Abbey Blonde
Blackberry Farm Brewery

 

 

 

one of the cleaner and simpler beers i have had from these guys, but absolutely up to the absurdly high quality standard they have set with their lineup. this is pricey, but i still think its worth it even without being wild and hoppy and fruited and wine barrel aged and all of that, it doesnt need anything! mostly clear light pale golden yellow color, over an inch of puffy and lasting white head, excited carbonation, looks belgian all the way. aroma of floral saaz type hops, cooler fermented or else somehow more mild belgian yeast than i am used to, maybe corn or dextrose or something too, there is a low sweet element to the aroma for sure, and then white grape and belgian pils malt notes to finish. the flavor is delicate and simple, with the yeast, grain, and hops all in a beautiful but very mild harmonious balance, grassy and a little bitter from the hops, fluffy and a little sweet in the middle from the grain, banana and white grapey from the yeast, rock candy esters, dry by the end, gorgeous, lively, and complete as they go. refreshing with rushing effervescence i find myself drinking the large format bottle down way too quickly by myself. rustic yeast, old world hops, compelling mouthfeel, this beer rules, and i continue to be more than impressed with everything that comes out from blackberry farm. one of my favorites in the country at this point!

Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a medium golden amber with a massive head that filled half the glass with a gentle pour, slowly dissipating and leaving thick lacing. Aroma of candi and lightly grainy malt, apple and pear, banana; peppery. Flavor is grainy malt, coriander and clove, apple and pear, lemon, black pepper. Finishes dry with sharp Belgian spicing and light hop bitterness. Medium bodied with very active, peppery carbonation. Like the Blackberry Farm Dubbel I had earlier this week, this shows the farmhouse yeast influence from this brewery; there is a dry, rustic quality to this ale, although the Belgian fruit, spicing and malt are clearly inspired by Belgian brewing. An interesting flavor progression, from a malty farmhouse start into more light fruit with a hint of sweetness, then finishing quite dry like a quality saison, but with Belgian spices. The Blackberry Farm Belgian styles do not seem adhere closely to their named styles, but as they are combined with farmhouse style yeast and flavors, are clearly inspired by rural continental ales. This is a very nice Belgian / farmhouse hybrid with great flavors and nice hints of sweet fruit behind a rather dry exterior. Very nicely done.

 

 

L: Poured from a bottle to a tulip glass. Had an amber color and a cloudy texture. There was an inch and a half of foamy, long-lasting head. Very good lacing.

S: A nice, subtle aroma of fruit, yeast, malt, and some spices.

T: Tasted of a few spices (notably, pepper, cloves, and coriander), lots of Belgian yeast, some lemon, banana, and other light fruits, apples, and light malt notes. A fairly focused, sweet flavor on the whole. Could have used a little bit bit more fruit, but this is a minor complaint.

F: A well-carbonated beer with a somewhat slick finish. Medium-bodied.

O: A well made, American version of a BPA. Easy to drink and very tasty.

 

 

Pours a slightly hazy amber in color with a dense perfectly white head that slowly dissipates to leave a firm covering of lace atop the beer. Lacing is present and moderate.

Aromas of banana nut bread, pepper, cloves and a hint of lemon with the spicier side dominating.

Up front to start with is a light sense of bread and just a hint of caramel sweetness. Mid palate fruit takes center stage with tangerine and lemon mingling with a somewhat moderate pepper spiciness. Finishes both spicy and piney.

Moderate amount of carbonation and very dry with a medium amount of body.

 

 

Mastering the art and techniques of the Belgian lowlands, Blackberry Farm takes their skills from the farmhouse and applies them to the often abused Belgian blonde style.

Pouring with a voluminous cottony white froth, almost rocky, the hazy pale straw beer that settles beneath glows with a soft translucency. Pepper, citrus, melon and cookie dough entice the nose while that doughy-sweet taste pops off of the tongue propelled by expressive champagne-like effervescence.

As the ale blooms across the middle palate, the peppery bite of carbonation dissects the honeysuckle sweetness and the biscuity breadiness and makes way for the display of fruit and spice to come. Orange, apple, pear, lemon and honeydew take charge of the estery side of balance while white pepper, light clove, coriander and earthy cumin frame the countering taste to fruit and scant lingering sweetness. Bittered to balance, the spicy Germanic hops carry their own bite of dry hay, grass and pepper.

Medium-light, the beer's exuberant bubbling action lifts the malt and heightens the spice, keeping the ale drier and more digestible than usual. A steadfast grassy hop bite rounds the finish with the soft earthiness of cork, hay and white wine. Again, another authentic, rustic and traditional taste from the Blackberry Farm team.