La Johannique--Bière Blanche D'Orléans
Brasserie Des Rateliers

This blanche highlights its origins from local ingredients, including grain grown in nearby Beauce and malted in Pithiviers, and honey from La Ferté St Aubin added for the secondary fermentation in the bottle.

A-Pours a hazy light straw color w/thick active white mousse head and decent retention.

S-Subtle and balanced, light coriander, delicate fruit tones-citrus and pear, faint apricot, and honey that grows more apparent as it warms...which it barely had time to do.

T-Light and delicate, subtle w/soft wheat backbone, pear and lime, complex bouquet of herbs and spices, faint floral bitterness in the finish.

M-Very light w/rich carbonation, good balance. The body is perfect for the subtle character. The honey offers just a touch of sweetness to the grain, and the hops are restrained, but adequate.

D-This is frankly one of my nominees for the king of summer session brews. Nothing about it is in your face or bold. It is subtle, light, refreshing and harmonious. I love ballsy IPAs and tripels and such, but this is another one of those good brews that reintroduces me to subtlety from time to time.