Gold Standard
Taxman Brewing Co.

 

 

 

 

Look - Slight haze copper with a nice slight white head and nice rimming
Smell - fruity bubble gum
Taste - Citrus grainy bubble gum
Feel - medium body and carb
Overall - pretty nice blond

 

Draft
L-pours a clear golden yellow minimal head no lacing
S-fruit (pineapple?) and a little cracker more than biscuit
T-Belgian esters deliver on the fruity vibe. There is just a little less grain/malt than I expected which I guess fits the “blonde” style and kept it simple
F-smooth medium bodied and definitely quaffable
O-this is a lighter option than most Belgians floating out there, but the flavor ends up being a little less interesting too. Would certainly drink again (especially on a hot day)

 

 

 

12 ounce can into IPA glass, canned on 8/14/2020. Pours fairly hazy/cloudy deep amber color with a 1 finger dense and fluffy off white head with great retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lasts. Nice spotty soapy lacing on the glass, and moderate streaming carbonation. Aromas and flavors of big pear, red apple, apricot, grape, melon, peppercorn, light clove/banana/bubblegum, wheat, cracker, biscuit, light toast, wood, yeast ester earthiness, and herbal/grassy hops. Light-moderate herbal/woody/grassy bitterness, peppery yeast spice, and yeast yeast tang on the finish. Medium-high carbonation, medium body, and fairly crisp/clean finishing. Balanced creamy/bready malts and sticky hops in the mouthfeel. Lingering bitter dryness, no hop astringency. Pretty refreshing. This is definitely a spot on Belgian style, but seems to split between a Belgian blonde and pale ale. Has nice Munich malt character of a pale, with the crisp finish of a blonde. Minimal warming 6.2%. Very well made and impressive.

draught
At Cityway location (Indianapolis)
Medium light amber and some orange, to the look. Subtle, off-dry, medium light toast malt, with a touch of mixed fruit and a touch of sweet spices. Moderate, slightly fermented spice and a bit of Belgian yeast flavor.

 

 

A real beauty in the glass: thick, fluffy head with visible carbonation bubbling throughout. Sticky lacing clings to the side of the standard boston shaker pint. Pale in color, but I would call this a blonde ale as opposed to a belgian pale. Nose brings baked bready malts, corn cereal, subtle banana and a grassy, herbal hint hiding out somewhere. Taste and feel fall off , and I do get more banana on the back end, plus a pronounced sweetness on the finish. Creamy mouthfeel, but the carbonation is softer than expected given it's expressiveness on the initial pour. Quaffable for a 6.2% beer, and good for one but not something I would put in my regular rotation if I lived near where it was made.

Welcome to the CANtinuing saga of New Beers From @jkblr Sunday (Week 755)! My ferMentor, @therealbeerfly , once CANdmonished me to NEVER call a brewery my "favorite", current, rotating, past or otherwise, but I gotta give big ups & major props to Taxman B.C. for everything that they do. I have an insatiable, ravening appetite for their CANs & it helps to have a trader who underCANds this desire.

From the CAN: "Belgian-style blonde ale"; "Trust the Gold Standard, our abbey-style blonde ale. With a golden body befitting of its name, this ale pairs dynamic Belgian esters, subtle malt flavors and delicate grassy hops to craft this clean and crisp Belgian-style single."; "Belgian Inspired[;] American Crafted"; "IBU[:] 20".

I was duly inspired to Crack! open the vent & begin a slow, gentle C-Line Glug. The excitement built as it foamed up to form just under two fingers of dense, foamy, rocky, eggshell-white head with decent retention. Color was a beautiful Yellow-Gold (SRM = 4 - 5) with NE-quality clarity, rousing The Gelt Gang of Croesus, Mammon & Midas from their stupor to join me in the kitchen for a taste. They spent the night, having binge-watched college football & hockey yesterday. Nose had a very flowery, garden-like scent. I was getting a LOT of honeysuckle acCANponied by other Spring blossoms. This was probably a result of the yeast, but it was really pleasant. It also had the mustiness of old newspapers found in the attic, but that too was okay. Mmm. Mouthfeel ws medium-to-full, not quite creamy, but close. The mouthfeel, CANbined with the taste, made me wonder if they had not used honey and/or wine grapes as (an) adjunct(s). Of course they did not, but the action of the yeast & the malt was creating some really interesting esters! A flowery honey-like quality acCANponied by a slight vinousness. Mmm. Do you still question why I love these guys? This was at the low end of the ABV spectrum for the day so it is just going to ramp up from here. Finish was semi-dry to dry and while some might say "dry", I found that it had just enough residual sugar from the malt bill to make it marginal. YMMV.

12oz can. Poured out a clear, golden orange color with a small, white head of foam. It smelled yeasty and fruity. Sweet fruity taste with a yeasty kick.

 

 

Bought a 4-pack of cans for $5.99 (!) at a local liquor store. Poured into a Taxman tulip glass, this is a nice gold opaque color, with a 1/4" white head. Scent is faint, but I do detect grass. Taste is a good mix of malt, pepper, coriander, pears and apricots. The end of the beer is mostly towards a bitter coriander and hops ending, not overpowering but noticeable. Aftertaste is the remaining spicy and grassy hops. Beer is evenly carbonated, and not very heavy feeling for a Belgian Ale.

This is a great deal-- a 4-pack of 12oz cans for $5.99, very hard to beat! Being that I am in Central Indiana, Taxman beers are easy to find, and have seem to found a quick niche as a quality brewer of reasonably priced Belgian style beers. This is a good solid beer, and considering the price, well worth buying again. Recommended!