Trappist Westvleteren Blonde - Brouwerij Westvleteren (Sint-Sixtusabdij van Westvleteren)

TRICKYD1CK

France

4.9/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Bought at Beer Temple in Brussels for 8 euros. Drunk on 10/25/11 at 11:30pm in Paris, France out of a Rochefort chalice for the glass's christening.

A - Light golden color. Slightly hazy. Short, creamy head.

S - Citrus, refreshing, subtle.

T - Imagine a salad of fresh hops with lemon drizzled over top. The citrus flavors grab your attention up front, but the hops are there. As the citrus fades, the hops come out and leave a wonderfully dry, hoppy aftertaste that isn't abrasively overdone like with most American IPAs. This is what I've been looking for all these years, but have never found with all the IPAs and BPAs I've had.

M - Smooth as a baby's bottom. Light, but not too. Great for any occasion.

O - What more can one say? Never had a better beer. American Pale Ales are either too sweet or too abrasively hopped - or not interesting enough. Belgians are too boozy or also too sweet. I don't like sweet things, so the citrus provides a perfect refreshing replacement for sugariness. I love hops, but have never had a beer this light, refreshing, and balanced with enough hoppiness. Drinking this made my eyes water like when I read a great poem or see one of my favorite paintings in person. I doubt I'll ever have another blonde this good. Well worth every penny. Overhyped due to its rarity? Of course. Deserving of its fame? You bet.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2011 22:34:14 | More by TRICKYD1CK

IchLiebeBier

Virginia

4.75/5  rDev +11.2%

06-15-2013 23:02:05 | More by IchLiebeBier

Aliano

California

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

06-09-2013 19:26:08 | More by Aliano

ystazi

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

06-09-2013 19:22:49 | More by ystazi

jroberts8811

Missouri

4.75/5  rDev +11.2%

06-08-2013 19:19:43 | More by jroberts8811

Anonymous1

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

06-01-2013 04:10:50 | More by Anonymous1

spoony

Colorado

4/5  rDev -6.3%

05-25-2013 16:53:53 | More by spoony

PrinceDarren

Illinois

5/5  rDev +17.1%

05-25-2013 01:10:40 | More by PrinceDarren

straightlambic

California

4/5  rDev -6.3%

05-25-2013 00:26:54 | More by straightlambic

DoubleJ

California

4.46/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

Poured into a Westvleteren chalice by the staff at Cafe In de Vrede, on to the beer;

An electric blonde shade colors the beer. There is a little visible sediment which sits at the bottom of the glass. Visible bubbles and a poofywhite head adds texture to the look. The aroma is somewhat straightforward and fun; bringing the aromas of farmhouse, lemon, and fresh grass.

What a vibrant taste! A lot of fresh cut grass and fresh hops are hitting the palate. It's not all hoppy though, as notes of hay and wool crawl through the dominance and create a little attraction to itself. It's a lighter medium bodied beer, with a somewaht creamy feel, with a crisp and bitter aftertaste.

Is it possible that Westvleteren Blonde is overlooked? This is simply an outstanding blonde which is easy to drink, but doesn't receive the same kind of love as its siblings. If you're at In de Vrede, you want to start your engine with this.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 23:24:15 | More by DoubleJ

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4/5  rDev -6.3%

05-18-2013 21:13:55 | More by Photekut

DStoked

Ohio

5/5  rDev +17.1%

05-14-2013 18:40:00 | More by DStoked

geedub11

United Kingdom (England)

3.75/5  rDev -12.2%

05-12-2013 08:55:20 | More by geedub11

Michigan

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

05-11-2013 13:14:17 | More by Michigan

safaricook

Netherlands

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

05-11-2013 08:43:48 | More by safaricook

GRUUMSH

Belgium

4/5  rDev -6.3%

05-11-2013 08:12:49 | More by GRUUMSH

Nolen12

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

04-30-2013 03:34:40 | More by Nolen12

jkball01

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

04-30-2013 03:06:07 | More by jkball01

JupiterJesus

California

4.75/5  rDev +11.2%

04-28-2013 08:37:34 | More by JupiterJesus

GRG1313

California

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

04-27-2013 09:40:58 | More by GRG1313

BTPete

New York

4/5  rDev -6.3%

04-19-2013 23:14:09 | More by BTPete

deebo

Minnesota

4.34/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

On first trip to Belgium in late 2010. A road trip from Bruges to the cafe next to the Monastery on a pilgrimage for the quadruple but lets start with the Blond first. Appearance is cloudy with a light foam. Looks like an unfiltered wheat. Aromas of wheat with an estery banana note. Taste is smooth with a nice balance of wheat and a hop end note. Mouthfeel is complex and rich for a low alcohol beer with a medium level of carbonation. Super drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 03:29:02 | More by deebo

Rhettroactive

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -18%

04-15-2013 03:19:27 | More by Rhettroactive

Ant4711

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

04-05-2013 18:05:57 | More by Ant4711

Mnmaverick

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

04-05-2013 16:48:52 | More by Mnmaverick