Ultra Blonde
Brasserie Scassenes

Ultra BlondeUltra Blonde
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From:
Brasserie Scassenes
 
Belgium
Style:
Tripel
ABV:
8%
Score:
83
Avg:
3.62 | pDev: 11.88%
Reviews:
32
Ratings:
39
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sep 03, 2014
Added:
May 21, 2003
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BuckeyeNation:
Photo of BuckeyeNation
Reviewed by BuckeyeNation from Iowa

3.38/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Lemon amber with a few floating yeast clumps that are big enough to be called chunklets. It doesn't seem to matter if Belgian beer has abundant carbonation or not (not, in this case), the heads almost always look great. This is one is alabaster, massive, creamy, rocky and a lace monster.

The nose doesn't fall too far from the style tree. It's more fruity than spicy, doesn't seem overly complex and is musty and metallic in a way that makes me wonder how it will taste. Since the 'best date' is still one year away, things should be fine on that front.

I've gotten used to enjoying just about every tripel and BSPA that comes out of Belgium. This one, however, is clearly not the cream of the crop. Not that it's bad, it's just barely above average. As is often the case, a less than stellar mouthfeel has done flavor and drinkability no favors.

The best beer of this style has a complex flavor profile that features sweet orchard fruit, bitter hops and spicy-bready yeast. This Brasserie D'Ecaussinnes offering contains most of the typical flavors, but it tastes (and feels) flat and one-dimensional. I've decided to blame the underachieving yeast strain as well as the lack of bubbles. Sugary pear is the dominant flavor.

The mouthfeel is thinnish, with a finishing slickness that is odd. It also contains so few bubbles that there's no hope of silky creaminess or mouthfilling expansiveness. Big letdown here.

Ultra Blonde is decent beer only because tripels are my favorite Belgian style. Those of you who aren't thrilled with them should spend your money elsewhere. Ultra it ain't.
Jun 21, 2008
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.9 by mattfancett from England

Sep 03, 2014
 
Rated: 3.74 by dcmchew from Romania

Nov 10, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by RBorsato from Virginia

Oct 22, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by Ciocanelu from Romania

Aug 23, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by Marius from Netherlands

Jul 17, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by MarvinSnyder from West Virginia

Jul 09, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by Rochefort10nh from New Hampshire

Nov 26, 2011
Photo of mrfrancis
Reviewed by mrfrancis from Kentucky

3.61/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A: Pours a hazy golden orange with a billowing white head that laces deep into the glass.

S: Surprisingly faint aromas of orange, lemon, and grass are present on the nose. Compared to many Belgian ales, this beer is more than a bit weak in terms of aroma.

T: Notes of cream, bitter orange, lemon, grass, pineapple, and spicy, pungent yeast are very present on the palate. The finish is smooth and creamy with plenty of citrus flavors. Very balanced with no alcohol burn.

M: Full bodied, slick, and smooth in the mouth. Carbonation is very subtle. Very drinkable for an ale of this strength.

O: This is a solid, enjoyable ale, but I think that it has been misclassified. In terms of flavor, this reminds me more of a Belgian strong pale ale than a tripel.
Nov 07, 2011
Photo of Tballz420
Reviewed by Tballz420 from Minnesota

3.4/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Ultra Blonde pours out a really cloudy orange color, with lots of fish flakes flouting around in it. Small white head doesn't last too long, and only minimal lacing.

The scent has some malts and some fruits, but is pretty musty as well. Lot of yeast on the nose.

The taste starts with pale malts, moves into some mild and muted fruit tones, and finishes with just a touch of bitterness. Honey, pretty bready, a bit of banana, some candi sugar, a bit of spice from the yeast. Very smooth mouth and soft on the tongue.

Eh, I'm not going to say Ultra Blonde is bad really, but it seems to be pretty run of the mill.
Aug 31, 2011
Photo of clintyeastwood
Reviewed by clintyeastwood from South Carolina

3.73/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4
Purchased in a fire sale from Green's on Piney Grove in Cola, SC.

Pours a dark cloudy honey color. Highly reminescent of apple cider, with a thin off-white head that lasts thoughout. Great lacing.

Cider theme returns in aroma, with notes of apple & spices. Underscored with a nice bready quality and just a touch of honey.

Flavor is fairly complex, dominated by slightly over-ripe apple & allspice (again with the cider). Taste futher enhanced by anise, apricot, and something sour on the back of the tongue.


Mouthfeel is an intersting combonatiion of zesty & creamy.

The beer is not so well balanced, leaving a smorgasbord of ingredients in the finish and aftertaste.

Overall, an enjoyable brew, but atypical of a Belgium Blonde. Perhaps "Dishwater Blonde" would be more appropriate.
Jun 13, 2011
Photo of Patrick999
Reviewed by Patrick999 from Florida

3.69/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
In the bottle, this looked like it might be a gusher....it had been filled pretty high. Yet the cork came out with a surprisingly weak pop. Then I poured into my Duvel tulip and it showed huge foam. Great retention and lacing. It looks like the quintessential authentic Belgian Strong Pale. I don't think I'm stretching or being overly generous in giving this a 5 in appearance.

Smells like apple butter made with some ripe Granny Smiths. Bready, but really throwing off a lot of apple aromas. Prety good.

Not surprisingly, cidery, also some sweet vinous notes. Think Sauternes. For my liking, a bit too sweet, especially if this is trying to be a tripel. Crisp feel, powdery yeast, and it does try to dry out near the end with some pepper, but to me it comes off just short.

Not a bad beer at all, but considering the heavyweights in this style category, it has to bring some more dryness to the table before I'd consider vaulting it to the upper echelon of strong Belgian golden ales. It is pleasant and enjoyable, though - and not to be snobby at all, but I could see a lot of less-experienced beer drinkers appreciating this more than the BA crowd. It's got some crossover appeal...probably more than Duvel or La Fin Du Monde, I think, certainly more than the hoppy, dry Chimay White. And it does grow on me, the more I have of it. I think this is a little underrated.
May 24, 2010
Photo of Cyberkedi
Reviewed by Cyberkedi from Georgia

4.55/5  rDev +25.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Pours an appealing hazy straw yellow with a VERY thick and fluffy white head. (Beware when opening a bottle - it fizzes like nobody's business!) Aroma is strong, rich, fruity, slightly yeasty and a little bit sweet. Mouth-filling flavor is mainly fruity with malty and yeasty tones, just a touch of bitterness and a whisper of butterscotch. Texture is milk-smooth, fizzy and a little edgy. This is worth finding!
Feb 23, 2010
Photo of weeare138
Reviewed by weeare138 from Pennsylvania

3.72/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Appears a dark gold with a small white cap that slowly droops down into a mild, floating head, and collar. Tiny streaks of lacing are left around the glass.
Smell is of tart lemon, malt, with gentle hopping highlighting earthy hops.
Taste...hmmm. Not exactly what I was expecting for a tripel. Mild caramel, doughy bread, biscuit with more of a tart lemon, and citrus pulling through and cutting the flavors along the palate.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, with crisp carbonation, and a boozy finish.
Feb 07, 2010
Photo of mwilbur
Reviewed by mwilbur from Minnesota

3.43/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Poured from 750 mL bottle into snifter.
A: Pours a nice yellow-orange color with high carbonation producing a 2 inch thick frothy white head. Good retention and lacing.
S: Nice, but muted belgian spice, fresh yeast, and citrus hops. Soft pineapple.
T: Spice doesn't seem quite right here. Not sure if it's a wrong amount or wrong mix or something else. It's just off...and distracting. Mild citrus hops. Hint of must and ginger.
M: Light and effervescent. Taste doesn't linger on the palate...which I guess here isn't a bad thing. Hint of bitter aftertaste.
D: OK to try, but wouldn't seek it out. Fairly refreshing brew, but for style you can find dozens better.
Jan 06, 2010
Photo of dmamiano
Reviewed by dmamiano from West Virginia

4/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Good color for style. Light golden color with a nice head. Poured some 'floaties" in my glass, but that was my fault.
Smell was very nice and spicy. Hints of pepper and clove came to mind. Sweet malts mixing nicely with the spicey undertones.
Taste was very nice...great on the palate as far as feel. Sweet malts once again pervaded with strong peppery notes and spices melding nicely.
Jul 27, 2008
Photo of Absumaster
Reviewed by Absumaster from Netherlands

2.91/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A slightly murky, orange beer with a thin head.

Smell of ripe apples, which immediatelly reminds me of oxidation. There is a musty smell there with some malty, straw notes.

Taste is a little better, sweet malty with straw and husky notes. The yeast adds some red, ripe apple and is spicy with hints of ginger. Bitterness is low. Body is medium and the beer is slightly sweet.
Jun 30, 2008
Photo of avalon07
Reviewed by avalon07 from South Carolina

3.65/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A: When poured from a bottle to a chalice, this beer had an amber hue and a thick texture. Lots of sediment floating around. Had a huge amount of long-lasting head and some good lacing.

S: There was a hoppy, fruity smell and a mild malt aroma.

T: There's a slightly sugary quality to the taste, along with apples, hops and malt. Not exactly that complex, but OK.

M: This one had a fair amount of carbonation and a somewhat slick finish. This is a medium-bodied beer.

D: Overall, this is a drinkable beer. This is not to say it's without faults. It's surprisingly simple in style compared to a lot of other tripels. Not a bad beer, though.
May 13, 2008
Photo of GClarkage
Reviewed by GClarkage from California

3.72/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
04/12/08- Purchased at Ledger's Liquors in Berkeley, CA.

Presentation- 11.2oz stubby nosed bottle with a best by date stamped on the cap. Poured into my Duvel tulip.

Appearance- Deeper golden colored pour with a 3/4 inch head and a light rim remaining during consumption. Leaves decent lace remnents.

Smell- Nice sugary and lightly toased caramel malt base with a large honey nose as well as some herbal and light lemony scents.

Taste- Not as sugary as the nose would suggest. The honey flavor comes through lightly. Mild hops and a nice lemon flavor. Fairly tart in the taste and an aftertaste that lasts for about 2 seconds.

Mouthfeel- Brisk carbonation level with a non-existant aftertaste. Very crisp though.

Drinkability- Pretty drinkable and quenching as well. Another beer that would be best drank during the summer. Almost felt session like as the 8% really didn't show up.
Apr 13, 2008
Photo of Bobzilla
Reviewed by Bobzilla from New York

3.43/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3/29/08

C: Golden Yellow, white head, not much lace. Cloudy from sediment. The sediment is otherwise fairly small and clumpy.

S: Smells a bit of molasses. Buttery sweetness. A much heavier smell than I would expect from the style.

T: Buttery and a bitter herbal quality. Not unpleasant, but a bit more tart and bitter than I would like in a tripel.

M: good carbonation with a smooth finish. Not too syrupy.

D: A good beer, but one or two of these is enough for a sitting. Can be a bit sweet, with a cloying nature after a while.
Mar 30, 2008
Ultra Blonde from Brasserie Scassenes
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 39 ratings