly spicy hops. There's an earthy aspect to the smell that is a combination of freshly mown hay and those common Belgian descriptors like 'farmhouse' and 'horseblanket.' Fantastic aroma!

Taste: The flavor starts off incredibly rich and thick with lots of caramel. There's a touch of fruity sweetness, but it's held in check by a good amount of spicy hop bitterness. Around the halfway point, the earthy, musty character kicks in. In the finish, there's a hint of a phenolic flavor mixed in with the malty aftertaste. Oddly enough, a faint metallic note shows up in the last few inches of the bottle. Wonderful balance between the various flavors.

Mouthfeel: Round and full with a buttery mouthfeel of medium thickness. Somewhat dry towards the end. Amazing mouthfeel...

Drinkability: Top notch drinkability... The alcohol is a bit high, but is beautifully hidden. This is one beer I could enjoy in any season.

A 'beer to guard?' You're damn right! Back away from my bottle or else...
May 22, 2003
More User Ratings:
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.18/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
it makes me really sad to see this brewery listed as closed, especially after drinking a well aged vintage bottle of this special biere de garde, its fantastic beer, maybe a bit past its best moment, but still drinking amazingly well, at least several years in the bottle. a dusty old import i found on a bottom shelf in new orleans i believe, folks never buy these for some reason, but i was stoked to find it, having not known much about it beforehand. its a deep copper colored brew with a tall tan head on it and just a little bit of sediment towards the bottom of the bottle. immediately interesting on the yeast side, dried red apple, a little tang and oxidation, french saison vinous esters, spicy and autumnal, even earthy like rich wet soil. there is some sweetness still from the malt, a kilned nuttiness and a long boiled concentrated toffee character, amber-esque, but with a distinctive rustic farmy rawness about it, well refined as it is. peppery on the yeast as it warms, part belgian part saisony, some funk but not yeast derived to me, subtle almonds and honey at the close, and more dank earthiness, harvesty and special to me, but i love old beers like this! gorgeous richness of texture here too, its almost creamy, denser like a barleywine or something, and i can even taste and feel a little of its alcohol at this modest strength. so much character here, even after all this time, i hope its not true that this brewery is no more, i couldnt imagine not drinking this one again. really the epitome of the style as far as i am concerned. unforgettable bottle of beer!
Dec 27, 2018
 
Rated: 3.92 by shelby415 from Oregon

Aug 05, 2017
Photo of buschbeer
Reviewed by buschbeer from Ohio

3.85/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
1 PT 9.4 FL OZ bottle
Served in an oversized wine glass

This beer pours a real deep, deep amber color with rust colored highlights. It is topped several inches of effervescent foam that is tan in color and leaves little lacing.

The smell has fig and date notes along with a bread or cookie aroma.

The taste follows the smell. I get fig and date flavors with a dry, crisp finish.

Thin and highly carbonated leaving a clean palate after each sip.

This is a tasty, light, easy drinking beer. I figured it seemed appropriate to pluck it from the cellar on Bastille Day.
Jul 14, 2016
 
Rated: 4.25 by williamjbauer from Colorado

Apr 13, 2015
 
Rated: 4.16 by Kurmaraja from California

Dec 25, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by olradetbalder from Sweden

Dec 05, 2014
 
Rated: 4.8 by Rylorax from Vermont

Nov 27, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by GeorgeCarroll from Pennsylvania

Aug 20, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by coedwards from Louisiana

Jul 21, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by bobv from Vermont

Jul 11, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Tuckersmth from California

Jun 24, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Barnsley from Pennsylvania

Apr 07, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by psoriasaurus from Thailand

Feb 05, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by hopley from Massachusetts

Dec 14, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by pintpeddler from North Carolina

Dec 08, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by RBorsato from Virginia

Oct 22, 2013
Photo of shleepy
Reviewed by shleepy from California

3.94/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured from bottle into chalice-style glass.

A: Hazy amber, with lots of and lots of floating sediment.

S: Sugary and lightly-fruity malt notes.

T: Very representative of the style. Hard candy / sugar flavor that lingers well into the aftertaste. Pleasant caramel maltiness. Mild balancing bitternes.

M: Feels very light and refreshing. Medium carbonation

O: Represents the biere de garde style very well.
Sep 11, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by bb8189 from Ohio

Aug 22, 2013
 
Rated: 2.75 by HevvyMetalHippie from Massachusetts

Aug 14, 2013
La Bavaisienne from Brasserie Theillier
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 111 ratings