Baladin Nora | Birrificio Le Baladin
Brewed by:
Birrificio Le Baladin
Italy
birreria.com
Style: Herbed / Spiced Beer
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.80%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
This Egyptian inspired brew is spiced with ginger, myrrh, and orange peel ... very complex.
Added by BeerAdvocate on 07-01-2002
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 342 | Reviews: 148
3.25/5 rDev -19%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
4.21/5 rDev +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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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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4.09/5 rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.13/5 rDev +3%
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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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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3.92/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
4.04/5 rDev +0.7%
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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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 +5.5%
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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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 -4.7%
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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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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4.23/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
3.16/5 rDev -21.2%
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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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)
1,085 characters
4.41/5 rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.06/5 rDev +1.2%
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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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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4.49/5 rDev +12%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.46/5 rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.42/5 rDev +10.2%
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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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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4.64/5 rDev +15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.02/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.28/5 rDev +6.7%
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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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 +0.7%
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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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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Baladin Nora from Birrificio Le Baladin
Beer rating:
83.6% out of
100 with
342 ratings
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3