Blonde Faith
Boston Beer Works - Canal Street

Draught @ Fenway Location: This one pours a cloudy, golden amber color. There was a thin white head on it that left no lacing. The nose is good. Wheat, lemon, touch of sourness, some spices. The taste is good: wheat, lemon, touch of sourness, hint of spices. A nice beer!

 

Appearance: moderate carbonation, 1/4 inch head, hazy, straw yellow in color

Smell: light banana, light toasted malt--very faint smelling

Taste: banana, caramel, Belgian spices, and a peppery taste

Mouthfeel: sweet and spicy, medium body, moderate carbonation

Overall: The tastes in this beer are more subtle than over the top. While slightly above average, I would have preferred something that was a bit more pronounced like other beers I have had in the style. Not bad, but nothing I would get again.

After enjoying this on tap at Hingham Beer Works with their delightful Hummus platter, I decided to purchase a growler for further "research".
Served in an Allagash goblet, it pours a hazy golden honey color with a fast-fading off-white head. The lacing slides away into nothingness beat-feet fast.
The aroma is typical Belgian Pale with a dry malt, citrus, yeasty, peaty and slightly herbal smell. Remember litmus paper? You're old too!
The flavors, on the other hand, roll in and out of tradition and expectation. There's the solid earthy Belgian sweet maltiness and the familiar slightly astringent medicinal quality to the yeasty and citrusy hoppy, peppery mix, but after the initial first couple of gulps the Belgianness of the Pale Ale style begins to meander somewhat into unfamiliar territory.
For instance, a taste of ripe banana and pineapple permeates the flavor profile and lasts throughout the glass. This taste is more noticeable in some Dubbels and Trippels, but lacking in most Pales, but here it is. Is it bad? No. Is it wrong? No. In fact, it's quite good, if a little unexpected.
This brew sweetens honey-like a bit early and the sharp, edgy, dry qualities of the style fades before you know it. The best way to counter this is to drink fast!
Nice beer, even if it's a bit off-style.

 

 

Poured on-tap at Canal Street, and served in a pint glass. The beer is a bright, vibrant, honey-gold color, with no head. Spices on the nose, with coriander and all-spice in the forefront, and some fruity (plantain/banana) highlights. Flavors are huge, with tangy malt and huge Belgian yeast components. Spicing is not really present on the taste palate. Too bad, because the aromas were enticing. The aftertaste is astringent and slightly tangy sweet and sour. The beer is creamy smooth, with a slickness to it. The finish is quick and spiced, with a sour after-effect. Tasty.

I sampled this one on June 3, 2011 at the American Craft Beer fest in Boston. It poured straw yellow from the tap, slightly cloudy, and with a thin head short-lived head. The aroma boasted an array of scents including yeast, spices, and a touch of citrus. The light body seemed to fit the style. The taste also had a bit of tart citrus but it finished dryly hopped.

Approached the world with far more enthusiasm than a brunette would with this one on 1/22/2006. 12-oz. goblet pour at the Canal Street location.

“Rich, deep blonde color and biscuity malt character with a hint of rummy sweetness. Complex flavors of pear and apple result from our Belgian yeast strain,” according to the day’s beer menu. Plume of head dies to an even wash with a good amount of stick; fairly good striation going down. Wouldn’t say hue is “deep blonde” but rather medium and crystal clear with nothing caught in its amber embrace. Biscuity is the word for a typical Beer Works nose; crystal malt tingling in there possibly but can’t be sure; some Granny Smith going on in there somewhere, a slight cackle and pinch of the cheek, and a splash of clover honey. Loose body leaves a bit to be desired with a cidery aspect dominating; some straw flavors hit with some background lemon zest.

To me, this ranks as a bit of a throwaway offering; just not enough backbone to convince me of it’s lineage.

Enoyed on-tap at the Canal Street location during my recent trip to Boston. typed from notes.

Poured perfectly clear, plae brown. Lots of white lace but not too much of any head. Nose was mild wih only bits of sweeter malts an some hints of clove.

Malts are fresh biscuits. Rather fruity with apple and pears coming through. even a bit of banana. Cloves come through a tad stronger now. Unfortunatley, no yeast flavors. Mouthfeel was thin and watery. But that is customary for this brewery.

Here is a surprisingly clear entry in the Abbey Ale tradition. Golden in color. Thin but lasting head that didn't really leave any lace on the glass.

Very mild aromas, particularly for the style. All I could pick up was a little malt.

The flavor is complex: wonderful spiciness featuring cloves, white pepper and nutmeg. I like the touch of hop which truly shows up after the swallow. The body of the beer is very similar to Belgians (full) although the carbonation is moderate (which I like in this style)

I would consider this to be a smooth but mild entry into the Belgian world. The one flavor missing is the sourness that I've come to expect in most Abbey Ales. This is an excellent introduction for the uninitiated.