Claire Blonde - Micro-Brasserie L'Alchimiste

francisfilion

Quebec (Canada)

2.98/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I got the mix pack of l'Alchimiste's 4 basic kinds of beer after at least one year of ignoring them as I walked by. By now my choices have gone down when I walk in a store therefore I decided to give them a chance. The reason I have walked straight past them for so long is there unattractive labels and lack of information on there bottles.

The beer pours a clear and pale blonde with medium effervescence and minimal head. It dissipates quickly and leaves no lacing.
It smells like sweet cereals and a faint earthy hop background. The first taste comes from the sweetness of the grains but is quickly balanced by the earthy hops. It is crisp and refreshing with no aftertaste. It is very light bodied.
Overall it is quite drinkable but there are many better fall back beers than this one. It is good but not anything I would go back to buying again, unless the choices are very limited.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2011 23:21:52 | More by francisfilion

wizo

Quebec (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev +1.2%

05-18-2013 17:13:50 | More by wizo

jpworld

Quebec (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev +9%

02-01-2013 01:43:52 | More by jpworld

beerhunter13

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +16.8%

09-20-2012 11:35:56 | More by beerhunter13

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

3.13/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Beer is a clear, very light blonde. Small white head. Retention mediocre, some lacing.

Smell is malty, toasty. Light grassy hops. Pretty simply, not great.

Taste is light. Toasty malt flavour is most prominent, as in the nose. A bit grassy. Dry cereal. Aftertaste not very pleasant. Balanced with a very slight bitterness.

Beer is very light bodied, rather watery. Moderate to low carbonation.

Overall, not particularly good. Very simple. Not unenjoyable but certainly not something that begs to be drunk.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2012 23:34:52 | More by jrenihan

fostachild

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev +9%

07-22-2012 21:48:12 | More by fostachild

oldp0rt

Quebec (Canada)

2/5  rDev -37.7%

03-15-2012 13:20:46 | More by oldp0rt

chefelf

New York

3.68/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Got this one from a recent trip up to Montreal. Looks like a blonde ale (not surprisingly) with little to no head. A nice smell with a very faint creamy flavor at first, almost vanilla. After it subsides there is a light lemony or sour taste.

The finish reminds me a lot of the Thomas Hooker Blonde Ale in that it is slightly sour. I have the party mix of the L'Alchimiste beers so I'm looking forward to trying the other three varieties as well.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2011 15:54:18 | More by chefelf

Digimaika2

Ontario (Canada)

2.9/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Very pale straw yellow colour with a finger of head that quickly dissipates leaving no blanket. No lacing.

S: Smell is very faint. Picking up some bready malts, yeasts and other earthy aromas, and some faint hops.

T: Bready malts upfront with a yeasty/grainy taste. Slight lemony notes. Finishes dry and rather bitter. Overall a pretty basic and straight forward taste.

M: Very light mouthfeel. Moderate carbonation.

O: This disappointed me, especially since the reason I bought this was based on an in-store recommendation. Not a horrible ale, but not one I would buy again, or recommend to anyone.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2011 00:16:01 | More by Digimaika2

Swedes21

Ontario (Canada)

2.95/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

341 ml served in a chilled glass

Appearance - Beer pours with a solid white fluffy head, about 2 fingers. The beer is a clear pale ale with minimal carbonation. Some decent lacing that stayed over the course of the bottle.

Smell - pretty simple straight fwd smell, some hops and grassy scents. There really is not much else.

Taste - Ok tasting beer, again, a simple taste. Some minimal hops with a decent grassy/earthy undertone. There is a slight aftertaste as well, nothing too bitter.

Mouthfeel - Decent amount of carbonation brings out a citrus hint and little more bitterness. Beer maintains its light feel during this stage.

Drinkability - I am not sure this is a beer i would go find and stock, overall its just a simple beer. Nothing special but nothing horrible.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2010 01:40:46 | More by Swedes21

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

2.95/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz Bottle

Appearance - The beer pours a slightly hazy pale straw colour with a small fizzy white head. There is an average amount of carbonation showing. There isn't much lacing and the head stuck around for only a few minutes before it was gone.

Smell - vinegar, hops, breads/grains, a grassiness

Taste & Mouth - There beer actually have a fairly nice mouth feel. A nice amount of carbonation and the bubbles are fairly large in size. The most noticeable flavours are breads/grains and a slight rustiness or vinegar. I can also taste citrus zest and light hops. The beer finishes with a slightly bitter aftertaste.

Drink - Another average beer from this brewer. It's not awful; but it's not something I'd buy again.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2010 00:29:09 | More by spinrsx

BoitSansSoif

France

3.15/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-Poured a clear light gold w/thin white head off a mildly aggressive pour--head quickly faded, but left ring around the edges. Small strings of tiny beads visible rising within.

S-Malt aroma is rather strong w/toasty notes dominating. There is also some red and green apple, and light hops.

T-Lightly toasted malt backbone supplements light malt bitterness, and there is a bit of apple. Faint hops in finish. Aftertaste is both lightly sour fruit and bitter hops/toastiness.

M-Light but supple for the style. Carbonation is light-to-moderate. Balance favors light bitterness, but still a fairly balanced drink.

D-Highly sessionable. Nothing noteworthy or particular, but a quaffable brew with a pleasant flavor.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2009 02:17:58 | More by BoitSansSoif

ZorPrime

Quebec (Canada)

3.3/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This one pours yellow light color. Not much head. Taste is not bad but I do taste corn which is more pronounce at the end and in the after-taste.

This is more a session beer and it is definitely better than macro. Not bad but not great. Just simple. I keep some in my fridge for my friends who prefer what they call "normal" beer. :)

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2008 00:44:16 | More by ZorPrime

sstackho

Ontario (Canada)

3.23/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz bottle from a mix 12-pack from Jovi in Gatineau - thanks Dad! Enjoyed immediately after mowing my postage stamp lawn. When poured cold, it comes out a slightly cloudy light gold that belies its name. It's almost "white". A bit of head and lots of carbonation. No lacing. Light malt aroma. First taste is lightly citrusy, which I wasn't expecting. Although this is listed as a lager, this one has some witbier qualities to it in my opinion, and I'm enjoying it.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2008 03:57:09 | More by sstackho

fdrich29

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Purchased at Depanneur Peluso in Montreal on Wednesday, August 6, 2008. Drank Saturday, August 9, 2008.

Bottle is different than the picture on BA. Alchimiste is printed in the middle of the label with Claire below resting between two symbols, the top being a golden Fleur de Lis and I am unsure what the bottom symbol is. Top left of the label reads Biere Blonde, top right Blond Beer. Bottom left Joliette, Queec, bottom right 5% alc./vol.

Poured a hazy, cloudy straw yellow. Bubbly head disspipated quickly and lacing clung to the side of the glass for mere seconds. Smells fruity, ciderish. Taste is very sweet and reminiscent of Granny Smith Woodpecker Cider or turned wine. Mouthfeel is clean, minor alcohol vapor, but very light. Very easy to drink, but not something I'd particularly like to drink much of. I really enjoyed the smell of this beer when I opened the bottle, but it was all downhill from there.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2008 20:32:16 | More by fdrich29

rodenbach99

Quebec (Canada)

2.68/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bouteille brune de 341ml.

la couleur est d'un beau jaune or avec une mousse blanche compacte, elle ne dura pas longtemps malheureusement. nez de grain prononcé, de malt aussi, la bouche est malté, ronde, longue, amertume légère. bière blonde ordinaire.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2007 01:43:01 | More by rodenbach99

JOaikido

Quebec (Canada)

3.35/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

341 ml bottle.

A- Rosy-yellow-beige colour. Kind of strange actuallyé Good effervescence. Not much head.

S- Pleasant floral hops and fruity apple notes.

T- Not at all what I was expecting. Tastes like weak apple cider. Very little hops, though there is a slight floral touch and some bitterness in the aftertaste.

MF- Light and effervescent. Thin.

D- Easy summer thirst quencher, but I can't make sense of the style.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2007 00:26:34 | More by JOaikido

bloberglawp

Quebec (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in pint glass, 10-12 celcius. Pours nice golden with a moderate haze, carbonisation is fine, head retention is very good. Nice lacing too.

Taste is well balanced, dry, and bitter. Hop aroma is light, well balanced. Not a overwelming beer. I could sip it all night. Perfect session brew.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2006 22:38:44 | More by bloberglawp