Leffe Blonde
Abbaye de Leffe S.A.

The kind of bench-mark Belgian Blonde. Abbey beer (the trapist style.) Produced with barley, malt of barley, mais (corn), yeast and added sugar, I think they changed the recipe a bit during the years.
It used to be a bit more lighter and creamy.
Can of 330ml, chiled at around 7 degrees celcius, poured in a leffe chalice,
Highly carbonated, small bulbs, 2 finger white head, pretty amber colour.
Smell, sweet, bit biscuity, with a little spicy scent, myrrh maybe.
Taste, more bready, full, balanced, hints of honey and stronger precense of some spice.

Pretty well made beer, highly available here, but no my favorite blonde.

 

Leffe is an interesting beast - have it bottled with your friends and it can be a very quick way to render yourself inebriated (and strapped for cash). However, ask for it on draught from your local - let's be honest - Wetherspoons, it can quickly overwhelm your ongoing buzz. The spirit of Anheuser-Busch begins to rear its ugly head such that your pint of Leffe suddenly begins to roil your stomach. My local only serves Leffe in half-pints and I had to throw back my second half before closing time. It was a challenge. Overall, truly one to savour. You must be in the mood for Leffe. It can all too easily become an expensive mistake.

PS. Lef? Lef-ay? Lef-uh? Lef-ie? I've heard them all. Apparently it's "Lef" but I still say "Lef-ay"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11.2 ounce bottle poured into (ahem.,.) an opaque plastic cup at a French bistro in Aventura Mall in Florida. ‘Best by May, 2024’, so it’s fresh. 6.6% ABV.
Big ole thick creamy head pops up and crowns.
Aroma of familiar Belgian yeast, mild clove, little perfumey..
Taste is pretty spot on for a Belgian blond. Herbs, clove, touch of banana, light malt, a vanilla note, tad of bitter.
Feel is joyously mid-dense, active carbonation.
Overall, right fine accent to an almond croissant. Will stand up on its own too.

 

 

After a dip in form for this brewery, there's been a big improvement in quality again IMO. Nicely balanced and carbonated, yeasty and slightly spicy notes. Taste follows with slight honey and a woody and bready finish. Decent feel and a decent blond comparatively for a macro brewery. Glad to see it's on the up again.

 

Yields a golden color with a big, froth head atop.

Smells of wet wood, cardamom and unripe, green banana among notes of allspice and dried grass.

Has a light body with a well accentuated, higher carbonation level, revealing a mineralic quality, leading to a well working refreshment.

Tastes of honey, melting toffee and rustic grains among soothing bread dough and a faint note of dry leaves. Offers a sprizzy middle part, with the beer‘s carbonation becoming more prominent, together a sweet, rock sugar malt backbone. Finishes with a mineralic burst, more honey and a prevailing maltiness.

Solid Blond with a convincing balance to it.

Put off trying this for years assuming I’d drink it in Europe one day. And indeed I have. Snagged a tall can in Paris. Most of the beer here is Belgian, naturally. This is enjoyable, especially considering the average score. Yeasty, funky, and slightly spicy. Quite good, would drink again. A 6.6% can with a best by date of 12/2024