Norman
Brouwerij De Vlier

Borrowing trends of both Belgian pale ales and stronger golden ales, De Vlier's Norman showcases the taste of pilsner, honey, fruit and spice in much the same way than that of Delirium Tremens and Piraat but with lower alcohol and tamer body, making it much more drinkable and sharing a simpler palate.

The beer opens with a bright light golden hue that showcases a bright glow as the mild yeasty haze allows for moderate light penetration. Capped by a froathy foam stance of loose knit carbonation, the beer's rocky head eventually recedes to a creamy sheet across the tulip. The classy Belgian lace decorates the glass very well as the beer fades.

Quite perfumy to the scent as the soft and sweet aromas of pilsner malt and floral hops give the flowery impressions of honey suckle, lavender, and chamomile. Softly grassy, spicy, and delicately fruit as the yeast character plays off of the malts and hops with impressions of lemongrass, white pepper, curacao, and pears.

The semi-sweet malt presence gives a pillow of baking breads, honey, mild starch, and powdered sugar seduces the palate and becomes the catalyst for ushering in the aromatic spices of those described in aroma along with citrusy oranges, tropical mangoes, spiced pears, apples, and white grapes acidity in balance. The balance continues with added complexities of herbal hops turn slight grassy and hay like for a clean and pleasant earthen bitterness in its dry malt finish.

Medium bodied from start to finish as the semi-sweet, semi-dry interplay bounces off of the tremendously carbonated upstart but also evaporates on the back of the tongue like cotton candy. The fruits and perfumy spice develop consistently into a dry finish of hop bite, mild alcohol heat, and fleeting malt. Honey, flowers, and fruit linger in aftertaste but in a retro-olfactory whimsical memory with no weight.

Norman is a very comfortable and succulent ale that compares well to Leffe Blonde but with more heft and complexity but avoiding the sugary weight.