Leffe Blonde
Abbaye de Leffe S.A.

11.2 oz. bottle poured into tulip
(best before end: 18/07/20 printed on bottle — can't find a straight answer online as to what that means, July 20, 2018 or July 18, 2020? DM if you know and I'll adjust)

L: crystal clear gold topped by huge Belgianesque head of fluffy white/offwhite foam that sticks to the walls of the glass like paint; fantastic pour, beautiful on the way down as it laces off a thickish collar of white foam

S: funk ... the yeasty/earthy/lemony aroma wafts out of the bottle as you pour; it's almost skunky but when you dig into the glass you find little skunk and much more earthy funk; lemon, lemonpeel, lemon candy ... there's definitely some sweetness, some from the malt, maybe some residual from the brewer's candi sugar?

T: follows the nose closely though two things stand out: 1. the lemon is never tart but more earthy like lemon peel, and 2. clove — there's a hint of clove flavor that grows and grows along with another hefeweizen-like wheat note; earthy note and clove mix and make it almost bitter, but like with the nose, there's sweetness there to help balance; while not tart, it has a drying effect that makes you keep reaching for the glass, almost vinous like a semi-dry white wine mixed with a sweeter (but not dessert) white wine

F: doesn't get better for carbonation lovers like me ... tickles and tingles and fills up the mouth with a wonderful mix of carbonation and heft from the weight of the liquid; perfect

O: the only quibble I have with this one is the bottle code, which at some point I'll get a clear answer on; whether this beer is a year past it's best-by date or a year short of it, it's fantastic with a nice mix of several Belgian notes in all aspects from look to smell, taste to feel; I will revisit this beer again

 

 

Nearly crystal clear gold with a tall, level head of cream colored foam.

Smell is a little wheat and sweet corn while taste comes on the stronger end of phenols for a blonde, almost imparting anise, but the exceedingly soft, lightly sweet body mitigates it being spicy or sharp feeling. Esters are mild of orangey-banana characteristics.

My old check-in was inadequate, this is far better than a 3.15.

Look: Golden rich colour giving a great head.
Smell: Slight ale smell.
Taste: Crisp, full and hint of cloves.
Feel: Crisp and rich.
Overall: A great crisp drink - lovely!

Had Leffe Blonde in Sept. 2013 at Arlanda Airport, Sweden, poured from 330-ml. bottle, best before end date not recorded, into goblet, but was unable to review until now, when had again poured from 50-cl. can, bottom stamped (optimistically) best before "16/07/27," into hotel water glass.

Pours yellow-gold with clarity and 1-finger off-white head, with excellent retention, leaving splotchy lace down the glass. Aromas of mild malt, mild Belgian yeast spice and a bit of citrus off pour, then a hint of vanilla aroma, and aromas of more pear and growing other fresh orchard fruit as warms, with long continuing aromas of vanilla and fresh fruit. On tasting, begins with immediate, moderate Belgian yeast spice, over a creamy, slightly vanilla body, with some sweet pear, before a moderately herbal-bitter (even clovish?), biting, fresh apricot and pear finish.

Leffe Blonde has a more than adequate appearance, and a fresh yet sophisticated aroma of European summer markets, and, as others have said, is almost annoyingly tasty for a virtually fraudulent "abbey" beer.

 

12 oz Lonngneck,Poured on a Pint Glass:

LOOK: Light golden, maintained 3cm head for 30 seconds

SMELL: Malty with a hint of vanilla

TASTE: slight fruity with a hint of vanilla

FEEL: Good carbonation

OVERALL: Good Belgium Ale. Had this beer in Berlin and Munich tasted better than the one I had today, but still recommended.

Partner bought me one of these to try and it was discounted haha this beer is very tasty smells amazing and a great tease of a spice from the clove would love to have this again

 

Smell is a peppery, vanilla cream and malt aroma. Body hits with spice and clover followed by hints of more bready, crackery malts and vanilla that lingers into the aftertaste. Overall very spicy but has delectable backbone of vanilla cream and apricot candy, very solid.

 

On tap at O'Reilly's in Amsterdam.
Looks crystal clear amber with a big head that sticks around. Plenty of lacing
Smells bready with a hint of fruiur
Tastes of apricot with a spicy hop finish.
Feels light with slight carbonation.
Overall very tasty.