Trappist Westvleteren Blond
Brouwerij Westvleteren (Sint-Sixtusabdij van Westvleteren)

Trappist Westvleteren BlondTrappist Westvleteren Blond
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Brouwerij Westvleteren (Sint-Sixtusabdij van Westvleteren)
 
Belgium
Style:
Belgian Blonde Ale
Ranked #1
ABV:
5.8%
Score:
95
Ranked #1,811
Avg:
4.26 | pDev: 9.62%
Reviews:
472
Ratings:
1,002
Status:
Active
Rated:
Friday at 11:03 PM
Added:
Mar 23, 2002
Wants:
  512
Gots:
  176
(Green Cap)
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BuckeyeNation:
Photo of BuckeyeNation
Reviewed by BuckeyeNation from Iowa

4.6/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Haystack gold with multiple fine bubble streams leading up to one of the best looking caps that I've seen in quite some time. The foam is lustery pearl in color, has a creamy texture and is wonderously stickilicious. A masterpiece in lace is beginning to appear on the upper reaches of the glass. What a great way to start.

Although this offering doesn't get much love compared to its bigger brothers, the nose is outstanding. It's grassy and musky and herbal and spicy, all at once. The bottle must be pretty fresh because a lot of those qualities have to coming from the hops. I'm sure the yeast strain is world-class as well.

For some reason, I was shocked upon discovering that Trappist Westvleteren Blonde is the highest ranking BPA on this site. Truthfully, I haven't paid it much attention until now. Any doubts that I may have had about the beer's true worthiness disappeared after the first mouthful. This may not be the best Belgian ale that I've ever imbibed, but it is the best Belgian pale ale.

Beer of this style isn't usually this mind-blowingly complex. I wonder if the Trappist monks at Brouwerij Westvletern brew any other complex ale? Hops and estery yeast combine in remarkable fashion. The final result is a beautifully bitter, splendidly spicy melange that is disappearing at an alarming rate. Too bad I don't have another bottle. Or twenty-four.

Flavors include French bread crust, grassy hops, new-mown hay and a perfect amount of yeasty spiciness that provides generous sprinklings of clove, cardamom and white pepper. Okay, I'll say it: there has *never* been a more complex 5.8% ale in the history of beer. As for drinkability, I am rarely almost through with an entire bottle at this point in the review. One last ounce will have to suffice for assessing the mouthfeel.

Like everything else about this stupendous beer, the mouthfeel oozes quality. It's at least medium-full for the style and is as creamy as they come. The carbonation is spot-on, which is the key to the whole shootin' match.

Never in a million years did I think that this beer would be this good. Try this on for size... Trappist Westvletern Blonde is a better Belgian pale ale than Trappist Westvleteren 12 is a quadrupel. Find a fresh (hoppy) bottle and prepare to enter beer heaven.
May 10, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by rare_bird from Michigan

Friday at 11:03 PM
Photo of Lexluthor33
Reviewed by Lexluthor33 from New York

4.88/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Hazy yellow with a nice head.
The aroma of grains, yeast.
Taste of bready notes and oaky notes along with touches of citrus fruit.
Really great balance with medium carbonation.
A ight body with a smooth feel.
Feb 27, 2024
 
Rated: 4.34 by smi69 from New York

Jan 10, 2024
 
Rated: 4.5 by akk14 from Illinois

Dec 10, 2023
 
Rated: 4.28 by SierraFlight from Virginia

Oct 10, 2023
 
Rated: 3.9 by myterpsr1 from Maryland

Apr 10, 2023
Photo of ivanbrew
Reviewed by ivanbrew

5/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I tried this beer out of a bottle is an amazing flavor of apricot and honey Lots of yeast that is gathered on top amazingly high carbonation but not overblown probably the most perfect beer for summertime I could ever think of in general one of my top favorites definitely top 10
Jan 29, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by MaximumYuks from Oregon

Jan 25, 2023
Photo of te99912_123
Reviewed by te99912_123 from Switzerland

4.3/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
gold, cloudy, very foamy & strong lacing.


Taste and aroma of lemon, pear, apples, grass, a hint of grapefruit and a tiny bit spicy.
Very smooth and refreshing.

Really great for a blonde ale, but not as outstanding as 12 is.
Oct 10, 2022
 
Rated: 4.35 by BeerpilgrimMIKA from Belgium

Sep 23, 2022
 
Rated: 4.38 by Hawkfish from Washington

Jun 05, 2022
Photo of Harrison8
Reviewed by Harrison8 from Missouri

4.4/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a golden blonde color with a near crystal clear transparency. Head is two fingers of white foam, with more build up after a light swirl of the glass. This frothy, pillowy foam sits a top for a long while after the pour. There is visible sediment at the base of the bottle; however, only the first 3/4 of the bottle were poured into the glass for this review. Aroma is punchy grass, herbal, medicinal, and spicy hops with a big cut of spicy yeast just behind. This yeast comes paired with clove, apple cider, and earthy malts. It smells light, and yet thick; that is to say, the breadth of notes is pretty simple, but the depth to each note is huge. Flavor profile driven by the same characteristics. It pits resiny, herbal, grassy, spicy hops against earthy, bready malt undertones. Clove pairs with spicy yeast for a little further zest and grit. Mouth feel has a sharp effervescence, at least, initially. Effervescence bubbles down to a thin crisp texture. It has a medium thickness. Overall, really stellar depth here, while remaining easy to drink. It's on the 'easier drinking' side of the Belgium spectrum, and yet still retains a remarkable depth.

Served in a 15.5oz Spiegelau tulip from a 33cl bottle.
Apr 17, 2022
Photo of pants678
Reviewed by pants678 from California

3.66/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
More yellow than copper, lacing foam.

Clean hops, maybe salt, no malt.

Finishes with more than a touch of hops, hardly bitter, touch of honey. Nothing's really jumping at me.

Nothing if not easy going and clean and dry.
Mar 14, 2022
 
Rated: 3.82 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Mar 03, 2022
 
Rated: 4.93 by Mojo9 from Illinois

Dec 30, 2021
 
Rated: 4.5 by elamb106 from New York

Dec 27, 2021
 
Rated: 4.27 by The_Kriek_Freak from Pennsylvania

Aug 27, 2021
Photo of RaulMondesi
Reviewed by RaulMondesi from California

4.56/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A lot of the time one simply wakes up because they are alive, but not that they want to. With Westy Blond in the fridge though, I sprung up like James Brown on a line of snow.

And?

Glorious. Just glorious. It doesn’t hit you, it caresses you like Adriana Lima putting on a pair of panties.

I can’t anymore because I need to get back to it.

Be well. Be oh so well.
Aug 11, 2021
Trappist Westvleteren Blond from Brouwerij Westvleteren (Sint-Sixtusabdij van Westvleteren)
Beer rating: 95 out of 100 with 1002 ratings