La Blonde D'’Esquelbecq / Thiriez Blonde
Brasserie Thiriez

La Blonde D'Â’Esquelbecq / Thiriez BlondeLa Blonde D'Â’Esquelbecq / Thiriez Blonde
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From:
Brasserie Thiriez
 
France
Style:
Saison
Ranked #415
ABV:
6.5%
Score:
89
Ranked #10,816
Avg:
4 | pDev: 10%
Reviews:
85
Ratings:
153
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jul 07, 2023
Added:
Oct 09, 2004
Wants:
  22
Gots:
  6
Local name - La Blonde d'’Esquelbecq
US Import - Thiriez Blonde

Description on US bottle label:
“Daniel Thiriez’s rustic little brick-and-beam brewery graces the village of Esquelbecq, plunk in the middle of the rolling farm country of French Flanders. With a brewing degree from a Belgian university, and decidedly ‘Belgian-oriented,’ Monsieur Thiriez makes ales with an earthy, slightly wild character that recalls the early days of farmhouse brewing, before there was a border between France and Belgium. The delicate spicy champagne aromas of this thirst-quenching blonde beauty are quickly followed by a bracing rush of whole fresh hops.”
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by silenius:
Photo of silenius
Reviewed by silenius from Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
This beer pours a hazy gold with a large rocky head. As I drain the beer, the foam sticks to the glass. Beautiful.

Taste begins with a slightly spicy hoppiness with an earthy herbaceous middle. I believe this beer if slightly skunked, but that simply added a little complexity in my opinion.

Taste is a solid herbaceous hoppy flavor with a mild malt middle. The hops flavor lingers after the beer is drunk.

The beer has a perfectly creamy and thick mouthfeel to start with a bit of zing in the middle. It ends with a bittering dryness. The first sip is a pleasing at the last.

To me, this seemed like a close knock-off of Dupont's Saison. Nice show.
Jun 19, 2006
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.42 by The_Kriek_Freak from Pennsylvania

Jul 07, 2023
 
Rated: 4.13 by TheRatCage from Connecticut

May 06, 2023
 
Rated: 4.25 by bigred89 from Maryland

Feb 11, 2023
 
Rated: 4.25 by paulish from New York

Jul 19, 2022
 
Rated: 3.85 by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois

Jan 27, 2022
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.98/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
750 ml green bottle, Lot 985, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 6.5%. Nearly clear blonde colour, large white head. Pleasant aroma of malts, spicy yeast and stewed yellow fruits. Soft mouthfeel. The flavour has distinct notes of spicy yeast, stewed fruits and herbal hops. Well balanced.
Jan 25, 2022
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

4.11/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Delicious.
My copy possibly is a bit past its prime; but the only real clue is that my label and the label below is different than the one on their website. As true with the two other Thiriez ales I've been fortunate to have, they'd be better fresher. I'm guessing the price makes Thiriez sit on the shelve until a Euro Saison Head sees it (credit to Stoned Trippin for naming that niche.) I'm guessing that is the price Shelton Bros needs to charge to bother with the Illinois ABC (but that is just my dig.)

As for the Blonde... Looks still offer an inviting foam that settles on a amber-pale body with just enough protein swirls to stay lively. Smells of earthiness and yeast at work. Tastes introduce the hops at the end. But this is still all soft in the mouth with a dry finish... could be a nearby champagne influence. Paired well with a medley of appetizers, but wanted another one to share with friends at dinner.

I finally found the English button on Thiriez' website. For the record, the brewer considers this a biere de garde and we probably should consider that if we want to keep the style alive... or at least separated from its kissing cousin saison. At any rate, this website describes a very sweet family brewhouse. I might even put it on my BBBL (Belgian Brewery Bucket List) since I don't have one on the list that is south of the border. I'm assuming there are great restaurants nearby.
Feb 22, 2020
 
Rated: 3.87 by GreenMind from Pennsylvania

Oct 06, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by Zekenyce from New Jersey

Apr 07, 2019
Photo of WoostaBia
Rated by WoostaBia from Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Well crafted beer. Very balanced- light hoppiness, light belgian farmhouse yeast noted, great soft mouthfeel.
Goto Blonde Ale.
Mar 12, 2018
 
Rated: 4.06 by rjd722 from Maryland

Mar 08, 2018
 
Rated: 4.24 by baklo from North Carolina

Mar 04, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by DVMin98 from North Carolina

Aug 21, 2017
Photo of captaincoffee
Reviewed by captaincoffee from Virginia

3.87/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75
750ml from La Cave a Bulles. Pours a touch hazy pale gold with a big big head that has staying power and leaves good lace. Nose is muted for the style with some honey, mineral, and yeast (but falls short of the yeasty character I'm looking for here). Taste is light and clean, leaning towards the crisp biscuit and slight honey rather than the yeasty spice. Like the nose, a bit too light. Fine mouthfeel like champagne. Overall, a good beer that simply lacked character.
Jun 07, 2017
Photo of emerge077
Reviewed by emerge077 from Illinois

4/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
A nice classic riff on the style.
Pours a hazed golden orange with visible carb trails rising. Chunky lace all around the glass, with foam resembling pillowy mounds of mashed potatoes from Uncle Phil's dreams. Long lasting coverage, looks the part to a T.

Aroma is doughy with honeyed pale malt and light herbal tea leaf hops.
Taste is a little bit more herbal with a light hop earthiness, sweet malt and a lightly bitter dry aftertaste.
Crisp and clean, alternating sweetness upfront with a drying finish, ample carbonation. Rustic.
Overall this is a pretty classic saison. After having the Extra last night, I can say I prefer Extra, but the Blonde is closely related and worth a try on it's own.
Dec 15, 2016
 
Rated: 4.25 by JamLand from District of Columbia

Nov 02, 2016
 
Rated: 2.78 by Deltoro from Florida

Oct 07, 2016
Photo of Jerseyislandbeer
Reviewed by Jerseyislandbeer from Jersey

4.12/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A 330ml bottle found on my trip through Cassel last summer to Belgium. I heard that the ABV has changed to 6.0, well as this is a old bottle it still 6.5. Pours a hazy golden blond colour with a white head. Aroma is strong of summer fruits & flowers and with almost a perfume, also hints of spices, grain and some sourness detectable. Taste has summer fruits as well as sage & rosemary, slightly sweet flowers, spices, grains & hints of sourness. Medium bodied, strong carbonation. Finish is full of hopped bitterness & sweet fruits.
Aug 27, 2016
 
Rated: 3.88 by shelby415 from Oregon

Aug 20, 2016
La Blonde D'’Esquelbecq / Thiriez Blonde from Brasserie Thiriez
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 153 ratings