Tempelier - Brouwerij Corsendonk

gyllstromk

Belgium

3.78/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a reddish copper with a nice thick frothy head. Nose is very clean -- almost soapy -- with aromas of anise and juniper, and perhaps a hint of soft orange or lemon. Flavor is spicy, and a soap/sunscreen character; overwhelmed by the spice, however. A slightly sour finish, and a thin body.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2010 16:38:58 | More by gyllstromk

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

3.96/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours dark orange with a cream-colored head. Tons of lace.

Grain, yeast, and sweet hay come to mind, with aromas of mild fruit and maybe even a little caramel.

Malt is on the sweet side, with some good grain and a touch of fruit. Yeast is present, and gives this another facet. Mild bitterness mingles with the malt as the palate clears.

Medium bodied, good carbonation.

Nice beer. A sipper, and one that would get to be a chore to get thru after 2-3. But still very good.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 00:59:55 | More by OtherShoe2

randylangford

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%

04-26-2013 23:18:22 | More by randylangford

jwps214

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Served in a large snifter from a 11.16 oz "stubby" bottle best before 9/16/14

Appearance: a pleasant slightly hazy copper color. Much darker than I expected from the first whiff. About an inch of thick head made up of tiny bubbles which left almost no lacing. As the head dissipated, the beer was left with a thin layer of tiny bubbles.

Smell: sweat and floral....somewhat reminiscent of a white wine. Tinges of white grape, dried prune and what I would guess to be lavender (?)

Taste: the first sip had a tinge of metal bitterness that did not return until the last sip when it had warmed up significantly. Other than those two off flavors, I got dry white wine with just a hint of fruity sweetness. The ending was slightly bitter with a surprising dryness that lingered long after a sip.

Mouthfeel: the first thing that jumps out is the bright carbonation. Long after the first sip, the tiny bubbles dance across the tongue( and in your nose if you try to inhale too deeply!) The beer featured a light to medium body with a texture that stops just short of syrupy. The long, lingering dry finish borders on nutty (in feel, not flavor) but pleasant, non-the-less.

Overall: This beer was surprising; a quick look at the bottle makes me think of a non-descript blonde ale. This beer contained many challenging layers to this Belgian Beer newbie. I would call it very good, excellent if not for a couple sips with off flavors

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 00:41:50 | More by jwps214

DerekMorgan

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +10.1%

04-14-2013 04:17:15 | More by DerekMorgan

ummswimmin

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%

03-29-2013 16:37:15 | More by ummswimmin

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

3.5/5  rDev -9.3%

03-18-2013 22:35:26 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

Beerstorian

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +3.6%

02-15-2013 16:40:29 | More by Beerstorian

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.09/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Incredible floral notes turn to spicy dryness in short order, allowing Tempelier to take quite a journey across the palate- Corsendonk does this as well as any brewery in Belgium, giving great credence to their brewing quality and focus on drinkability.

Almost bright in clarity, the blonde ale pours with little of the yeasty haze until the last pour from the bottle- then the beer dons its cloudy cloak. The beer billows with a fluffy cotton-white head that displays a simple lightness that whets the mouth. Signature Belgian lace clings to the glass with intricately woven pattern.

Medium intense aromas of fruit and spice play out over a dry grainy-sweet scent of crackers, cookie dough, and fresh baking bread. Yet there's an aura about the beer that's highly floral and gives the other aromas the accompaniment of honey suckle- a very delicate bouquet.

But its the grain sweetness taking the shape of confectioner's candy and dry crackers that provide the beers underpinnings in taste. With that, the palate is awash with apple, lemon, and pear esters and a counterpart of white pepper, mild clove, and cardamom-type spice. Background hop notes turn from floral to grass and hay to give its dry malt finish a friend in earthen bitterness.

Medium-light in body, the crisp and clean upstart would expose every flaw in taste... except there are none. Early sweetness and zesty carbonation turns dry and airy to finish the beer with a slight pause in between to explore flavor. Closing with a spicy alcohol warmth, echoes of fruit, and wheaty aftertaste, the beer invites the next sip long before its due.

The beer effortlessly reaches every aspect that blonde ales prescribe. Though its flawless in taste, I keep looking for the intangibles that set it apart. The beer may stop shy of those incredible and unexpected flavors, but the beer is near perfect as it is.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 05:26:10 | More by BEERchitect

schopenhauerale

British Columbia (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%

12-02-2012 07:40:02 | More by schopenhauerale

BYOFB

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +10.1%

12-02-2012 06:39:19 | More by BYOFB

Absumaster

Netherlands

3.28/5  rDev -15%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A dark copper, brown beer with a big head which lasts the entire brew.

The smell is malty with a modest amount of fruity flavors. There is a distinct metallic smell, which is right above my threshold and takes the focus of the other and nicer smells.

Taste is light fruity with some caramellic and bready notes. The beer has a light mouthfeel, which makes the beer very drinkable, but also lighten the overall experience. There is a light bitterness, which gets more pronounced once swallowed. Aftertaste is bready, crusty and has a medium short bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 15:47:22 | More by Absumaster

safaricook

Netherlands

3.5/5  rDev -9.3%

08-19-2012 20:22:48 | More by safaricook

Phil_Cousins

5/5  rDev +29.5%

05-14-2012 02:00:20 | More by Phil_Cousins

benfons

Belgium

3.55/5  rDev -8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: clear amber colour, small but dense head, little carbonation

S: hops, malts, hint of caramel and clove

T: malts, hoppy bitterness, a hint of citrus and caramel

M: thin but creamy, carbonation is pretty annoying, too small and too much, abv is fine

O: It isn't bad, but I prefer other beers in this style

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 23:19:58 | More by benfons

thierrynantes

France

3.53/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Beer bottle (33 cl.) purchased from Bières & Chopes, and tasted in 2012.

Appearance : orange amber color, with white foamy head.
Smell : moderate malty and spicy aromas.
Taste and mouthfeel : yesaty flavours, moderate bitter with a spicy finish.
Drinkability : a good beer in the style Belgian Pale Ale.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2012 18:04:14 | More by thierrynantes

Robje

Australia

4/5  rDev +3.6%

01-10-2012 00:55:58 | More by Robje

rekel

Netherlands

4/5  rDev +3.6%

11-28-2011 22:23:46 | More by rekel

Jason

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +3.6%

11-22-2011 23:15:35 | More by Jason

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

4/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dumpy 33cl brown bottle, poured into a Palm badged tulip.

Good mid-amber body, clear, bright and clean looking, on top a huge white crown of bubbles.

The smells are all about malty molasses and Belgian yeasts, you know instantly this is a Belgian beer: how do they do that?

The taste/flavours also are all around the malts and yeasts, the hops, as so often with Belgian brews, is of secondary importance, needed, but not prominent. On the sweet side but not overly so, this is an easy drinking Belgian beer with it's alcohol content well contained and concealed.

The Corsendonk people know what sells, this is a beer that fits the bill completely.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2011 22:26:07 | More by BlackHaddock

LambicKing

Virginia

3.48/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Purchased at Dranken Geers. Poured into my St F chalice.

A: Pours a decent amber/copperish color with 2 fingers of head and no lacing.

S: Smells a bit grainy and malty sweet. Not much hops to speak of in the nose.

T: Fairly sweet and grainy. Taste the maltiness, much like an American Amber even though this is a BPA. Still not much in the hop dept.

M: Loads of carbonation, indicative of the style. Fairly wet finish.

O: A bit blah from what I was expecting (based on a recommendation from a friend), but an above avg beer in the end.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2011 13:01:18 | More by LambicKing

IPA35

Netherlands

3.98/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Colour is brownish, amber.

Smell is good, a citrus smell but not overpowering a with a Duvel.
Tad of pine going on.

Taste is a little sweet with a nice hop bitterness. Bit of citrus and a bit of grain. This is much better than a Duvel or something similar.

Drinking this cold from the fridge because it is warm outside.
Seems quite light and refreshing even though it has a bit of a dark colour.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2011 16:12:25 | More by IPA35

Brabander

Netherlands

3.03/5  rDev -21.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I bought this beer in the south of Holland in the best wine and beerstore from Holland. Yesterday evening my buddy Andy was at my place and we dicided to drink some nice beers. This was one of them.

Poured in my Struise glass the start is good. Five finger head but no carbonation....Fluid is darkyellow

This beer drinks very easily but that is the only positive i can tell about this one. Alcohol is so well hidden that you think you are drinking a non alcohol beer. There is no deepness in this beer with a flat taste. At the end the beer became a bit better but that was too late....

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2011 10:40:49 | More by Brabander

YannickB

Belgium

3.93/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Golden with an amber hue, serves with a decent head. Good head retention, nice residual.

S: Smells very nice, I detect a lot of citrus with some blueberries. Has a little bit of a pine scent going on.

T: The taste does not live up to the nose. Almost no sweetness can be detected. A lot of bitter form beginning to end, very hoppy. Ends with some citrus.

M: Quite refreshing with high carbonation.

D: Very drinkable, the low abv helps. I would love a few of these on a warm summer day

Conclusion: Even if it does not live up to its nose, this seems to be a perfect summer beer. Also has a bit a begian IPA going on.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2010 01:21:40 | More by YannickB

ShadesOfGray

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a short 12oz bottle into my Val Dieu chalice. Pours a pale caramel to light bronze in color with a nice finger size creamy head. Leaves a decent amount of lacing.

Aroma is rather light, but typical for a Belgian Pale Ale...yeasts, malts, wheat, slight spice. Booze isn't noticed.

Flavor is solid, but not anything amazing. Lots of Belgian yeasts and malts...infact there's a slight saison presence in the back of the mouth. A great summer beer, decent drinkability. Light mouthfeel, crisp and sharp...high carbonation. A very tasty and solid BPA.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2010 02:53:27 | More by ShadesOfGray