St. Honoré Blond
Huisbrouwerij Old Bailey

BB april 2008. Nice white head that lasts welland a pale golden and clear beer. Nose is very oxidated and wee sweetmalty with litle spice and lots of alcohol tha camouflade this a litle. Taste is also far gone and wonder how a brew like this should survive till 2008 as it is gone by the end of 2005. Sweetish wee malted with lots of alcohol trown over and some spicy bitterness. Good carbonisation though quiet low and really missing a good refermentation( though it is stated that they do and actually there is some sediment on the bottom. Very spicy and phenolic brew that most certainly isn't one of my favorites.

Presentation: Once again the uniform lines of the brown brick building that houses the Huisbrouwerij Old Bailey played host to Wakefield CAMRA during our annual Belgium Trip on Sunday 27th April, 2005. Our last visit here was Easter 1999, some 6 years ago. The neat & massive interior remains, as does the beer range, plus one new addition. However, the exceptionally shiny and clean “Home Brewery” looks hardly used these days…sparking continued rumors of contract brewed beers, something we could not confirm - nor deny - despite several discussions with the wait staff.

Working my way up the 6 brews, the second brew I tried was the St. Honoré Blond.

Appearance: Nothing outlandish, light golden perfectly clear body that arrives with a large white head which has great staying power. Lots of streamers and above-average carbonation levels.

Nose: Toasted malts with a grainy background. Sweetness and a delicate floral character with some alcohol.

Taste: Grain malts start the brew with a sweetness and hops in the middle. Bitter-sweet finish with a hint of metallic slivers. Alcohol is not masked and is apparent, but not over-powering.

Mouthfeel: Medium feel in the body, the alcohol is prevalent yet it still fails to capitalize on its strength somehow.

Drinkability: Exactly as I remembered from my first visit, it has all the components of a Blond character yet doesn’t manage to get them to line up. Average.

Overall: “Middle-of-the-Road” Blond which has some pluses and minus’s – but never manages to drag it itself out of the “Run-of-the-Mill” Blond tag which it deserves.

Blond and warm colour, with a white foam, not too long.
Floreal smell, with something like malt very lightly burned.
Very malty taste. It has something lightly heavy, not simple to identify.
Medium-light body.
Aftertaste on the malty again, with a point of bitter.