Leffe Blonde - Abbaye de Leffe S.A.

jyeast101

Colorado

4.38/5  rDev +23.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Golden in appearance with a white head. Good carbonation. Smells of bannana and spices. A wonderfully rich taste with a strong finish. Good lacing throughout. Incredibly drinkable. I'm finding that the Belgian strong/ double ales are my favorite. I have yet to have a bad double and am probably biased when it gomes to rating this type of beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2006 20:08:21 | More by jyeast101

OzarkElmo

Missouri

4.38/5  rDev +23.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Jan 1, 2009

Poured into shaker from bottle. Excellent experience. More pleasant, tasty, flavorful than the Duvel I had moments earlier. Golden color, white head, hints of malt, citrus. Not too bitter, Smooth, enjoyable, worth the effort and would buy again. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2009 04:03:45 | More by OzarkElmo

beerbuddah

Ontario (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +23.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bought a six-pack of this - 330ml bottle poured into a Leffe Goblet.

A - a nice golden color, lots of foamy head, then a nice layer with patchy islands after a few minutes.

S - smell is not too potent in any way. I get a hint of alcohol, some sweetness/maltyness.

T - very good, it's a sweet beer, and you taste malt first. This gives way to the slight bitterness of the hops near the end, and the finish is crisp. This beer is very well balanced.

M - though the finish is crisp, and it does taste like malty sweet honey, the body is semi thick.

D - Good, the alcohol is hidden, except for a bit at the end. It's much more drinkable and accessible than some of the other Belgian brews I've tasted.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2009 23:38:25 | More by beerbuddah

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

Offa

California

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

This is an interesting Belgian beer that is sweet but very tasty and has some similarities to a sweet version of a maibock mixed with a more normal Belgian-style ale.

Dark, clear gold, it has a big white head slowly shrinking to a thin foam and leaving some nice lace.

The aroma is clearly within the range of normal Belgian pale ales and witbiers, banaa, spices, fruit, a lot of bread dough, and a hint of bubblegum.

The taste is raisiny sweet with some honey, alcoholic spiciness, fruitiness, and plenty of bread. It's on the sweet side but smooth and quite tasty.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2008 22:48:35 | More by Offa

STEG

New York

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

Poured a golden orange color into a tulip glass with a white 1.5 finger head. Bottle looks great too with some nice gold foil with black leffe lettering scattered throughout. Smells of pear banana apple and mango. Tastes like bananas with a bubble gum/cotton candy finish. Little bit a hint of peanut butter in here as well. Very drinkable, I will definitely buy this again, and in greater numbers.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2009 23:46:07 | More by STEG

blitheringidiot

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +22%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Straw hued pour in a pleasant tulip glass presentation with plenty of bubbles that accumulated towards the middle of the surface like a brew downed into an etched Duvel glass.

Big awl-kee-hawl & spices & yeasty, me suppose Belgian yeast strain. While warming, banana like scents arise.

A perfection of blended Belgian flavors that consist of cloves, yeast, bananas, coriander, and all sorts of notes that I just could not quite ID.

Sudsy full body.

What a drinker! This was too good to occupy a tulip glass for long

Last swigs: On tap at The Drafting Room, Spring House. Enjoy it while it lasts. What a nice Belgian. More please.

Beer is good. Happy belgian beering.

Serving type: on-tap

07-02-2004 03:18:02 | More by blitheringidiot

OatherS

Kansas

4.33/5  rDev +22%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I was really surprised to read the reviews of this beer after trying it. I always want to try the beer before reading the reviews to not tant my impression.

This beer poured a nice clear gold color with a nice head that lasted.

The smell was nice and fruity, very remanescent of a hefeweizen (one of my favorite types of beer).

The taste was also very similar to a hefeweizen. Very sweet, friuty and "flowery". Nice mouthfeel and very drikable. Nice thirst quenching beer.

Bought it in a six pack. I like this beer!

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2005 19:18:00 | More by OatherS

Metalmonk

North Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +22%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very clear yellow-gold color with sunburst shades, a little like apple juice. Fluffy white head retains very well. Bubbles slowly rise to the top in vertical marching formations.

Aroma is full of fruit, with apple and pear dominant, and a nice floral bouquet, along with a bit of yeast lending it a wilder personality.

Flavor is crisp, heavy on fruits and flowers. Banana and honey in addition to the aromas detected. A strong hoppy presence mixes with a spikey yeast element to provide good balance. Finish is very dry and slightly tart.

What's not to like here? I've read some comments about Leffe being nothing more than swill, and I wonder if people are bringing the politics of its current ownership/distribution into the judgment of the beer itself...or maybe its popularity and accessibility turns people off for some reason? This is simply a great beer, nearly quintessential when it comes to defining the Belgian pale ale style.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2006 00:15:40 | More by Metalmonk

mwagner1018

Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +22%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I was slightly skeptical, knowing this was an InBev product, and hearing from friends that the quality of Leffe had been reduced by that aquisition. I have to say that I was thoroughly impressed with this blonde Belgian, she was quite nice, left me feeling satisfied, and even called me the day after!!

A- Nice pour with good carbonation release, initial 3-4 fingers of light rolling head, that reduces slightly, but maintains a white cap throughout...leaving a substantial pattern of clean white lacing. A pleasant transparent golden bronzed color.

S- Smell of fragrant fresh fruits, apricot, berry, light spices, and a sweet honey orange. The smell diminished quickly, but presents itself pleasantly in the flavors.

T- Nice creamy texture, expands the smells to develop the oranges/flowery tastes, with a slight alcohol sweetness. Reiterates the honey and slight citrus.

M- Nice refreshing, sits on tounge nicely, not overly carbonated, good balance of textures, light and mild.

D- Absolutely. A very drinkable, flavorful beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2006 04:16:09 | More by mwagner1018

animal69

Louisiana

4.33/5  rDev +22%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

after the last beer attacked my senses like a drunk zero pilot on kamikazee run, i figured i'd go to the opposite end of the spectrum ; pours a clear gold color w/ a finger of fluffy whiteness which lasts & left incredible lacing all the way down ; a nose that's tangy and wheaty, with a tinge of hop ; a sweet tangy flavor w/ a nice wheat-malt profile balanced w/ the hop bitterness, some caramel undertones detected ; a nice med body w/ plenty of dextrins to let the flavor linger ; this a a great beer, it was purchased in a 11.2 oz. bottle, but i think they should sell this stuff in "40" 's, i know i'd drink the shit out of 'em...

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2007 20:35:27 | More by animal69

Kemmerlin

Colorado

4.33/5  rDev +22%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

A: Dark straw gold color with white foamy head. It was filtered of all debris except the strong presence of carbonation bubbling up.
S: Overwhelming presence of clove that hides the rest of the beer aromas. I do enjoy the smell of cloves so that is the reason for the relatively high score on smell.
T: Along with the smell, it tastes like cloves with some other type of spice that reminds me of the holidays and brings a smile to my face.
M: Lots of carbonation on the tongue and leaves a slimy feel in my mouth that quickly dries out.
D: I am a big fan of the taste and find myself going back for more. The amount of carbonation keeps me from literally gulping it down like I am not suppose to do.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2007 21:17:49 | More by Kemmerlin

Faune

New York

4.33/5  rDev +22%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- Light golden amber color with lots of tiny bubbles. Big, creamy, white head which slightly clings to the side of the glass.

S- Yeasty, grainy, honey, fruity, some hops and floral/grassy notes.

T- Sweet Honey/nectar, malt, some hops, grassy and a pleasant toffee sweetness.

M- Smooth with lively carbonation.

D- I'd certainly have another.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2009 16:59:44 | More by Faune

willmc

Oklahoma

4.33/5  rDev +22%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On Sight: Pours a great golden color very clean, with a nice 2 finger white head that lingers for a while, with lots of lacing around the glass.
Aromas: Sweetness and fruit, very floral.
Tastes: Sweet malts, with some hops on the finish, citrus earthy tones. This beer is full of flavor and character. The cup does run'ith over. Worth picking up.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2009 07:38:53 | More by willmc

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.33/5  rDev +22%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

11.2 oz bottle poured into a Leffe stemmed glass (possibly my favorite glass ever). 6.6% ABV, Best before end 19/01/10.

A - Light carbonation floats through the brilliantly clear golden color to a low stark white head. Low retention leads to a thin layer but leaves thick Belgian lace all around.

S - The aroma is very crisp and clean. Lots of dry pale malts gently blowing in a spring breeze with a fresh noble (possibly Saaz) hop balance to even it out. Belgian yeast adds a little character and spice to the finish.

T - The Belgian yeast starts the flavor off with a quick blast of spice and moves gracefully into a noble hop-balanced, honey-sweetened pale malt flavor. Very balanced and smooth.

M - A light carbonation spritz livens up the medium body and smooth, sweet-finishing beer to give it an overall lighter feel.

D - This good blonde has outstanding drinkability due to it's fantastic balance and very well-blended flavors. A bit of everything comes out without one thing being too much.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2010 03:13:50 | More by BeerFMAndy

vfgccp

New York

4.33/5  rDev +22%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Clear golden orange. White head foams up well and takes it’s time to settle, leaving an above average lace.

S: Sugar cane, coriander, apricot, pepper, light booze, spicy cinnamon.

T: Light bread, orange, orange zest, coriander, pepper, manger, hay. Spicy and sweet with a restrained complexity

M: Medium body with a light spicy/sweet finish.

O: A delicious and accessible blonde. I've had a lot of luck using this beer to introduce novice beer drinkers to the style.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2011 22:31:30 | More by vfgccp

martyl1000

Wisconsin

4.33/5  rDev +22%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a viscous gold, with a huge fluffy white head that clears quickly.

Sweet honey and malt in the aroma, with banana and pear.

I like the instant sweetness in the mouth, definitely honey and banana maltiness, with a slight bitterness that appears in a flash. It's the high carbonation that keeps this from tipping into sickening-sweet.

Another BA-er put it well: "... problem might be it's too full tasting to be a refreshing beer, and lacks depth to make it a really interesting one. But very enjoyable and easy to drink nonetheless."

Maybe that explains the lower scores, here. It's definitely a positive flavor. And I feel I could drink this pretty regularly.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2012 03:45:25 | More by martyl1000

kenco12

Michigan

4.3/5  rDev +21.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

So, in my never ending quest to find Leffe Brunne in Detroit, MI. I found a guy who "ordered" it for me. Turns out, in the order, he mistaken Leffe Blonde for Leffe Brunne. Now I had never had the Blonde, but the guy offered it to me for free, as an apology for me driving out there for the Brunne, which wasn't there.

So I unwrap the gold aluminum over the cap, grab my bottle opener, crack it open, and let it settle for a moment. Take a nice swig, and it was love at first site. The beer went down smooth, with an aftertaste that only craves for more. The 6-pack was $9.99+dep, so not that pricey, but still a little expensive compared to some of the microbrews around here *great lakes, bells, etc.*

In the end, I wound up drinking 3 before telling myself I needed to enjoy it again another day. A great buy, and a great reccomendation for anyone looking for a flavourful beer. Delicious to the end.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2008 17:43:06 | More by kenco12

Stunner97

New Jersey

4.3/5  rDev +21.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance- golden yellow blonde beer, pours with nice thick white head and moderate carbonation streaming up glass

Smell- spice yeast, bananas, fruit, malts, sugar,

Taste- YEast, spice, clove, nice sweet yet enjoyable unique finish, belgian flavor and spicing, enjoyable taste overall with decent lingering finish

Mouthfeel- thick and creamy

Drinkability- I am shocked that I liked this beer now, it was originally a sink pour to me which goes to show just how much my taste and palate have changed in the past few months from massive amounts of wine and beer tastings, A very nice and dangerous session beer considering the huge alcohol, delicious and slightly sweet flavor make it one to easily drink alot of fast, nice beer overall and opened me up a bit tonite to want try some more belgians of this style soon

**5/9/10 I have to say I tried this beer again after a while with out it and I had to up the ratings even a little bit more, this beer to me is just so enjoyable, its got a good spice that keeps a nice level of sweetness in check, its such a great value and refreshing and good yet simple example of a belgian style, to me this is an abosolute great value every day kind of drinking belgian that gives you all that unique belgian flavor with out hitting you over head with the wallet, is it the best beer ever no but its pretty damn good all things considered

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2009 03:18:30 | More by Stunner97

EwaldEichstaett

Jordan

4.3/5  rDev +21.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: golden color with a nice white head that lasts and lasts and lasts.

S: sugary, sweet, candy, baked, yeasty Belgian goodness. If you pour it into the proper chalice shaped glass, you really get a big nose. I am even getting some smoky tones today... strange...

T: There are some spicy and earthy notes hidden in warm bread like malts. It is a delicate flavor, but has quite a bit of depth. There is a really nice balance of malts and hops.

M: The beer has quite a bit of carbonation and it kind of floats upon your tongue. I find it very pleasant to drink.

D: This is one of my favorite Belgian beers. Honestly, I am not much of a Belgian beer drinker, but I think this one is great!

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2010 06:50:27 | More by EwaldEichstaett

Loki

North Carolina

4.28/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Mmmmm....Leffe...
Sampled on draught all over France and in select places in Italy. This is probably the best, most available beer in France. There are better, but Leffe is very easy to find and in most bars.

Pours a golden yellow, with a big white head. Nice lacing throughout. Good head retention and tiny streams of bubbles from the high carbonation

Aromas of fruit and sweet malt. A very unique nose that is very easily identifiable. Hints of bananas and cloves. Yeast and other scents I could not discern but could detect.

Tastes of sweet malt, bananas, cloves, with hints of spice. The taste is a tad bit sweet, but incredibly easy drinking. Maybe the perfect session beer, if it were a little less sweet.

I found Leffe perfect for heat, and I was in France in the hottest summer in over a century. Wonderful beer for late nights, when your winding down, or for a quick lunch. Amazing quality for a mass produced beer. I hope the quality does not diminish in the bottle as I brought a 3L home!

Serving type: on-tap

08-15-2003 18:06:17 | More by Loki

Gavage

New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Golden in color with a nice head. The aroma was limited as some fruit tones and sweetness from the malt was detectable. The flavor followed the aroma well, as the fruity malt flavor with some light bitterness were nicely balanced. Some yeast was also detectable.

Light bodied beer, carbonation levels slightly stronger than expected but produced a nice crispness on the tongue. Relatively clean aftertaste. Very drinkable and this was better on tap than what I have had in bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

02-16-2004 20:01:34 | More by Gavage

unclejimbay

Florida

4.28/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

FYI disclaimer, one of my early inexperienced reviews...

poured into a tulip glass from a sixer.
6.6 ABV, 207? calories

A-4.5 Carmelized sugar type golden brown

S- CARAMEL & MALT

T - CARAMEL, if dulche de leche was a beer, this is it

MF- CARAMEL, sligtly sweet and syrup after taste

D - 4.5 I DIG THIS STUFF! its on the sweet side but unique as a change of pace, the wife digs it. Sweet wine drinkers tend to like this brew.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2008 02:14:09 | More by unclejimbay

stumac

Texas

4.28/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

My drummer Mo's favorite beer...Im also on a Xanny right now, so...

pours up a brilliant golden color with a decent white head. great lacing on my Dixie Cup. the nose is very sweet, bananas, subtle mellow lemons. the taste is the milk of beers (in a totally not milkish kinda way), crisp hops, kinda sweet with a dry clean finish, bananas, medium bodied, med carbo. A damn fine beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2009 06:34:40 | More by stumac

kerouac

California

4.28/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Leffe, particularly now that it is becoming more readily available, has become the staple of my beer drinking habit. It is delicious, different, and importantly, very drinkable.

I judge a beer by its return to my fridge, and so far this one has returned over and over.

Color is nice, foam is nice, and smell has the Belgian thing going for it. Belgian beers in general are my favorite, and although I've had much more distinct and delicious (and more alcoholic) Belgian brews, this one is my go-to brew. The taste is something I particularly find very appealing. Semi-sweet, but also complex enough to keep you interested. It's like a semi-highend escort, maybe. An escort you will call when your dimes are acting flakey.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2009 04:31:19 | More by kerouac