Valeir Blond - Brouwerij Contreras

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine Issue #43 (Aug 2010):

We see the rawness in its big, foamy head and pale, cloudy appearance. This beer has a slightly fruity, floral nose with hints of raw honey, doughy biscuits, earthy yeast and a faintness of mint. Its smoothness has a lot of depth. This beer is dry and malty, with more grain in the finish. Its peppery alcohol, hop bitterness and faint medici- nal flavors are not so easily rocked by the fruitiness and lingering grain. This is more of a bold and in-your-face Belgian Blond that's still quite drinkable despite its complexities.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2011 03:42:02 | More by BeerAdvocate

humulus

Sweden

3.78/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: amber, cloudy with yeast particles floating around in it. The foam is white and firm.

Smell: citrus, white bread, honey, belgian yeast, caramel, straw.

Taste: pine and pine resin, sweetness as from honey and malt, powerful citrus notes and nice bitterness. A very nice beer.

Mouthfeel: full bodied and elegant on the tongue.

Overall: a very nice Belgian ale with a complex set of tastes, from bitter to sweet and fruity. Very elegant and quenches thirst very nicely.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 12:14:12 | More by humulus

apanloco

Sweden

3.25/5  rDev -14.9%

05-18-2013 21:40:10 | More by apanloco

eriknordlund

Sweden

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

05-18-2013 18:41:12 | More by eriknordlund

aztraz

Sweden

3.5/5  rDev -8.4%

05-12-2013 00:07:08 | More by aztraz

JDavidRice

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +4.7%

05-07-2013 02:08:07 | More by JDavidRice

randylangford

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -8.4%

04-26-2013 23:17:28 | More by randylangford

Mattias

Sweden

3.5/5  rDev -8.4%

04-25-2013 17:06:46 | More by Mattias

mvanaskie13

Pennsylvania

3.54/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a standard pint glass, color is copper, good effervescence, head was solid as well, good 1/2 inch.

Smell was a nice blend of cleaner malts and mild yeast spice, not overpowering.

Taste was similar to the scent, clean malts, mild yeast notes, pretty solid flavors, good bitterness

Mouthfeel was where it was slightly off, this could be a byproduct of an extended shelf life, carbonation was a bit much, and over powers the flavors in the lingering taste.

Overall, a decent belgian pa, solid flavors, maybe some aging issues.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 00:39:48 | More by mvanaskie13

GreenMountainBoy

Vermont

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

12-23-2012 22:39:44 | More by GreenMountainBoy

metter98

New York

3.9/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer is clear golden yellow in color and has a slight amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a half finger high white head that died down and left a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface.
S: There are aromas of yeast in the nose along with notes of lemon citrus and spices.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and has complex flavors of bready malts, lemon citrus hops, spices and yeast.
M: It feels medium-bodied and a little dry on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is very flavorful for the style and has complexities in the taste that rival that of a Belgian Strong Pale Ale.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 22:13:56 | More by metter98

brentk56

North Carolina

3.53/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a cloudy honey color with a finger's worth of foam; just a few strands left behind

Smell: Biscuity, with hints of stone fruit and grain

Taste: Biscuity, up front, with a slightly spicy, grainy flavor developing by mid-palate; a touch of honey sweetness lingers, after the swallow but the beer is dominated by the biscuity yeast profile

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation

Overall: Nothing too exciting here, though I think this one may be a year past its best by date

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 00:22:55 | More by brentk56

JJOVa

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

08-14-2012 22:44:05 | More by JJOVa

mrfrancis

Kentucky

3.9/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a hazy gold with a tight, clinging white hed.

S: Aromas of grassy, lemony hops, caramel, and spicy Belgian ale yeast fill the nose. I was expecting some hint of candy sugar, but after checking the list of ingredients, realized that I wasn't picking it up because it wasn't there.

T: Notes of bitter orange, kumquat, lemon, lime, and grass from the hops immediately hit the palate, blending nicely with spicy yeast flavors. Around mid-palate, notes of biscuits, caramel, crackers, minerals, and honey make their presence known. The finish is delicate, but flavorful, with plenty of citrus, biscuit, caramel, and spicy yeast notes.

M: Medium-bodied, dry, and firm. Carbonation is very active and crisp. Alcohol presence is undetectable. Very drinkable, but also a bit heavy for the style.

O: This is a tremendously refreshing Belgian pale ale with much more complexity than most beers of this style. Highly recommended for those who are getting burned out on the overly sugary or overly hoppy Belgian pale ales that are becoming more and more common by the day.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2012 13:13:28 | More by mrfrancis

avalon07

South Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured from a bottle to a tulip glass. Had an amber color and a clear texture. There was a huge, foamy, long-lasting head. Average lacing.

S: A decent, but not spectacular, aroma of light fruit, malt, and yeast.

T: Tasted of fruit (apples and a little citrus), a bit of Belgian yeast, and big shot of malt in the finish. An OK flavor, but nothing overly special.

M: A well-carbonated beer with a smooth finish. Light-bodied.

O: Not a bad beer, but not overly memorable either.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2012 13:10:33 | More by avalon07

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served from tap into a Trappe Door tulip. Poured a golden yellow with a three finger white head that subsided to a minimal amount very slowly. Maintained decent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, fruit, dark fruit, and sugar. The flavor was of sweet malt, fruit, grape, subtle sugar, and wheat. It had a light feel on the palate with mild carbonation. Overall this was a decent brew. There was definitely a lot of sweetness going on in this one which totally killed the balance of flavors for me. If the sugary aspect I picked up on would have been a little more subdued this definitely could have been a pretty good example of the style. Better than an average brew of the style, but not quite a good example. Worth trying if you get the chance and are looking for something sweet.

Serving type: on-tap

05-15-2012 11:27:50 | More by thagr81us

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a cloudy medium dark orange amber with a one finger fine off-white head and lacing. Considerable sediment and floating particles. Aroma of light fruit, caramel malt. Flavor of light fruit and sweet malt, oddly dry. Finishes with pleasant fruit, malt and a bit of hop bitterness. Long aftertaste of fruit esters. Medium bodied with nice sharp carbonation. An interesting balance of sweet and dry. Very nicely done.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2012 03:09:20 | More by LiquidAmber

bmur112

Maryland

4/5  rDev +4.7%

02-10-2012 11:28:16 | More by bmur112

cmonson68

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +17.8%

12-25-2011 18:15:54 | More by cmonson68

JAHMUR

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +4.7%

11-20-2011 05:33:07 | More by JAHMUR

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

3.43/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This one has a bit of age, but is still best before 09/07/12.

A: Clear bronze with a pillowy, white head; light retention; great lace.

S: Pear, apple, apricot, toffee and a slightly earthy mineral.

T: Crisp apple cider with a light tartness; sponge toffee; honey and corn syrup; slight floral & peppery spice; hint of earthy mineral; modest bitterness.

M: Moderate body has a light residual sweetness (perhaps a little much for a Belgian?).

D/O: A bit different, but a decent drinker.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2011 03:22:33 | More by Derek

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

After having Valeir Extra I made it a point to seek out the other beers that this brewery makes and give them a try. The blonde is my second favorite after the Extra. This brew poured out as a slightly hazy looking brew with a fluffy white head on top that settles quickly. The lacing is decent on the glass. The smell of this beer is a little grainy and has a light bread and fruitiness to it. The taste of the beer is crisp and refreshing, The mouthfeel was light and sharp, Overall this beer is pretty good. I enjoyed it but would take the Extra any day over this one.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2011 18:57:25 | More by Knapp85

woosterbill

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

33cl bottle, best by 2012 (so an 09 bottling?), into an Allagash goblet; thanks to JAHMUR for sharing.

A: Slightly hazed pale amber body with a 1/2" cap of fine ecru foam. Good retention, spotty lace. Solid.

S: Pleasant, light aroma of biscuity malt, grassy hops, and nicely understated fruit esters. Simple and pleasant.

T: Biscuity, slightly sweet malt starts things off, with some light hops and fruity yeast on the back end. Malt definitely dominates overall, which is fine by me - it's some really tasty malt.

M: Nice creamy medium body with plenty of carbonation.

O: I'd never heard of this beer before getting a pour of it, and I'd certainly like to have it again. I enjoyed having a BPA that didn't feel the need to smack me over the head with intense yeastiness (although I like that, too, of course; this was just a nice change of pace). If you see this one, give it a shot.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2011 23:26:17 | More by woosterbill

tchenery

Virginia

4.35/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Deep orange in body color with some sediment and chill haze, probably due to poor pouring. Nice thin head remains after some time.

Very fruity upfront on the nose. I'm smelling lemon zest and grapefruit, mostly all citrus scents with a hint of white grapes.

The taste is fruity upfront and then slowly blends into a spicy/hoppy characteristic that finishes with a malty body and eventually a peppery end. It's super dry and refreshing. The body is not too heavy and not too light. The pepper on this beer is the most pronounced.

Mouthfeel is spritzy and thin, excellent bubbly texture.

Overall, this beer is wonderful. It's extremely simple and yet complex. The first taste is the most overwhelming in that you can taste the stages of the beer from sweet to malty to peppery to a dry finish.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2011 02:51:39 | More by tchenery

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle: Poured a hazy golden color ale with large foamy head with nice thick foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma consists of light fruity ester with nice semi-sweet Belgian malt base. Taste is an easily drinkable mix between some semi-sweet Belgian style malt with light fruity ester and light floral notes. Body is quite full for style with good carbonation and no apparent alcohol. Very well done for style with great drinkability factor.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2011 02:19:18 | More by Phyl21ca