Bier De Bleu
Blue Star Brewing Company

Pours hazy amber orange with a tightly wound, white head that falls to a thin ring atop the beer. Smell is sweet malt, short breads, green apple and a bit of farmhouse funk. Taste is very nice, a bit of a floral citrus orange, followed by sweet candi, white bread and some more of that farmhouse/belgian funk that lingers on through the creamy mouthfeel. Impressive for my first offering from Blue Star!

This is an interesting take on a Belgian Pale, as it's still quite young to be on tap. Pouring a hazy yellow color, it might almost be considered more of a saison style ale. The flavor is dominated by banana, which should fade a bit as it ages. Some other spices linger in the flavor, and a hint of pepper finishes it off. This beer has a lot of potential, and a bit more age should do wonders for it. However, for having it this young, it was definitely an interesting brew, and worth trying.

The Bier de Bleu by Blue Star is a Brewhouse special that was available in late February 2008. When I spoke with the brewmaster-owner, this was a new offering that he is trying out. The beer is quite young, since it only has been cellaring a few weeks, but it does have great potential. After trying everything on the sampler menu, this was by far the best offering of my session there. The beer pours a very cloudy orange and the aroma is banana, banana, and more banana. There is no sediment in the glass, despite its cloudiness. The aroma is quite enticing. The taste is bit more subdued, but yes, you'll get some candied sugar notes, banana, slight rind flavors, and perhaps a bit of coriander. The beer is not nearly as full bodied, or as syrupy, or as sweet maltish as you'll find in other Belgian pales. There is a slight bittering or pepperish snap in the finish as well. The beer is good and well worth seeking out. By the time you taste it, it will have improved with age. L'Chaim.