Leffe Blonde - Abbaye de Leffe S.A.

AmberMan22

Minnesota

3.33/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A bit disappointing, considering Leffe's other more enjoyable beers that they offer (9°, tripel). Especially disappointing when you considering the easily available Duvel, and other spectacular belgium pales.

This beer just came across as average. Maybe it's because I bought it in a can, but the head was rather unimpressive, leaving no lacing on the way down. Color seemed too dark, compared to the style standard.

The smell and taste are overwhelmingly of cloves. Alcohol kicks through at the end, as well as some hops, but clove-y malt (yes, not malty cloves) comes through predominantly.

Mouthfeel can't make up its mind between smooth or coarse.

After giving 3's on everything else, I can't really justify anything other than an average drinkability. Maybe worth a try, but when there are other good option, I wouldn't bother again.

Serving type: can

11-19-2009 19:33:13 | More by AmberMan22

ewright

North Carolina

3.98/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a 50 cl can personally "imported" from France. The beer fills a Duvel tulip to within an inch of the lip while the frothy head stops just shy of cresting the top. Very nice lacing is left as the head slowly dissipates.

S: Spicy clove notes are immediately present. There's also a faint note of toasted banana bread.

T: Lightly sweet up front with hints of the clove coming in late. The hops also show up late to provide some balance to the sweetness, but not quite enough. There's a bit of what seems to be green raisin in the aftertaste.

M: Creamy and palate coating, the carbonation, while ample, doesn't quite cut through the clingyness.

D: All in all, this is a pretty good example of a Belgian golden ale. I wonder if my review is better because it wasn't stored in a bottle, wasn't slowly shipped overseas and was bought much closer to the source.

Serving type: can

07-01-2008 01:12:41 | More by ewright

HappyHourHero

Indiana

4.35/5  rDev +22.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a nice looking 500mL copper colored can of this beer at a grocery market in Paris. This beer is at just about every cafe in Paris, and I'm not complaining (except for the price; 4.5 - 5 euros for 25cL).

Poured a thick, mousse-like, cream colored head that held like a champ. Transparent golden beer just about matches the color of the can. Smells like it was made with Belgian yeast. A bit doughy with a touch of creamy/sugary desert. Carmalized sugar and apricot with a solid malt base and a bit of alcoholic bit to hold back the sweet flavors. The mouthfeel would be thicker if it weren't for the alcohol, which manages to lighten up the body and cut the sweeter flavors. Nice Belgian yeast flavors with a touch of alcohol. What more can you ask for?

Serving type: can

06-24-2007 22:48:52 | More by HappyHourHero

Boto

Connecticut

3.78/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

500 ml can: I liked this beer quite a bit. It is a pretty good abbaye style ale, despite it being fairly mass produced by Interbrew. It pours arich golden color, with a bit of a white head. Fairly decent lacing down the glass. The nose is a bit sweet, and bready and fruity. Somewhat remenicent of a tripel. Taste is sweet and a little fruity, with bananas and a hint of caramel sweetness. I really detected no difference between the can and tap versions. I don't know if that is a good or bad thing!

Serving type: can

05-20-2004 18:12:36 | More by Boto

spoony

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

From a 330 ml bottle (best by May 30, 2014) into a tulip.

A-This is a decent-looking beer with a nice, dense, shiny, three-finger-tall head of white foam. The head drops leisurely into a collar. The brew is clear, with very little active carbonation, and is a yellow-tinted golden color.

S-The smell is sweet, surprisingly boozy/hot for 6.6%, and fruity. I detect apple and pear fruit, as well as a touch of banana/clove-scented doughy yeast. No hops bitterness.

T-The taste is also quite sweet with a mild, medicinal kick from the alcohol. Still apple and pear fruit, but also some bubblegum, with only the faintest, herbal bitterness from the hops. Again, I'm surprised by how hot this beer is for 6.6%.

M-A slightly aggressive carbonation livens things up, but I can't agree with the label that the feel is "soft." On the contrary, feel is slightly firm and crisp.

O-I like sweet, fruity, Belgians as much as the next guy, but this brew lacks hop balance and the mouthfeel leaves a little something to be desired. What one gets is a slightly hot, fruity sweet jumble of flavors that don't seem to integrate with one another. Are the worse beers out there?Definitely, but with so many great Belgian pales/blonds, this is not one that I would seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 02:45:31 | More by spoony

jgurley

Florida

4.08/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a tulip. Deep golden color and super thick, off-white, foamy head. Smell is belgian yeast with a hint of banana peel. Lace sticks around thickly. Malty sweetness on the tongue with Belgian yeast and a tad of booziness. A little bit of a smoky, woodsiness in the middle. Quick bitterness on the back and dry to slightly sweet aftertaste. Lacks the level of bitterness of other Belgian blonds like Duvel or Piraat. Light to medium mouthfeel and fairly carbonated. Not bad, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 18:35:20 | More by jgurley

jdhilt

New Hampshire

4.1/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours a five finger white head that fades very slowly to a thin layer leaving a good lace. Crystal clear amber color. Good carbonation and medium bodied. Honey and clove nose, flavor is flowery, honey and cloves. $7.99 for a 6-pak 330ml bottles from Market Basket Concord, NH.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 22:38:50 | More by jdhilt

T100Mark

California

3.78/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

11.2 ounce Euro Bottle. Poured into a shaker pint glass.

Appearance - Golden. Crystal clear. Big, course, lumpy head that sticks around for a while. Nice lace on the glass.

Smell - Sour! Fruity.

Taste - Belgian sour. Cloves. Slightly spicy. Slightly sweet.

Mouth - A little bit oily (in a good way).

Overall - Yes; I know this is an InBev product (I knew something was up when I saw it on tap at a recent Angels game). Regardless, I like this beer. This beer has that Belgian sour flavor that we all love so much (and at a price mere mortals can afford). Lets refer to Leffe as "Belgian for Beginners."

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 03:37:09 | More by T100Mark

RaphaelSC

Brazil

3.6/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a Orange bright yellow, with a good white head that dissipates fast.

S:Fruit and spiced smell, good but a little weak.

T: This beer have a good fruit flavor with high carbonatation and some bitterness, its can't endure with a real trappist, but for its price it is a good beer, better than the average.

M: Leffe is very drinkable with a good carbonatation and flavor, feels more watery than a like, but better than the average beers anyway.

O: A good beer with some complexity that makes it a good cost benefit beer. It is the cheaper way to feel the belgian style in a beer, but certainly it is not the best belgian ale.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 06:20:45 | More by RaphaelSC

Schoonerorlater

California

3.05/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

a- looks appetizing. clear golden color. thick head that doesn't last too long. little lacing.

s- banana and bubble gum are the strongest scents. some floral hints here and there.

t-tough to put your finger on the style the brewer had in mind. could be the clean and overly filtered process the beer has gone through. it's not awful though. the banana flavors are predominate, the smacky bubble gum taste follows right after. the back end has some maltiness to it.

m- light to medium.

o-really just a very commercial Belgian Pale. clean and very filtered. the average beer drinker would enjoy. those with a more selective taste might be turned off. but hey, i'd buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 02:19:13 | More by Schoonerorlater

scratch69

Missouri

3.96/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I poured a bottle into a tulip glass.

Appearance- Clear golden color with two fingers worth of head. Good head retention and a fair amount of lacing.

Smell- Grain and floral aromas with a little hint of citrus.

Taste- Sweet malt flavors with notes of honey and citrus and a little bit of banana.

Mouthfeel- Light bodied, smooth, and crisp. Sticky feel after the swallow with a lingering sweetness.

Overall- A well balanced, good tasting beer. The flavor reminds me of a cross between wit and a hefeweizen.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 20:06:55 | More by scratch69

mick303

Ontario (Canada)

3.56/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Light golden colour with pretty good head retention and lacing, smell has some fresh apple, yeasty and lemon notes, banana bread. Taste has a clean feel, sweet apple, lot of crisp malt, a firm bready yeastiness, a touch of warming pepper on the finish. Balance is pretty good but not much depth here. A refreshing yeasty bite though. Mouthfeel is full with a fair bit of carbonation, light mild bitter finish, finish is a bit messy. Overall its a refreshing easy drinking Belgian pale, fresh and fruity, but not that complex, not inspiring but drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 17:41:19 | More by mick303

FLima

Brazil

3.49/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Golden amber color with lots of thick head with medium retention and leaving lots of laces.
Aroma of Belgian yeast, medicine syrup, malt sweetness and vanilla.
Taste follows nose. Sweet malt balanced by a spicy feeling from its hops.
Medium body with good carbonation with tiny bubbles. Alcohol of 6.6% ABV is completely hidden.
Excellent cost benefit, especially speaking about Brazil given Ambev scale and reach. Even compared to some nationals that tried to produce Belgian Ales, this one likely has a better quality and with half price. Unfair if compared to the top Belgian range, anyway try it in blind tests compared to the low or even medium range, so keeping aside the prejudice we have against the big companies (including myself once they usually contribute to a bad beer education).

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 22:26:22 | More by FLima

Haydn-Juby

Quebec (Canada)

3.23/5  rDev -9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served from a 330 bottle

A: Very soapy looking head that died down pretty quick. Very light copper color. Head was spilling out of the bottle when I opened it.

S: Grainy malty smell. Honestly it felt like I could pick out some weird plastic smell in it too.

T: Very slight Belgian character the rest of the experience is just a nasty grainy after taste which is masked by water. Not hoppy or estery/phenolicy enough for a Belgian pale.

M: A decent crispness to it but nothing special.

O: I got a sixer of this to used the pop tops on my home brew to be honest.Would not get again, would not recommend but I wouldn't turn it down if someone really insisted on me having one.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 23:19:42 | More by Haydn-Juby

ghisty

New Brunswick (Canada)

2.45/5  rDev -31%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

appearance:
pours beautifully. very carby. silky looking head. nice gold color.

smell:
grainy.but there is a note of the extra ABV to it. my initial impression was
that i might actually dump this one out. and thats rare.but ive decided to sit it out
anyways back to review.the nose is of corn. and grain. and maybe turnip? theres something odd in there.whatever it is , it spoils an otherwise unoffensive blonde for myself anyways.

taste:
starts off with a very evident higher abv. not pleasant. but a bit down the pint things lighten up. grains become more evident over the alcohol. still tho, theres something in the nose of this that i dont exactly enjoy. and that carries thru to the taste.
i doubt ill purchase it again. no hate towards the brewer , because they make a beautiful wiess. this is just not for my tastes at all.

mouthfeel:
almost adjunct like in its carb. smooth drinking. if you like the style.

overall:
*takes a second to sit back and quaff on it for a few*
its not overall terrible as I had thought, its just has too much ABV. if this were a normal 4 or 5% it might have better gravity and not taste so metallic and warm
i assume by the style that its an old recipe, so my bad review is probably just from lack of context, I didnt overall dislike this beer, just something about the is just not my thing. it does have upsides. the finish is grainey. and its smooth.
if you already like this and disagree.. enjoy it ..my dislike leaves more for you!

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 20:49:35 | More by ghisty

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.06/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Belgian blonde ale, pours that very color, looked a little more like a mass produced lager than I was expecting, but still had professional qualities and a sizeable white head that left some lacing. Aroma was sweet and had a restrained belgian ester profile.

Lots of carbonation obscures the flavor profile at first. Is this a belgian? Weird yeast and carbonation thing going, herbal tea. A sweeter malt taste finally hits back against the different yeast and herb mouthfeel. Tastes like fusel alcohol too. Could use more two row just to beef up the body, there's too many different flavors that come across as just unconventional (to put it nicely) to ever enjoy this, especially at its relative high price point. Totally meh to me.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 21:47:56 | More by Beerandraiderfan

JPlo

Maryland

3.53/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Golden, slightly hazy. average lasting head. Head is rocky with pretty good lacing

Aroma: sweet, floral, earthy

Taste: Sweet, smoky, citruey, earthy, slightly floral. Mild flavors, but some interesting complex ones in there.

Feel: Refreshing. Crisp/smooth consistency, light carbonation. medium body with above average lasting finish.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 19:30:41 | More by JPlo

Marq18

Virginia

3.61/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-Pours a light honey colr with nice off-white pillow like head.
S- Smells a bit of biscuit and dried fruit.
T-Nice flavor, sweet with a little citrus and fruit. Just a touch of bitter hops.
M-Light on the tongue and a medium to high carbonation.
O-A nice flavored ale but not as good as others in the style.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 22:35:32 | More by Marq18

augustgarage

California

3.66/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5

Had this for the first time in 2006 when I was in Paris - curious to try it again state-side. Poured from a 330ml bottle into my Town Hall Brewery tulip. Best before March 21st, 2014.

An elegant large ivory head forms without any difficulty above the burnished orange peel liquid, and remains persistent despite being rather active, fed by a boundless stream of tiny bubbles from the bottom. The clarity is brilliant as you might expect for a product so heavily filtered. Lovely arcs of soapy lacing ring the rim of the glass.

Sweet, biscuit-like malt aroma with gentle fruit (citrus, banana) and maybe a low floral note.

Sweet palate entry with a fairly clean yet varied malt profile with touches of caramel and toast. Light grassy hops contribute a mild bitterness to offset the sweetness, but the finish never quite dries out satisfactorily. Honey, orange peel, and a touch of clove are revealed in the aftertaste. Phenols become more prominent as the ale warms.

Medium-full bodied, effervescent mouth-feel; relatively rich body.

Overall very quaffable, and well crafted despite being a touch on the sweet side. The middling characterless nature of the ale is not surprising given the involvement of Anheuser Busch, though it is tasty despite the lack of bottle conditioning.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 22:47:08 | More by augustgarage

Digimaika2

Ontario (Canada)

3.39/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

(3.5) A: Clear straw coloured with a bit of golden hue. A fingers worth of fairly creamy head that dissipates quickly leaving some sticky lacing.

(3.75) S: Grains, cloves, belgian-style yeast, corn syrup, bubblegum, peppermint, and pineapple. A nice variety of aromas that are perhaps on the grainy-syrupy side of things but good overall.

(3.25) T: Malt forward with a bready taste, wet grains, bubblegum, spices, and banana. Decent but feeling like this taste is a bit one dimensional (malty) that comes across wet and flat.

(3.5) M: Medium-lighter bodied with moderate carbonation. Slightly oily but a tad thin for my liking.

(3.25) D: Leffe was my gateway beer into belgian styles, and into good beer in general, and without that experience who knows where I'd be now (in a ditch somewhere?). It’s interesting now doing a review of it. It’s a decent belgian strong and a great introduction into the style.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 02:50:31 | More by Digimaika2

His_Royal_Hoppiness

United Kingdom (England)

4/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

A: Copper colour, small white head - huge concentration of bubbles. Unlike most belgian pale ales I've had in the past, this is very clear, with no visible floaters.

S: Banana and clove, slight fruity sweetness.

T: Peppery clove taste, with a longlasting malt aftertaste - very well balanced.

M: Lots of carbonation - very refreshing, though perhaps a little watery.

I'm growing to love this beer - it may not be as complex as many other examples of the style, but at £4.50 for a 4-pack it's definitely one of the best-priced beers available in UK supermarkets, and in my view the most enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 20:32:53 | More by His_Royal_Hoppiness

Mojo

Alabama

3.19/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle -> World Market Tulip glass

This beer pours up a medium gold with a wonderful foamy, fluffy head, legendary retention, and lacing the likes of which is not often seen. The smell is kind of yeasty and maybe a little putrid. Taste is very yeasty and dry with apple notes being the predominant flavor. Mouthfeel is simple and inoffensive. Nothing awesome here, but hardly the worst beer ever brewed.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 04:08:44 | More by Mojo

FosterJM

California

3.4/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

1703rd Review on BA
Bottle to Leffe Glass
12oz

App- A solid mix of oranges and yellows in the glass. A solid 2 finger white head with a good amount of cling. A good amount of density in the center. A fair amount of cling.

Smell- A solid bit of malts mixed with yeasty green apples and a bit of prickly booze.

Taste- For a pale ale it was tasty. Yeasty, apples and a bit of hoppy balance.

Mouth- A bit of a light body with a medium yeasty carbonation.

Drink- Nice, balanced and prickly. For a intro Belgian this is easy to drink and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 23:38:52 | More by FosterJM

babayaga

3.16/5  rDev -11%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Poured from a 33cl bottle into a tulip.

Appearance- Big white 3-finger head, mixture of bubble sizes. Body is crystal clear yellow. Head is very lasting.

Aroma- Clove and banana, can smell the yeast, not much else.

Flavor- Decent Belgian yeast flavors come through, more clove, sweet light malt, very mild bitterness. I am having trouble smelling/tasting the hops in this.

Mouthfeel- Light with lively carbonation.

A pleasant but uninteresting ale. Reminds me of a clear, sweet hefe.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 20:42:19 | More by babayaga

bskrtz

Illinois

3.24/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

11.2 ounce bottle served cold in glass beer challis.

A) Bright polished brass, clear. Small white head disappears in moments

S) Citrus Fruit and spice. Mild alcohol esthers.

T) Sweet caramel with mild but bitter hopps finish. Browned malt.

M) Ample carbonation; a bit thin. Crisp.

O) I like this beer though I believe it diverts from its Belgian Ale roots. Sort of the Kolsch of Belgians

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 01:05:08 | More by bskrtz