Yvan The Great: Belgian-Style Blonde (Beer Camp Across America)
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Yvan The Great: Belgian-Style Blonde (Beer Camp Across America)Yvan The Great: Belgian-Style Blonde (Beer Camp Across America)
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From:
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
Belgian Blonde Ale
ABV:
6.3%
Score:
84
Avg:
3.73 | pDev: 11.26%
Reviews:
177
Ratings:
1,304
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 03, 2018
Added:
Jul 03, 2014
Wants:
  16
Gots:
  126
As longtime friends, Russian River brewmaster Vinnie Cilurzo and our own Brian Grossman are no strangers to brewing experiments. While looking for inspiration for this collaboration, Vinnie and Brian decided to honor the creations of legendary Belgian brewer Yvan De Baets with their own hop-forward American-Belgian mash-up.

From complex Belgian-inspired styles to American wild ales and hoppy Double IPA’s, Russian River always pushes boundaries while respecting technique and quality. Co-owners Vinnie and Natalie Cilurzo are longtime friends of Sierra Nevada and they always have a six-pack of Pale Ale in their fridge at home.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by cmuir24:
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Rated by cmuir24 from Virginia

4/5  rDev +7.2%

Aug 02, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3 by 1971bernat from Virginia

Jan 03, 2018
 
Rated: 3.83 by Piglet_rulz_da_yard from California

Jun 17, 2017
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Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.42/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
You get two of the most well known names in the American hop revolution together for a collaboration brew and they throw you a curve ball. Kind of. This one pours a vibrant yellow with lots of clarity and a full on 7/8" white head. Pretty damn impressive appearance. Aroma kicks down a hefty Belgian yeast imparting some citrus and astringency.

Taste is decidedly yeasty as well. Many writers speak of the excessive hoppiness for style but I really didn't think much of it, just seemed in accordance with my expectations. Heavily carbonated. Minor amounts of clove, grapefruit, apple and pear from the yeast.

Its actually pretty straight forward. Lots of hops in a pungently phenolic yeasty beer.
Jun 07, 2017
Photo of macrosmatic
Reviewed by macrosmatic from Florida

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Reviewed from (very long-standing) notes. Consumed in late 2014. Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Fat Head's pint glass.

A: Mildly hazy, straw-colored pour. A good amount of visible carbonation leads to a finger's worth of white head that fades fairly quickly.

S: Pilsner malts. Belgian yeast esters - pear and fleshy fruit with milder banana.

T: Pilsner malts up front. Yeasty - pears, apples, cloves and bananas. Some hop bitterness near the end - not huge but more than expected - resin, grassy and citrus pith.

M: A light body with a good amount of carbonation sensation. Minimal alcohol presence.

O: I though this was strangely hoppy for a Belgian blonde ale. But not overall a bad beer.
Jan 29, 2017
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

4.07/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Bottled 6/2/14; drank 7/14/14 @ the Yarchives.

Poured from the bottle into a glass.

Clear urine color; champagne bubbles throughout.

HUGE white head; minimal lace.

Banana, clove, mild orange citrus & mild black pepper nose.

Medium thin mouthfeel.

Banana & mild orange citrus meld nicely up front; black pepper on the finish, faint at first but it gains strength as this warms. A nice session Belgian, not amazing but I'd have another.
Nov 21, 2016
 
Rated: 3.94 by vfgccp from New York

Oct 23, 2016
 
Rated: 3.74 by Giantspace from Pennsylvania

Aug 09, 2016
 
Rated: 3.73 by Hazen from Germany

Jun 11, 2016
 
Rated: 3.73 by AD17 from New Jersey

Apr 20, 2016
 
Rated: 3.98 by Briken from Washington

Jan 11, 2016
 
Rated: 3 by MasterRigger from North Carolina

Dec 31, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by CharlesK from Pennsylvania

Nov 03, 2015
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Reviewed by stakem from Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
12oz bottle into tulip appears pale golden yellow with a white cap. Aroma of cloves, pear, banana, apple and cracked black pepper. Tastes plenty of clove, peppercorns, herbal bitterness, apple and pear skins. Dry bready grain is faint in the aftertaste along with additional fruitiness. Medium in body with modest carbonation. This is interesting and enjoyable but im not sold on overly hoppy beers in conjunction with phenolic belgian yeast strains.
Oct 02, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by jpuetz from South Dakota

Aug 05, 2015
 
Rated: 3.24 by Warren2621 from Indiana

Jul 08, 2015
 
Rated: 4.2 by belgbeerdrinker from Colorado

Jun 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3.45 by ricoslim from Florida

Jun 06, 2015
 
Rated: 3.64 by griffey123 from Connecticut

May 29, 2015
Yvan The Great: Belgian-Style Blonde (Beer Camp Across America) from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 1304 ratings