La Déferlante
Bières de Ré

Beer bottle (33 cl.) purchased from the brewery on l'Ile de Ré, tasted in 2014.

Appearance : cloudy pale yellow color, with white foamy head.
Smell : malty and yeasty aromas.
Taste & mouthfeel : wheat and yeasty flavors, with alcohol presence and coriander notes.
Overall : a good beer in the Belgian style Witbier.

A-Nice "pop" on the ring pull. Thick, slightly of-white head. Pours a hazy brownish-amber. Slight tracing and decent retention...gradually fades into thin cap that lingers.
S-Sweet malt and wheat w/caramel backbone, spice, yeast, grape, apple, earthy vegetal notes, raisin, and slight phenolic character emerges as temperature rises.
T&M-Spice and fruit in attack, caramel malty backbone emerges midway and finish brings out warming alcohol that slightly numbs the anterior taste buds. Faint hop presence. Flavors and body are in excellent balance, and carbonation is moderate without being overpowering. There is a slight astringency that does not detract from the overall drink.

D-Another excellent delivery. A complex beverage w/several layers of qualities that emerge as the temperature changes.

Retasted 4/30/10...slightly more vegetal than I remember, more apple, less grape, and less raisin. Still good, but not as well balanced, and less flavorful. Lowered smell, taste, and mouthfeel to 3.5 (from 4, 4.5, 4 respectively). Still looked nice, and I won't bother w/drinkability. Will retaste again between now and July to compare.