Isaac - Birrificio Le Baladin

jazzyjeff13

United Kingdom (England)

3.3/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A sexy 250ml bottle with a BB of Dec 2012. Purchased ages ago from an Italian deli in York. As always, I love the Baladin label/branding.

Poured into a Delirium chalice (with swirling to agitate the yeast). A very hazy, translucent amber colour with plentiful floating sediment and medium carbonation. Forms a small head of white foam that dissipates after a minute or so. Aroma of fruity, earthy yeast esters and wheat, accompanied by hints of orange, coriander, camomile and faint herbs. Subtle but interesting.

Tastes of earthy yeast with a mild fruity character and a dry finish. Notes of yeast, faint orange, hints of coriander and subtle herbal twinges. No bitterness to speak of; the flavour seems subdued upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is smooth, dry and has good body, but is seriously undercarbonated and lacks texture. Slightly astringent, with an aftertaste of earthy yeast and echoes of fruit and spice.

An interesting effort with a restrained complexity, but falls short of better Belgian offerings. Doesn't look great - virtually no head. The aroma and flavour are nice but overly yeasty and insufficiently defined by the orange/spices. The body lacks carbonation, which really shouldn't be missing in a bottle-conditioned beer. It goes down quite nicely but doesn't leave you stunned. Would probably pair well with food - worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 22:37:21 | More by jazzyjeff13

joecast

Australia

2.23/5  rDev -38.2%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Well this isnt a good start. Pours like a highly carbonated cider. Quite cloudy with lots of sediment in the glass. Head barely has a chance to form before it quickly fizzles away.

Initial hints of apple had me worried. Thankfully this didnt stick around long and some more typical aromas emerged. Light witbier yeast but little spice or anything else to add to it. Yeah, not great.

Taste is slightly less meh. Really needs to be cleaned up. Not sure if its a bad bottle, but its well within date. And I really cant say filtering out the sediment would make so much of a difference here. Something I can only describe as a cider like sharpness is combined with a sweet euro lager base. Not a great mix.

Disappointed here. Bad example of a witbier and not enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2012 10:23:43 | More by joecast

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.1/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 1.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A: Poured a flat orangish color with a light amount of carbonation which pulls a Whodini and quickly disappears

S: A light spice with a dose of flowers and juicy citrus

T: A little bit of spice but its really overshadowed by citrus and a light floral presence.

M: A little sticky but flat, boring and a complete fail for the style. This must have been intentional.

O: Below average and the sticker price on this is laughable compared to the quality

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2012 13:49:00 | More by barleywinefiend

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.13/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A pleasant surprise to see this on tap at Max's.

The beer pours a solid gold color with fairly good head retention and light lacing. Really don't get a whole lot on the nose... maybe some light honey, light clove and light coriandor. The flavor profile is every bit as underwhelming, and there's an unusual wheat meets sour component that I'm not sure how much I like. It's tolerable, but is nothing to get very excited about. Mouthfeel is light, a bit thin, and kind of watery.

Pretty hard to get very excited about this weak effort from Baladin. Just not digging it.

Serving type: on-tap

01-21-2012 20:54:38 | More by johnmichaelsen

uno99

Ontario (Canada)

3.43/5  rDev -5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Tiny but expensive bottle purchased in a little bottle shop, Knaresborough, UK. Best Before Dec, 2012.

A: Lackluster appearance. A dull and lifeless liquid with no head or lacing.

S: Nose is full of spice and flowers. I can't identify the exact scent, but there is something there that really dominates a little too much. (checking the brewers description later, I think its camomile and mallow). I little pale malt and wheat backbone. Hops aren't really identifiable.

T: Citrus and cloves are upfront, followed by a malty body. Finish is the camomile which lingers awhile.

M: Rather slick and sticky. slightly dry on the edges of the palate but could be more so.

Overall - I had high hopes for this one, since being featured in a Michael Jackson book, but I'm slightly dissapointed - This is typically one of my least favorite styles however, and I tend to prefer German wheat beer. Certainly not worth the money.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2011 23:48:54 | More by uno99

Parrotshake

Australia

3.83/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a little darker than expected for a witbier. Not 'white', at all. Hazy yellow with a thin but long-lasting white head with constant rising bubbles.

Big perfumed nose. Citrus pith, flowers, a peppery note. Huge smell. Taste-wise citrus hits first as well as sourish wheaty/grainy notes, coriander is there as well as a twangy, slightly funky yeast finish. Dry and spicy finish with quite a bit of pepper. The addition of bitter Italian orange juice rather than the typical curacao orange peel gives is it a bigger citrus presence than your typical wit and quite a bit more sourness than usual, which complements the natural sourness of the wheat beautifully. Different.

Light in feel, a little creamy - seductive and food-friendly. Relatively low carbonation. Refreshing but assertive in flavor. Amazing with seafood - I paired it with an Italian crudo of raw tuna with extra virgin olive oil and a little diced blood orange. Good times. It's very expensive here, which is a shame. The kind of thing I wish I could buy by the case and keep in the fridge in warmer months.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2011 11:14:07 | More by Parrotshake

ferrari29

Illinois

3.38/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Beer poured from bottle into a Hefeweizen style glass. Enjoyed in Bitritto, IT (BA).

A - Cloudy body; orange; small, one finger size head formed, kind of weak for a Witbier; white colored head; sediment is clearly visible in beer; yeast; head dissipated very quickly

S - Rose; floral; sweet sugary notes of fruit; yeast; sweet malt back-end, lemon

T - Slight sweety touch that dissipated very quickly; lemon, citrus notes of orange peel and coriander; light touch of caramel and biscuit malt backend

M - Dry mouthfeel; flat; lingering taste of orange peel and coriander

D - Smooth texture, easy to drink; could use more flavor though; would be a great compliment to a very flavorful meal due to its subtle flavor profile

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2011 20:23:24 | More by ferrari29

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I enjoyed this with my wife, octopus87 to celebrate the birth of our firstborn who is named Isaac. Shared chilled from a 8oz bottle into two wine glasses.

The color is lackluster- murky caramel color with a slight mustard tinge with quick collapsing pale cap. The smell is nice -lots of sweet malt perhaps wheat with a hint of citrus rind and mild tinge of oxidation. There is a hint of pepper but very gentle and only after it is swirled is it apparent. The feel is ok, but more sweet than malty with a very light amount of spice, could be the yeast or the actual citrus peel, not sure as it finishes semi-dry.

The taste is a bit on the sweet side, yet the yeast gives a somewhat smooth taste which leads into the light caramel and wheat flavor. The spice character is there with slight tangy citrus tinges that take a little attention from the malt and add contrast with some mild astringency. The finish is lively but still has a minimal amount of sweetness - it is semi dry for the most part. I enjoyed this, but I think you need to approach it with an open mind. The beer is not strict to the style which is something that doesn't bother me. I would like to try it again since this bottle was aged for a year, but I still enjoyed the flavor and don't feel it was flawed or poorly brewed in any sense. thanks to my brother tenderbranson69 for this gift!

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2011 15:43:26 | More by Slatetank

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer pours out as a hazy bright yellow color, the head is foamy and white. The lacing is a little sticky against the glass. The smell of the beer had some good citrus notes along with decent wheat aromas. The taste has a light lemon flavor it to and a strong grainy wheat flavor in the background. The mouthfeel is pretty smooth but had a decent amount of carbonation. Overall it's not the best Wit beer but it's worth trying I think.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2011 21:34:23 | More by Knapp85

corby112

Pennsylvania

2.25/5  rDev -37.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours a hazy dark golden yellow color that appears almost orange in the glass with golden banana colored hues when held to a light and a half finger fizzy white head that quickly settles into a lasting ring. Minimal lacing. Visible carbonation bubbling up.

Sweet citrus aroma with hints of earthy, bready yeast, subtle spice and crisp light fruit. I was expecting more of a zesty peppery/coriander presence but it's more grassy with hints of straw and apple. Pale malt.

Medium bodied with more of a spicy character up front than the aroma suggests along with a crisp earthy hop presence. Slightly dry with hints of earthy grass and straw. Subtle bready yeast with slight alcohol sweetness along with hints of apple and pear. Very faint lemon peel/citrus presence toward the dry finish.

Overall, this beer was really off for the style and just didn't taste very good. Thin, kind of bland and not worth the hefty price tag. I really like Baladin a lot but this was a disappointment.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2011 08:29:40 | More by corby112

ATPete

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

8.4oz mini bottle.

still damn expensive at 6 bucks though...

Pours a very pale yellow color with a small white head. Clean very subtle spice and a gently sweet wheat character. Some lemon perhaps, a very refreshing beer. Obviously very easy to drink. Man, with the right salad this would be excellent.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2011 23:28:14 | More by ATPete

BeerNemesis

New York

3.65/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Isaac | 250 ml. | 5.0 % ABV | 2011

Brewer: Birrificio Le Baladin
Style: Witbier
Glass: pint

Appearance:
Cute 250 ml. bottle. The beer itself is a golden amber and the head is white.

Aroma:
Very bready, with a hint of orange rind in the background.

Taste:
Citric and spicy. The bulk of flavor comes in the form of bready barley malt that tastes subpar, almost like an adjunct lager. But then the white pepper spices, and lingering citrus kiss bring it back into craft brew territory. There's also a nice yeasty zest and natural cane sugar sweetness at the finish.

Mouthfeel:
Actually it feels very good in the mouth, well carbonated, and a little thicker than most witbiers.

Harmony:
I started out disliking it, but the citrus is really pulled off so well that I eventually ignored the subpar malt flavor.

Would I get it again?:
No.

Bottled: ?
Served: May 20, 2011

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2011 20:17:26 | More by BeerNemesis

Giovannilucano

New Jersey

4.93/5  rDev +36.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I obtained this from The Foodery located in the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphia.

I had poured this into a pint glass.

The appearance was a yellow cloud and retained a good head.

The aroma was very fruit and sweet with a natural sweetness to it.

The taste was crisp, light, and very refreshing.
I did taste fruit with sweetness, but once again it was a natural sweet.

Overall I really enjoyed this beer so much I called The Foodery and asked if I can get a case!

And for reference to all, my taste palate is not as strong as my wife's, who has a very awesome taste perception. So for me when a beer like this can make me pick up the phone and order a case, the taste was right here for me!

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2011 15:39:35 | More by Giovannilucano

Daigaro70

Pennsylvania

1.9/5  rDev -47.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

i bought this because i had the baladin-al-iksir which was pretty good. however, i believe i my first swig was from a bottle that sat in the sun on the dock on the way over here. so, i try again and maybe i was tainted from the first, but just didn't do it for me. my italian "better things in life" buddy loved it(i traded 2 bottles for two oliva V cigars)...sorry just seemed like an expensive waste of time.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2011 18:25:45 | More by Daigaro70

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.35/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottle: Poured a cloudy dirty beige colour ale with a large foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of dry Belgian malt with light fruity ester. Taste is not as complex as I would have expected with typical Belgian malt with a rather semi-dry aftertaste. Body is above average with good carbonation. I would have never guessed the style I had not check back on Ratebeer. The aroma of cloves, wheat and coriander is totally absent from this beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2011 03:50:50 | More by Phyl21ca

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Dirty straw, very dirty, pours with a little white head, no retention or lace.

S: Candied pineapple, curacao orange rind with hints of cloves & phenolic spicing.

T: Coriander, white pepper/grains of paradise?, cloves, phenolics, quite spicy (a little much for me). Candied pineapple, hints of banana and lemon, bitter curacao orange, a little wheaty.

M: Light to moderate body, well-carbonated, slight acidity.

D: I really like the candied pineapple flavour they get from their yeast. It's a good drinker, but I'd cut back on the spicing.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2011 01:57:17 | More by Derek

avalon07

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had a golden yellow color and a hazy consistency. There was an inch of creamy, fairly long-lasting head. Not much lacing at all.

S: A sharp, almost pungent smell of malt and spices.

T: Tasted primarily of malt, coriander, and some other spices. Doesn't line up exactly with witbier style. Not a bad flavor, but not overly dynamic either.

M: A decent amount of carbonation with a slick finish. Light-bodied.

D: A drinkable, but somewhat forgettable beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2011 13:40:39 | More by avalon07

SFLpunk

Vermont

3.83/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Quick notes from Tigris Beverage/g.housen Tasting earlier today. Bottle looks different than picture.

Crystal clear pale yellow with thin white head. Nose is very faint with whispers of orange and some dry hay and flowers (jasmine!). Palate is wide and creamy and the corriander comes out with a certain slickness that is unique. Long and pleasant finish.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2010 00:40:12 | More by SFLpunk

PartyBear

United Kingdom (England)

3.53/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours as a light golden colour with a large fast fading foamy white head, and lots of big bubble carbonation. The aroma is fruity with a massive hit of sweet oranges and a touch of grapefruit, there is also a light coriander and spiciness. The taste is fruity like the nose with a dominance of juicey oranges, and a sweet, almost sugariness. There is a slight bitterness in the aftertaste with but it still retains its fruit base. The mouthfeel is a little under-carbonated but light and fresh. Good wheat beer, maybe not the best but definitely worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2010 20:08:11 | More by PartyBear

Mora2000

Texas

4.22/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to bu11eye for sharing this bottle.

Pours a yellow, slightly hazy color with a white head. The aroma is coriander and some orange. The flavor is strong on the orange with some coriander to balance it out. Thin-medium, soft mouthfeel and low carbonation.

A solid example of a Belgian white, and my first craft beer from Italy. Very nice.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2010 20:23:53 | More by Mora2000

robertjbell

Alberta (Canada)

4.47/5  rDev +23.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours a hazy, darker yellow/golden color with the look of a lot of carbonation propelling a big head with lots of nice thin lacing

Nose: Huge character of citrus fruits, very little coriander, clove, or spice of any sort, unusual for a belgian-style wit, yet made up for by tons of grainy funkiness

Taste: Wow, did we love this beer! One of the more unusual wits I've had in my day, with a touch of spice carried by tons of mandarin and lemon citrus characteristics, the finish is dominated by touches of wild funky yeasts and a hunk of cereal grains, a highly evolved taste for a rather basic style

Mouthfeel: Very aggressive and assertive, quite heavy and chewy

Drinkability: A wit that deserves a chalice for sure! Definately a sipper

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2009 00:48:52 | More by robertjbell

ADZA

Australia

3.68/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I love the style and shape of this breweries bottles very impressive but i spose for the price they should be,this beer pours a pale honey hue with nice carbonation that leaves a two finger fast vanishing head with average lacing,the smell is very enticing with aromas of orange,lime and pineapple with some wheat notes aswell,it has a very tropical fruity taste with some notes of bananna,apricot and lime with an average mouthfeel not a bad beer and would be great in summer.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2009 10:52:29 | More by ADZA

Suds

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had wanted to try this beer for a while. From the characteristic Baladin bottle, it pours a hazy, cloudy, yellowish-white color. The head isn't bad, but could be better, given the style. Nice aroma...spice and orange, wheat and malt. White pepper? It's a fresh, lively, and engaging aroma. The taste is also captivating. The spice really comes through, and a peppery warmth lingers on the tongue long after the sip is swallowed. Slightly sweet, and balancingly tart. The tartness never quite gets to sour, but it does provide a good balance. No real hop flavor, bitterness, or aroma...this is a great wit. Lots of wheat flavor, tempered with some malt character. Moderately full in body. Easy drinking. This stuff is good.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2009 18:51:26 | More by Suds

marcpal

New Jersey

2.78/5  rDev -23%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

750ml brought back fromk trip to Milan. Poured into large tulip glass.

A: Hazy yellow and incredible amounts of small bubbles. Flowing head on first pour that maintained.

N: Ginger spices and grassy. Good aroma to start. Strongest aspect of this beer.

T: Falls short of the nose. Plain a somewhat sour, could have been bad bottle because this brewers others were much better. Some sweetness but the absence of the coriander which would have rounded it out better.

M: Too highly carbonated. Spices too much on the tongue without any taste with it. Odd- more like a sour ginger ale than anything else.

D: Given the high price and the availability, not worth the effort to track down. Not the best of wits.

Boring, would have rather had a Hoegaarden for about 1/5 the price.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2008 12:33:21 | More by marcpal

BeerNutta

Australia

3.8/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Isaac beer poured a golden amber colour with a light fluffy head.

There was a citrus smell that immediately hit you from the first sip.

It seeped through the beer and gave a sweet tang.

Very refreshing. Easy to drink. Good beer.

Just a little pricey which detracted from the drinkability. I guess if you live in italy then its great.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2005 10:20:02 | More by BeerNutta