Tidings Belgian Style Ale
Port City Brewing

Tidings Belgian Style AleTidings Belgian Style Ale
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From:
Port City Brewing
 
Virginia, United States
Style:
Herb and Spice Beer
Ranked #36
ABV:
8.5%
Score:
84
Ranked #23,012
Avg:
3.7 | pDev: 11.62%
Reviews:
57
Ratings:
153
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 05, 2024
Added:
Nov 19, 2011
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  25
Tidings is a strong, spicy Belgian-style blonde ale brewed with local wildflower honey and 100% Virginia grown wheat. These local ingredients store away the essence of summer to warm you during the cold winter months. This festive ale is gently spiced with coriander, cardamom, fresh ginger, and Grains of Paradise.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Oasis:
Photo of Oasis
Rated by Oasis from District of Columbia

2.5/5  rDev -32.4%

Jun 11, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of milkshakebeersucks
Reviewed by milkshakebeersucks from Maryland

3.99/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bright gold body with an average size white head that left spotty lacing. Yeasty aroma with notes of ginger and coriander poking through. Flavor mimics a Belgian style that is more spicy than sweet. The sweetness that does show up is more nuanced then in you face. Lingering, earthy finish. Medium bodied mouthfeel along with good carbonation. 8.5% abv? Not feeling it yet.
Jan 05, 2024
Photo of MrOH
Reviewed by MrOH from Maryland

3.77/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Hazy gold, white head, not that much in the way of retention, spotty lace
Aromas of ginger, pepper, honey, and a bit of citrus
Ginger and pepper are the predominating flavors, a bit of honey and fruitiness underneath
Medium bodied, could use more carbonation
Not my favorite Christmas beer.
Nov 11, 2023
 
Rated: 3.92 by SeaBass12378 from Virginia

Jan 01, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by Cpmitchno1 from Virginia

Dec 25, 2022
Photo of Griffin2
Reviewed by Griffin2 from Virginia

3.81/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 12 oz bottle dated 11/09/2022 into a chalice glass.
L - Pours a hazy orange color with a minimal white head that dissipates quickly.
S - Smells of orange peel and spices.
T - Tastes of banana, clove, spices and Belgian sugar.
F - Medium body and lightly carbonated.
O - Tasty holiday Belgian ale.
Dec 18, 2022
 
Rated: 4.38 by beerrat from Virginia

Dec 10, 2022
Photo of ChuckWagon429
Rated by ChuckWagon429

4.88/5  rDev +31.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
It’s Christmas in a bottle. It’s absolutely incredible!
Dec 04, 2022
Photo of VABA
Reviewed by VABA from Virginia

3.94/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours clear light amber color with a slight head and lacing
Aroma has fruit and yeast hints
The taste follows the nose with a fruity yeast flavor
A medium bodied well carbonated beer
A good Belgian Ale
Aug 11, 2022
Photo of Lucular
Reviewed by Lucular from Maryland

4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle poured into a tulip pint glass. Pours golden yellow with a moderate and long-lasting fluffy off-white head. Good lacing. Aroma and flavor feature Belgian yeast esters, Belgian candi sugar sweetness, doughy bread, some alcohol booziness, clove, bubblegum, banana, and a hint of spice. Overall it's a solid Belgian strong pale ale and makes me wonder why I don't revisit (non-sour/funky) Belgians more often.
Apr 04, 2022
 
Rated: 3.5 by 1971bernat from Virginia

Feb 10, 2022
Photo of chitoryu12
Reviewed by chitoryu12 from Florida

3.76/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Look: Hazy pale yellow. Half a finger of fizzy white head that quickly disappears.

Smell: Cloves, orange peel, a slight sourness.

Taste: Muted Christmas spices wrapped around a yeasty, peppery malt.

Mouthfeel: Full, with very high carbonation.

Overall: A totally adequate imitation of good Belgian beers.
Dec 20, 2020
Photo of teromous
Reviewed by teromous from Virginia

3.37/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
From the shoulder of the bottle in yellow print: "BOTTLES ON 11/12/20 092944"

Appearance: The body is a lighter orange-gold color with a very hazy appearance. It is not easy to even see shadows through the glass. The head is very short, white, and creamy textured. It keeps a short head but retains it well, and leaves some nice lacing.

Aroma: There is a pleasant aroma of pepper, lemon, and clove. The strongest character is the clove.

Taste: Bubblegum comes through at first, then there is some clove and a strong herbal middle that is comprised of basil and a hint of mint. The aftertaste is basil and clove.

Mouthfeel: The body is thick and chewy with an overall medium-full texture. It cleans up nicely on the palate.

Overall: The label states that this is a "BELGIAN-STYLE BLONDE ALE BREWED WITH HONEY AND SPICES." It also states that this specific bottle is "ALC/VOL 8.5%." For a Belgian Blonde it suffers in appearance, but it makes up for it in the flavor and aroma. The label doesn't state what spices were used but it has a presence of pepper and clove which are often Belgian Yeast characteristics, so it's hard to say what spices were actually used. There is an interesting and fairly strong bay leaf presence in the flavor. As a whole it's an interesting enough beer to try. I could see myself buying it when I want a stronger alternative to a Witbier. I would recommend it to those who like more Belgian Yeast character in their beers.
Dec 19, 2020
 
Rated: 3.43 by Sludgeman from District of Columbia

Nov 21, 2020
Photo of Lingenbrau
Reviewed by Lingenbrau from Oregon

3.93/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Thanks Craig for the bottle!

Tidings pours a brilliant glowing bright yellow with that classic Belgian lack of opacity. A frothy soapy white blanket above plasters the glass as it descends.

Subliminal or not, this smells like Christmas. Spices galore with anise and clove covering orange peels and banana.

The flavor is a smorgasbord of fruits and spices. Anise and cardamom, clove and cinnamon... mulling spices of a sort I guess. Again with banana and dried citrus rinds. Honey comes through and lasts long in the finish.

Soft feeling, sweet and pretty full if it weren't for the sharp bite of carbonation. Nice and spicy.

This "blonde" drinks like a Tripel. I'm good with that. Thanks again Craig!
Dec 24, 2019
 
Rated: 4.29 by TeachChefs from Pennsylvania

Jan 24, 2019
 
Rated: 3.58 by ptat from Delaware

Dec 24, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by dsshuck from Delaware

Dec 10, 2018
 
Rated: 3.79 by weareallfalafel from Virginia

Nov 23, 2018
Photo of UPMD_Bill
Reviewed by UPMD_Bill from Maryland

4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Looks amber/honey colored, almost opaque with tiny bubbles.
Smells/tastes sweet: clover honey and spice (cinnamon?) with slight citrus. Very little bitterness, more yeast than hops.
Feels a little sticky, but still easy drinking. Would definitely get it again!
Feb 04, 2018
Tidings Belgian Style Ale from Port City Brewing
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 153 ratings