Baladin Nora
Birrificio Le Baladin

4.1/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a deep, dark gold/medium amber coloration with a small, fizzy head. Smell is quite malty and herbal, with light hoppy characteristics as well. Notes of doughy malt, ginger, and orange peel. Taste follows the nose, being dominated by bready, caramel malt and herbal notes of ginger, coriander and rosemary. There's also a strong grainy note and light hoppy citrus and spicy estery notes to this. Finishes with a light, sweet, herbacious bitterness and some ginger coming through in the aftertaste. This is somewhat reminiscent of a Wit with its strong coriander and orange peel notes, but takes the herbal character even further with a subtle ginger presence. Perhaps a little too sweet and grainy, but pretty well-balanced all in all. I do love a good herb/spice beer and this definitely fits the bill.

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3.15/5  rDev -21.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3

L:
-pours a cloudy golden with a small to medium,frothy,white head
-high carbonation visible
-lots of visible particle floaties
S:
-grainy,wheaty,orange zest,golden syrup,apple
T:
-wheaty,golden syrup,lots of white pepper,orange zest,spicy,grainy,bready
F:
-medium carbonation
-light to medium body
-no alcohol detectable
O:
This one felt very muddled aside from big grain notes and a lot of pepper on the tongue and orange zest.
Just o.k.

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4/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Lovely, hazy orange body, moderate head. Nose is spiced pear and apple skin, a bit of spun sugar. Flavor is similar, with a subtle bite in the close. Enjoyable.

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4.21/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Caramel and copper, no visible carbonation, very cloudy, topped with a half finger of off-white head.

Smells of fresh oranges, caramel, bananas, caramelized butter, lots of spices like ginger, kind of like Christmas spices.

Again, it tastes a lot like a Christmas beer. Christmas spices, bananas, taste like a Belgian inspired beer.

Medium body, moderate foamy carbonation.

Excellent brew, this one must be tried. Got and drank in Chang Mai August 2, 2017.

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4.13/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

It pours copper with a small head with not much in terms of lacing. The aroma is pretty neutral and overall faint which is very misleading as the flavor is both intense and very complex. Well balanced hop bitterness and malt sweetness but with a lot of spicy notes from the various herbs that have been thrown in the brew. Very enjoyable.

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4.04/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Short lived head which settles to barest of rim bubbles. No lace. The color is a dirty amber/dark tan. Cloudy.

The aroma features almonds, fermented honey, and toasted caramel. I get a mild metallic nose.

Semisweet with some definitive unfermented sugars. I get a strong flavor of honey. The spice is subtle and complex. This fades on the swallow where the warmth of alcohol comes on strongly. Full bodied with the sugar base but the carbonation is also elevated. The aftertaste is short and reminiscent of the aftermath from a hard candy.

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4.23/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Had out of 330ml bottle from a Teku glass.
Look: Unfiltered. Pours a hazy apricot colour. Tight, persistent head in the Belgian style. Minimal lacing.

Aroma: Citrus, clove, yeast, esters - quite a subdued aroma however

Taste: Light and herbal like a Saison, followed by a light but warm ginger spiciness and an intense orangey marmalade-like burst. Complex and delicious flavour, but sadly the flavour vanishes almost as soon as you swallow a sip.

Mouthfeel: Dry, medium body, high carbonation

Overall: A really lovely and unusual beer. Not a session beer but really great with food or as a "one or two" kind of brew. The flavour is great but a bit thin. If it hit the back of your tongue like it hits the front, and it lasted longer in the mouth, it would be something truly wonderful.

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3.82/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Deep copper pour, little head. Lots of orange and lemon on the nose, some other spice i assume is the myrhh. Taste has more orange, a little ginger and some alcohol esters. Not too spicy, good mouthfeel

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3.16/5  rDev -21.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

from a 750 ml bottle
Look: it is a pale amber with and orange hue. minimal head with very low retention. no lacing observed. it is very hazy.
Smell: very lemony, along with spices and significant ginger presence. some biscuity malt sweetness.
Taste: there's a lot of strong flavors here. lemon, orange, ginger and spices. enough sweetness to suggest maybe some candy sugar additions. if there was any bitterness, it is faded away leaving a strong tangey astringency behind.
Feel: I find it medium to light in body, and texture is thin-ish with low carbonation and astringency as previously mentioned. Finishes sweet and short with only a lingering astringency sticking to the palate.
Overall: I enjoyed the last bottle a bit more. there is a puckering astringency that is somewhat off. Still very drinkable but I can only imagine how good this beer is fresh from a tap with full carbonation... and un-faded bitterness.

Age: 4+ years (only signs are in the low carbonation and faded bitterness that leaves the beer a bit unbalanced with a bit too much puckering astringency present)

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4.06/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big creamy head, nice lacing, hazy yeast chunk murky orange

Nose floral malts, golden Belgian malts, sweet floral orange candy, esters, faint phenol

Taste sweet candy malt, candi sugar, orange candy, floral citrus and fruity esters, juicy, little biscuit toasted grainy malt, touch bitterness.

Mouth is to fuller bod, decent carb

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4.42/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A: Pours a slightly hazy pale malt color with a visible head leaving some lacing.

S: Aromas of spices, floral ginger and honey scents mixed with some very faint citrus.

T: Tastes nicely blended and dry. Not overly sweetened or bittered. Mild and well put together. Very belgian in style, but with herbs not typical of a belgian that might usually just work with a nice strong yeast presence. Delightfully refreshing and a nice sipper here. Compared to some other spiced beers, this one is very well done in my opinion and not over done in the category where I might otherwise be tired of having this after one beer. This I have had the lucky occasion to come upon a few bottles of to enjoy thanks to a family member.

M: Medium to thick body and a light level of carbonation.

O: Very well done altogether. I think this easily overcomes others in the category. From the examples I have seen in category styles I cannot think of a more well put together beer. Easily drinkable and enjoyable by many

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4.28/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Draft at Open Baladin Rome. Beautiful color, no head, lovely, light herbal aroma. Quite a few layers of flavor, a bit sweet and quite herbal on the finish. I think this would be wonderful with food.

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4.04/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Grand Cafe L'Aquila in Philadelphia, PA. Served in a stemmed glass.

Appearance: Hazy orange amber color with a thin dense white foam. Some persistent lacing in fine strands noted.

Smell: Faint floral aroma, a bit of orange peel and a little bready.

Taste: At first, like a bready wheat ale, but with some underlying sweetness and a complex blend of flavors. I could get the orange peel at times, but it wasn't as bitter as I was expecting. The finish is not something I can describe. Sweet, floral, lightly bitter, and something else. I'm guessing that's the Myrrh. I can't say I tasted the ginger other than an occasional underlying spiciness. Delicate and complex is how I would describe the flavor of this beer.

Mouthfeel: Very smooth, light carbonation, chewy.

Overall / Drinkability: A very unique beer. Not something I would drink all night, but very glad I tried it. Went well with salad and pasta carbonara.

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2.95/5  rDev -26.8%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75

Dark orange, cloudy, with a paper thin head and tons of brown spice sediment floating around then settling to the bottom.

Like a Moroccan apple pie, with fresh, just poached apple, and some citrus in the background.

Don't let the apple pie description make you think sweet. In a way, it's a little toward the savory side.

It's a bit gritty and spicy due to all the unfiltered spice within.

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3.95/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Amber color with a three fingers head with great retention and leaving some laces.
Aroma of orange peel, some non-identifiable resin– actually like an incense, wheat and mild ginger.
Citrusy flavor with notes of ginger, lemon, orange peel, perfume, wheat (Kamut?), cloves and I guess myrrh which is quite present. Dry aftertaste with an aromatic finish (in your mouth).
Light body with somewhat effervescent carbonation. Alcohol of 6.8% is absent.
Unique perfumy beer that delivers the promised flavors and aromas. Myrrh gave an enigmatic feeling to the beer. Church in your mouth. This should pair perfectly with Lebanese food.

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4.6/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

11.2 oz bottle served into a Reidel wine glass.
A wheat beer with a blend of myrrh, ginger and orange that is like incense in a glass for the nose. The wheat gives it a clean followthrough for the mouth with a gentle carbonation which doesn't over power.
Take your time with this. It is a sipper.

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4.13/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

750ml
Gold Foil/Capped

Pours a pretty nice clean/clear dark golden orange color, very nice carbonation, with a small quick creamy off-white head, which leaves some sticky lacing behind. The nose is malty, yeasty, with some cherries, honey. The taste is malty, yeasty, nice cherry note, sweet, slight spice, very slight tart note. Medium body. Overall, a very tasty brew.

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3.89/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75

On draft in a tulip. Golden with slight haze. Not a lot on the nose. Luxuriant, velvety mouthfeel. Taste is subtle and perfumy with a floral finish. It's really the uniqueness of the flavor that stood out for me.

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3.75/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Tasted in a Kwak Glass. Clear amber colour, big head that holds on. Smell is spicy, ginger, pepper, caramel. Clean silky palate, medium body. Taste is spicy too: ginger, black pepper, notes of caramel. Sweet finish. Really good stuff.

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4.19/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

rich deep amber, a spiced wheat beer, smell of herbs and citrus and the taste is the same, a thicker mouthful feel and overall a solid beer, a little pricey but had in a restaurant and could not concentrate on flavor as much as I would like. will like another chance.

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4/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a well carbonated dark gold with little bit of head and lace. The aroma is light/airy and the ginger does come through so it's slightly sweet. Beer is light bodied, easy to drink, almost watery, has a spicy edge and bit of citric but mostly a mild ginger sweetness. Finishes crisp and bubbly thanks to lively carbonation. Not much going on in this beer but what is going on is pretty interesting and very tasty beer.

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4.07/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Pours a murky umber w eggshell lacing. The nose is crystallized ginger, cummin, and a hint of blood orange. On the palate, whole wheat, citrus and cloves are most apparent with the aromatic notes in strong support. Mouthfeel is pleasantly thick and coating, unexpectedly so for a wheat beer. Pairs well w a Quadrella di Buffala cheese from Italia. This is intriguing enough to interest me in more of what Italian craft has to offer, despite the price tag.

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4.03/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

On tap at 'Champs' in State College, PA - Snifter glass

L: Pours a deep golden brown, somewhat hazy with a moderate white head.

S: Herbal and complex, it claims to be brewed with Myrrh, ginger, and orange peel. Definitely some ginger on the nose and several different flavors are here. Almost like an herbal tea.

T-F: Complex and herbal/spicy, and some flavors that I can't definitely identify (myrrh? I've only heard of it... never sampled). Definite citrus notes and a mild ginger warmth at the finish. Significant carbonation.

O: A very unusual brew and better than any other Italian beer I've tried (going against my rule of thumb for Italy... wine: yes - beer: no). The closest thing I can compare it to is the 'Midas Touch' from Dogfish head, but it's lacking some of the honey sweetness and "Midas' is superior in my estimation. One glass in a sitting was enough and probably a bit too herbal, but definitely a complex flavor that I'd sample again.

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3.99/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I have been getting really really into the Italians lately, and these guys are among the best. this is a cool little beer, definitely overpriced, but they all are I feel like from Italy. a wheat base it feels like, hazy and just bronzed a little, with a tall white head. it smells herbal, but I cant place any of the herbs. its not quite tea, not quite dried flowers, not quite citrusy, but in proximity to all of that. still it seems simpler than that on the taste, delicate for sure, with a really distinct and pungent yeast strain and a definitely fruit quality in the finish. a touch of sweetness like clover honey brings it together, and the hops are like dried straw in a field. carbonation is awesome, feel is rich and round for what it is. I had a really hard time picking out exactly what the spices in here were, but the whole is a really nice drink. I wish we could get four packs of this for what single bottles cost, that's my only complaint

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4.04/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

(L74-75/120 - poured into a balloon)

A: poured mostly clear at first, though a bit of sediment did sneak through, murkin' it all up... light, bright, orange-y amber... not much head formed, messy puddles of bubbles left behind

S: freshly-cracked green and/or black peppercorns, even a hint of dried hot red pepper, and orange flouride - the intensity and clarity of the pepper aroma is incredible - never smelled a beer like it... a little perfumy, like dandelion flowers, in the back end... later, super soft booze and a light caramel

T: quite an American IPA citrus fruitiness... the peppery aroma doesn't translate nearly as intensely on the palate - perhaps a little flare in the finish along with clementine rind, faint citrus acids, and a touch of granola-dusted taffy

M: broad and smooth - much more like pear nectar than malt beer... would be nice if it was a bit more sharp and alive on the palate... I suppose it's moderately dry - all that sticks back is the sediment, a bit... cozy, mellow, boozy warmth after it's all gone

O: hmmm... guessing this might be a tad aged... I would imagine this would smell and taste much more dynamic fresh... the way it stands now, I've had several American beers (IPAs) that taste quite similar to this, minus the peculiar peppery element... curious to try it again, just have to be willing to fork over the dough otra vez

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