Gold Standard
Taxman Brewing Co.

Gold StandardGold Standard
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From:
Taxman Brewing Co.
 
Indiana, United States
Style:
Belgian Blonde Ale
Ranked #43
ABV:
6.2%
Score:
85
Ranked #21,640
Avg:
3.72 | pDev: 10.22%
Reviews:
18
Ratings:
37
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 01, 2024
Added:
May 21, 2015
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  5
Set your Gold Standard with our quaffable abbey blonde. Dynamic Belgian esters and a light, dry body blend with subtle malt flavors and delicate grassy hops to form a crisp, clean Belgian-style single ale with a sparkling golden hue befitting of its name. Certainly deserving of full faith and credit.

20 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by bwood06:
Photo of bwood06
Reviewed by bwood06 from Wisconsin

3.67/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
On tap into a wide fluted glass

A - Beer pours a clear orangish copper color with a very thin, white head that dissipates extremely quickly to a thin lacing that is retained until the beer is finished. Carbonation is light is appearance with a low amount of bubbles rising slowly towards the surface. 3.75/5

S - Very subdued aroma. Notes of light maltiness, grassy hops, and a very light sweetness are present. These notes are more hints than anything. 3.5/5

T - Buttered white bread with a yeastiness are the notes that come out right away. Light caramel follows the white bread, leading into grassy hops that dominate the back end of the tasting. Slight lingering bitterness upon swallowing but nothing unpleasant. 3.75/5

M - Carbonation burn throughout, which is somewhat surprising based on the appearance. Fairly crisp while maintaining a smoothness. Light to medium bodied. Does not linger on the palate. 4/5

O - The mouthfeel of this beer is the highlight due to it being not too light and not too heavy, either of which can quickly ruin the experience of a pale ale. Unfortunately the aroma is quite subdued. Flavor is well balanced and this beer pairs well with various foods. 3.5/5
Jan 02, 2016
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3 by db9000

Jan 01, 2024
Photo of drdiesel9483
Reviewed by drdiesel9483 from Ohio

3.78/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Look - Slight haze copper with a nice slight white head and nice rimming
Smell - fruity bubble gum
Taste - Citrus grainy bubble gum
Feel - medium body and carb
Overall - pretty nice blond
Oct 23, 2023
 
Rated: 3.37 by Tree_powers from Indiana

Jun 05, 2023
Photo of Cm55
Reviewed by Cm55

4.1/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Draft
L-pours a clear golden yellow minimal head no lacing
S-fruit (pineapple?) and a little cracker more than biscuit
T-Belgian esters deliver on the fruity vibe. There is just a little less grain/malt than I expected which I guess fits the “blonde” style and kept it simple
F-smooth medium bodied and definitely quaffable
O-this is a lighter option than most Belgians floating out there, but the flavor ends up being a little less interesting too. Would certainly drink again (especially on a hot day)
Aug 06, 2022
 
Rated: 3.99 by cd34 from Illinois

Jul 18, 2022
 
Rated: 3.69 by DavyDnIndy from Indiana

Jan 24, 2022
 
Rated: 3.75 by icemanexit from Indiana

Dec 17, 2021
Photo of superspak
Reviewed by superspak from North Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
12 ounce can into IPA glass, canned on 8/14/2020. Pours fairly hazy/cloudy deep amber color with a 1 finger dense and fluffy off white head with great retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lasts. Nice spotty soapy lacing on the glass, and moderate streaming carbonation. Aromas and flavors of big pear, red apple, apricot, grape, melon, peppercorn, light clove/banana/bubblegum, wheat, cracker, biscuit, light toast, wood, yeast ester earthiness, and herbal/grassy hops. Light-moderate herbal/woody/grassy bitterness, peppery yeast spice, and yeast yeast tang on the finish. Medium-high carbonation, medium body, and fairly crisp/clean finishing. Balanced creamy/bready malts and sticky hops in the mouthfeel. Lingering bitter dryness, no hop astringency. Pretty refreshing. This is definitely a spot on Belgian style, but seems to split between a Belgian blonde and pale ale. Has nice Munich malt character of a pale, with the crisp finish of a blonde. Minimal warming 6.2%. Very well made and impressive.
Dec 15, 2021
Photo of Pivopijak
Reviewed by Pivopijak from Washington

3.78/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
draught
At Cityway location (Indianapolis)
Medium light amber and some orange, to the look. Subtle, off-dry, medium light toast malt, with a touch of mixed fruit and a touch of sweet spices. Moderate, slightly fermented spice and a bit of Belgian yeast flavor.
Nov 14, 2021
 
Rated: 3.5 by burtclaws

Oct 23, 2021
 
Rated: 3.71 by NastyNorseman from New York

Aug 18, 2021
Photo of dannydetox
Reviewed by dannydetox from Ohio

3.52/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A real beauty in the glass: thick, fluffy head with visible carbonation bubbling throughout. Sticky lacing clings to the side of the standard boston shaker pint. Pale in color, but I would call this a blonde ale as opposed to a belgian pale. Nose brings baked bready malts, corn cereal, subtle banana and a grassy, herbal hint hiding out somewhere. Taste and feel fall off , and I do get more banana on the back end, plus a pronounced sweetness on the finish. Creamy mouthfeel, but the carbonation is softer than expected given it's expressiveness on the initial pour. Quaffable for a 6.2% beer, and good for one but not something I would put in my regular rotation if I lived near where it was made.
May 08, 2021
Photo of woodychandler
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

4.56/5  rDev +22.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Welcome to the CANtinuing saga of New Beers From @jkblr Sunday (Week 755)! My ferMentor, @therealbeerfly , once CANdmonished me to NEVER call a brewery my "favorite", current, rotating, past or otherwise, but I gotta give big ups & major props to Taxman B.C. for everything that they do. I have an insatiable, ravening appetite for their CANs & it helps to have a trader who underCANds this desire.

From the CAN: "Belgian-style blonde ale"; "Trust the Gold Standard, our abbey-style blonde ale. With a golden body befitting of its name, this ale pairs dynamic Belgian esters, subtle malt flavors and delicate grassy hops to craft this clean and crisp Belgian-style single."; "Belgian Inspired[;] American Crafted"; "IBU[:] 20".

I was duly inspired to Crack! open the vent & begin a slow, gentle C-Line Glug. The excitement built as it foamed up to form just under two fingers of dense, foamy, rocky, eggshell-white head with decent retention. Color was a beautiful Yellow-Gold (SRM = 4 - 5) with NE-quality clarity, rousing The Gelt Gang of Croesus, Mammon & Midas from their stupor to join me in the kitchen for a taste. They spent the night, having binge-watched college football & hockey yesterday. Nose had a very flowery, garden-like scent. I was getting a LOT of honeysuckle acCANponied by other Spring blossoms. This was probably a result of the yeast, but it was really pleasant. It also had the mustiness of old newspapers found in the attic, but that too was okay. Mmm. Mouthfeel ws medium-to-full, not quite creamy, but close. The mouthfeel, CANbined with the taste, made me wonder if they had not used honey and/or wine grapes as (an) adjunct(s). Of course they did not, but the action of the yeast & the malt was creating some really interesting esters! A flowery honey-like quality acCANponied by a slight vinousness. Mmm. Do you still question why I love these guys? This was at the low end of the ABV spectrum for the day so it is just going to ramp up from here. Finish was semi-dry to dry and while some might say "dry", I found that it had just enough residual sugar from the malt bill to make it marginal. YMMV.
Dec 29, 2019
Photo of zeff80
Reviewed by zeff80 from Missouri

3.57/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
12oz can. Poured out a clear, golden orange color with a small, white head of foam. It smelled yeasty and fruity. Sweet fruity taste with a yeasty kick.
Aug 13, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by Jamison85 from Indiana

Mar 30, 2019
 
Rated: 3.56 by RickS95 from Indiana

Feb 09, 2019
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Reviewed by Davedrinkinbeer from Indiana

4.07/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Bought a 4-pack of cans for $5.99 (!) at a local liquor store. Poured into a Taxman tulip glass, this is a nice gold opaque color, with a 1/4" white head. Scent is faint, but I do detect grass. Taste is a good mix of malt, pepper, coriander, pears and apricots. The end of the beer is mostly towards a bitter coriander and hops ending, not overpowering but noticeable. Aftertaste is the remaining spicy and grassy hops. Beer is evenly carbonated, and not very heavy feeling for a Belgian Ale.

This is a great deal-- a 4-pack of 12oz cans for $5.99, very hard to beat! Being that I am in Central Indiana, Taxman beers are easy to find, and have seem to found a quick niche as a quality brewer of reasonably priced Belgian style beers. This is a good solid beer, and considering the price, well worth buying again. Recommended!
Sep 08, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by psmith161 from Indiana

Jun 18, 2018
Photo of Ozzylizard
Reviewed by Ozzylizard from Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Received from @Beer-Economicus in NBS BIF 007 – Thanks Darwin!
12/22/17 etched on bottom of 12 oz can, stored at 42 degrees and served at 45 degrees in a hand-washed and hand-dried Jester King snifter.
Appearance – 3.75.
Body – Light yellow, hazey, slight effervescence.
Head – Large (Maximum six cm, aggressive center pour), white, low density, short retention time, diminishing to an irregular three to seven mm ring fed by effervescence and a spotty partial layer.
Lacing – Poor. Small, irregular shaped patches of tiny bubbles appear at random places.
First pour – Very light yellow, clear.
Aroma – 3.75 - Initially, light and grassy. Toward the end, some yeast phenolics can be detected.
Flavor – 3.5 - Begins with some grassy hop bitterness. Ends with some faint phenolic character, very weak for something with “Belgian” in the style nomenclature. No malt, no alcohol, no diacetyl, no dimethylsulfide.
Palate – 3 - Lite, watery, soft carbonation.
Impression and summation – 3.5 – A slightly above-average shot at a Belgian Pale/Blonde ale, saved by the grassy hops. The yeast phenolics are nearly absent and, for my taste, that’s what keeps this from being a good example of the style.
May 04, 2018
Gold Standard from Taxman Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 37 ratings