Castelain Blond Biere De Garde
Brasserie Castelain

Castelain Blond Biere De GardeCastelain Blond Biere De Garde
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From:
Brasserie Castelain
 
France
Style:
Bière de Garde
Ranked #32
ABV:
6.4%
Score:
87
Ranked #16,921
Avg:
3.87 | pDev: 11.89%
Reviews:
136
Ratings:
226
Status:
Active
Rated:
Apr 30, 2023
Added:
Dec 26, 2001
Wants:
  12
Gots:
  15
No description / notes.
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Photo of ivanbrew
Rated by ivanbrew

5/5  rDev +29.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I have tried this beer on tap clear golden color sweet aroma of grain big citrusy bitter sweet. Perfect for beer garden
Apr 30, 2023
 
Rated: 4.01 by DarrellK from Florida

Apr 16, 2019
 
Rated: 3.84 by shelby415 from Oregon

Sep 04, 2018
Photo of The_Kriek_Freak
Reviewed by The_Kriek_Freak from Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A very nice and malty example of a Biere Garde, arguably a style that doesn't get much love in the US, given its scarcity. Aromatic, with fruit and some spice but also fairly easy to drink as it is light. A very nice beer.
May 12, 2018
 
Rated: 3.84 by SaisonRichBiere from Michigan

Mar 01, 2018
Photo of SSGCujo
Reviewed by SSGCujo from Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A true Biere De Garde, not the strong bite that some microbrews have. I've had this beer in my beer fridge for a while, but because it's almost 8%, it still tastes great. Just a really good drinking beer, and so smooth.
Jan 17, 2018
 
Rated: 3.84 by FrancisM12 from New Jersey

Nov 26, 2017
 
Rated: 3.53 by BeerWithMike from Nebraska

Oct 02, 2017
Photo of FBarber
Reviewed by FBarber from Illinois

3.12/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pours a clear bronze color. TONS of suspended yeast and sediment can be seen throughout the beer even with decanting. The yeast does not settle even when given time.

Smell is very sweet up front - lots of honey. Grains and floral hops come through with some bread and fruity ester notes.

Taste follows the nose with lots of grain and sweet honey up front. Yeast comes through throughout. Floral hops come through before giving way to a bready finish with again, lots of honey flavors.

Thick and syrupy with fizzy carbonation.

Wish I knew how old this bottle was - Very sweet, very syrupy and not one Id try again unless I could be sure it was a fresh bottle.
Aug 31, 2017
 
Rated: 4.04 by 4DAloveofSTOUT from Illinois

Aug 09, 2017
Photo of Smakawhat
Reviewed by Smakawhat from Maryland

4.06/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from the bottle into a tulip glass. Minimal effort if at all to get the short cork out, which comes with a good solid pop.

Even with a little decant, some sediment makes its way in, to a very clear orange amber looking brew. Good roaring middle column of fire in the middle, making the trub actually dance which is quite fun I must say. Head creation is minimal, but manages always a thin off white puck and collar.

Aroma is delicious. Thick bready like yeast esters and hints of small honey. Light sensing herbs and little funk, but with a nice sweetness that's not overbearing. Hints also a little floral as well. Very nice.

Sweet light palate on first sip. Mineral warmth and a light bodied rocky caramel flavor in the mid palate at first, making for almost peppery hints of carbonation, but more Perrier light feel and flavor. Crackly finish, with crispy caramel aftertastes on the swallow, mixing in with a bit of herbs and lighter faint dry acidic notes. Sharp, but not metallic in flavor.

A very neat tasting de Garde. I like this mineral quality and feel which is a nice touch.
Feb 28, 2017
Photo of Libeertarian
Reviewed by Libeertarian from Montana

3.7/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
From notes taken 01/04/17:

Honey-amber in appearance but the truly impressive part is the dense suspended chunky haze in an otherwise quite clear medium. Head is a light cream color, thin and fine and delicate but pretty good retenion, forming a film. Honey, not too strong or sweet, a little bit of cracker and grain on the nose, all this dissipates a lot and renders some biscuit and mild soapy suggestions. Reminds me of a specific medical soap I used to use that was easy on the skin, can’t remember the name. I get the sense that this is not from hops but more so phenols, like the medicinal/Band-Aid/Menthol notes in certain Belgian-style beers. Grain, crackers, menthol, tiniest touch of vinegar, dry white wine, some bizarre but mostly subdued light-fruit character I can’t quite figure out, pinch of sugar to taste. Very much like a Belgian with a few minor aspects to distinguish itself. Heavier side of a medium body, packed with fine and soft but tingly suds and containing a decent amount of warmth.
Jan 10, 2017
Photo of JackRWatkins
Reviewed by JackRWatkins from Georgia

3.47/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
A: A mildly hazy gold leaning toward orange, creamy white head (1 finger)
S: Yeasty and sweet, with a subtle maltiness, wish the aroma was strong but the note that are present are pleasant
T: Immediate sweet malt, crisp and full, not overly fruity, some suggestion of possibly basil or mint, there is a bit of a (white) fruitiness present in each sip but it dissipates quickly, dominated by the sweet malt flavor. I wish it was a tad less sweet.
M: full without being sticky
O: A decent refreshing beer, not too much to say about this one. Would be a good beer just to have around as I think it would be a crowd pleaser in groups where people's experience and interest in beer varied sharply. Easy to drink and pleasant.
Jan 08, 2017
 
Rated: 3.89 by jrfehon33 from Pennsylvania

Dec 02, 2016
Photo of kovfer
Rated by kovfer from Colorado

4.53/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Great fruity nose and taste.
Sep 14, 2016
 
Rated: 3.9 by Gkruszewski from New York

Jul 20, 2016
 
Rated: 3.52 by JMS1512 from New Jersey

Jul 05, 2016
Photo of Impetuous
Reviewed by Impetuous from Montana

4.19/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25
This one was purchased because it reminded me of my favorite underground black metal labels, Tour de Garde... for obvious reasons. A whole lot of malt hits you up front, and fruity sweetness lingers. Most notably is how it feels; light, bubbly, and crisp. Never before has a beer this flavorful been this light tasting and feeling to this here tongue. Wonderful.
May 07, 2016
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

3.91/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I'm sure I've had Castelain Blond twice before this review. It actually could be one of my go-tos given the garlicky, herbal food that I cook. "Could be" if I can find it was fresh. Both variety and freshness of the style has declined.

This orange Looking Blond, while distinctive in color and harmless floaters, is only slightly above average. But its yeast improves it through the next stages. It Smells mostly of malt that has been artfully worked by yeast producing bountiful fruit. Similarly, this Blond Tastes like it is going to complement food really well. (In this case, it was gnocchi and a tomato sauce.)

In the Mouth, I can tell the carbonation is going to cut through the garlic and pasty gnocchi. It does. In fact, this Blond made the meal much better. This blond is a great complement to my average kitchen. For that it gets extra points.

It is getting harder and harder to find this French style on the shelves and the American renditions still need to get better. I think I will snag some more Castelain the next time I see it has not been hanging around the shelves.
Apr 26, 2016
Photo of dacrza1
Reviewed by dacrza1 from New Jersey

3.94/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
DATE TASTED: January 9, 2016... GLASSWARE: Duvel tulip... OCCASION... pinewood derby cars, cut and awaiting sanding tomorrow... APPEARANCE: a central whirl of bubbles power a light amber body with moderate clarity; a snow-white two-finger head simmer to a cirrus island with an atoll surrounding it... AROMA: ginger, resin, and vanilla join with light dough, bubblegum, and damp yeasts... caramel and toffee are sweet... quite a panoply of scents to breathe in... PALATE: medium-bodied, mellow--flatter than the glass suggests--and slick... TASTE: apple and pear roll out, almost as a cider, before the caramel and toffee sweeten the deal... this glass offers the bubblegum and pepper more associated with a weizen, but the malt is heavy and holds the flavor profile's roots down.... OVERALL: a strong, pleasant conveyance of 6.4% worth of ABV, with a fruity, malty flavor that begs for the next sip.... the sugary aftertaste suggests a dessertif...the late phenol might suggest a bigger hit than it delivers, but overall, an enjoyable experience...
Jan 10, 2016
Castelain Blond Biere De Garde from Brasserie Castelain
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 226 ratings