Leffe Blonde - Abbaye de Leffe S.A.

Jarod

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Abbey of Leffe – Blonde Ale 1240
Stamped – best before 5/2004

This beer poured into the glass a crystal clear gold color, then when held up into the sunlight produced a beam of pure 24 karat gold on my arm. The head that was produced was thick, foamy and long lasting (almost too long lasting) it was a light beige/white color. The lace that was created was intricate and delicate in nature. The aromas that came from the glass and bottle were of malt, fresh hops, grass, fruit (pears), bananas, bread, and spice (black pepper). The tastes that rolled across my tongue were of sweet malt, fresh baked bread, bananas, fruit (pears), hops (floral, herb), a slight alcohol and I swear cocoa, very slight, but I swear I tasted it. The aftertaste when first poured was drying on the tongue, but as it warmed, it became creamy and a banana flavor emerged. Decently carbonated and medium bodied (decent mouthful) was this beer. It was fairly crisp, fresh, sweet and creamy over all. I must say though, the aromas and tastes were not overwhelming or pronounced as I would have thought or liked. But it is drinkable, not the greatest, but I wouldn’t turn my nose up to it

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2003 08:48:56 | More by Jarod

Scooter77

Ohio

4/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly hazy, golden color with a fluffy white head. The head retains itself for the duration leaving a nice, sticky lace on the glass. Aromas of sweet bananas are initially detected, mixed with light malt and a mild spiciness of cloves. The taste is equal to the aroma, moderately sweet with a slight touch of spiciness. This is a very well balanced beer, crisp, refreshing and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2003 05:26:55 | More by Scooter77

kbub6f

New York

3.15/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Bought locally (Grapevine refrigerated shelves), a few days in my fridge, reviewed 45F-60F.

There's a big, noisy white head that dies to a one inch meringue with full lacing. The beer is deep gold/orange-gold.

Very nice smell: spice, citrus. The front is sweetish, spicy. The middle brings on a slightly strange sour malty flavor. The finish is fresh, dry, with noticeable alcohol. The aftertaste is a little sour... strange. Overall, this beer is ok. I actually preferred it cooler than warmer. For that reason, and because of the funky aftertaste, this beer should probably be drunk as quickly as possible.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2003 08:02:14 | More by kbub6f

goindownsouth

South Carolina

3.43/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I tried this bier on a tip from a bar keep at the Steelgarden, within the Bethlehem Brew Works. All in all, it is not a bad beer. It is a little lighter than I expected color-wise. The aroma is decent, with hints of spice and fruit. A very legitimate Belgian brew that I would probably recommend as a beginner to the world of the Belgians. Prost!

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2003 10:11:15 | More by goindownsouth

AtrumAnimus

Texas

4.43/5  rDev +24.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This pours an orangish color with a long lasting creamy head. It has a spicy malted nose that is just wonderful. This beer has an excellent taste that is well complemented by the creamy mouthfeel. The taste is malty with a pleasant and enjoyable hop undertone.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2003 14:37:35 | More by AtrumAnimus

beerluvr

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours with a beautiful long lasting just slightly off-white head, resting atop a clear rich deep gold liquid. Fresh fruity and spicy malty notes in the nose make for a very appetizing harbinger of what awaits. Taste is a tasty candyish mix of fruit, malt, a bit of breadiness..all very fresh-tasting & lip smackingly delicious. Finishes smooth and deceptively drinkable, drys oh-so-slightly in the end. This was a nice find, I recommend it without reservation.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2003 13:13:29 | More by beerluvr

AudioGilz

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear gold color, tiny head forming into a little but of lace. This medium bodied brew is dominated by sweet maltiness, with a zingy carbonation feel. A tiny hint of hops and alcohol tries to get through but becomes just a hint. There's nothing exciting here, a smooth and easy to drink brew though. I considered it refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2003 23:23:15 | More by AudioGilz

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

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

Color: a clear gold.
Head: a nice, fluffy white.
Aroma: sharp with spicy notes, sweet with citrus and fruit, peach, apricot. Palate is sweet and smooth, with full malt. Hops are playing it cool, but give a nice little tingle on the tongue. Light body, low carbonation, good texture.
Overall, uncomplicated, fine, if unremarkable.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2003 18:07:32 | More by feloniousmonk

Rocko

Sweden

3.2/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Yellow golden color and a decent white head with a fruity smell. After a while the head settles and leaves a bit of lacing on the glass.

There is some spicy taste in this beer that makes me think of Duvel. I don't know what it is, maybe someone can tell me. :) However being a big Duvel fan I don't think it tastes as good as in the Duvel. Overall it's a decent blonde with a special kind of taste I don't really fancy. Everyone should try it though, it might float your boat. :)

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2003 04:32:09 | More by Rocko

PatandDavid

Massachusetts

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

I tried this, mainly because I know of a certain BA that really seems to love this.

Had a light amber color, almost orangey. The smell was pleasant, but not overwhelming. The banana taste was also not overwhelming.

Basically what I got from this beer was smoothness, easy to drink not overwhelming in alcohol or taste, what I would think of as a Belgian session beer if you wanted to drink a few or more over the course of an evening.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2003 16:50:22 | More by PatandDavid

goz

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Nice clear golden pour, white head which quickly fades to a good lace. Aroma is sweet, maybe cotton candy-like. Initial taste is banana-juice all the way - quite sweet, with a little spice in the end, possible a hint of alcohol. Overall a fantastic and consistent brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2003 07:54:09 | More by goz

ElGuapo

New Jersey

3.65/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

a copper pour with a nice fluffy white head on top (not really white, but not really off white either). it has a great aroma of caramel and apricot. it is very sweet smelling, and the aroma is very complex as you pick up hints of yeast, grains, and alcohol as well. after this belgian, i will make sure to sample all others in a goblet so i can swirl them to bring out all the aromas as it was excellent for this brew.

the beer is lighter in body than most belgians, but it does not really hurt it. it is silky smooth with a little bit of tingly carbonation and just a slight warming out of the pretty low alcohol content. it is very sweet, but you will get some nice spices in the end. there is not a lot of alcohol, so there is not a lot of alcohol flavor. overall, it is a pretty good brew that you should try if you want something different.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2003 09:51:51 | More by ElGuapo

ADR

Pennsylvania

2.93/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Mostly clear (why is this beer clear?) dark gold color, big-bubbled white head of 1/2 an inch. Laces tend to decompose a bit. Slightly estery aroma, touched with some lemon. Reserved spicy malt flavor, some sense of clove and a more silky quality that's somewhat honey-like. Medium carbonation mutes hop senses, and the brew finishes with an overall lightly-browned toast effect. Overall, there's not much sense of alcohol, but also lacks major flavor distinction. It can tend toward the cloying side, as well. I also didn't expect it to be as transparent as it was.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2002 11:59:27 | More by ADR

Shiloh

Ontario (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This brew has a very nice sweet quality about it that seems to never end. It is a medium body offering with a fruit like presence. Very nice crown which is not to heavy nor does it quickly disapate.
My only concern is with drinkability, it would seem to me to be a little to much constant sweetness for continuous consumption.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2002 19:45:13 | More by Shiloh

Gusler

Arizona

3/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A translucent gold color on the pour, the head magnanimous, frothy texture, the lace in pertaining sheets. The nose dominated by the malt, hints of citrus, fresh and clean. Front is malt and cloying sweet, top is lean and lanky, the finish has minimal carbonation, adequately hopped, but does “Ring By Beer Bell”!

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2002 09:56:12 | More by Gusler

ipogios

Cyprus

4.9/5  rDev +38%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a beautifull deep golden colour topped by a huge white creamy head. This beer has a sweet aroma and sweet taste. Aftertaste is sweet and it's quite long lasting. It's one of my 2 favourite beers. I like sweet beers. If you don't like sweet beer then i wouldn't reccomend this one...

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2002 04:42:50 | More by ipogios

Morris729

Texas

3.13/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a very lovely rich golden color with a creamy white head that clings to the sides of the glass as you drink. The aroma is sweet and almost syrup like. The taste is also on the sweet side with notes of honey and cream. A nice beer, especially for a beginner who’s just starting to sample Abbey-style beers.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2002 00:30:55 | More by Morris729

Pegasus

Texas

3.68/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pouring yields a very prominent creamy off-white head with excellent retention. Medium golden in color with just a touch of haze and light carbonation, lots of broken lace. Aroma of cloves and banana, much like a hefeweizen, although somewhat milder, also bread notes. Taste begins with a brief burst of sweet malt, followed by spicy clove and ripe banana flavors, with bitter citrus, mild hops, and strong alcohol notes to the finish.

I found that I like this beer for the fact that it is not so overwhelming as most of the Belgian Abbey-style ales, but it will seem too understated for Abbey-ale purists.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2002 19:02:10 | More by Pegasus

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Soft golden color, with a resilient head that did not dissipate throughout the tasting, but held a nice firm but smooth cap.

After drinking a Hoegaarden, the missus found this one too harsh, but alas, she is merely a beer pup with a limited range of what is considered 'good'. <sigh> we're working on that...

Anyway, I liked the bready aroma, and could detect a sweetness in the smell. Very pleasant. Get a good mouthful of this beer to ideally experience it. Little sips just don't do it justice. First impressions - more than average yeasty component, which I'm really beginning to enjoy as I sample more Belgians and unfiltereds. The carbonation and sweetness are well balanced, with neither one overpowering other flavor/mouthfeel components. About the time all this settles down, the baseline hop presence arrives. Not too much, but not exactly subtle. It was too much for my wife, but the Hoegaarden she had prior to this was very smooth.

Anyway, this is a great Belgian for both a beginner or one early in the game. The first time I had this beer, I had maybe one or two Belgians under my belt and thought this was a bit too busy for me. After having had some 25 different beers in the past month, then trying another Leffe, my taste has developed into a much greater appreciation of this beer. So if you don't like it first, drink around some other tastes and come back. I'm fairly certain this one will grow on you.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2002 10:14:03 | More by brewdlyhooked13

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Crystal clear, deep golden/amber with a hugh foamy & rocky white head that holds extremely well, buoyed by a very fine and effervescent carbonation. The tiny, slow rising bubbles add to the enjoyment of the appearance. Extensive lacing is created throughout the serving. The body is medium/full with an exceptional creaminess in the mouth from the very fine carbonation. The aroma is softly sweet, almost candyish, with a light citrus fruitiness and subtle phenolics. The flavor is a gently fruity (citrusy... orange?), and sweetly grainy malt that's lightly backed by hop bitterness and gentle spice. It finishes softly dry with some gently lingering peppery spiciness that's very nice and helps to keep the sweet malts from becoming cloying. Well balanced, firm and round, but somewhat limited in character. An excellent crossover beer into the world of Belgian ales.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2002 16:28:59 | More by NeroFiddled

Jason

Massachusetts

3.4/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12 oz slender brown bottle with a freshness date on the back. Crystal clear golden colour with a thin bubbly lace that clings to the glass a bit.

Medicinal from the phenolics, hints of bubble gum and ripe pears with an herbal hop backing for the aroma.

Semi-thick mouth feel with a viscous carbonation and sturdy medium body. Sweet maltiness is the wins the in battle with a rolling sweetness throughout that throws out honey like qualities. Leaf herbal hop bitterness tries to clean up the sweetness but settles back into an underlying flavour. Clean estery alcohol is a tad fruity. Hits of phenols bring an obvious medicinal quality. Finishes sweet with a long lingering herbal and medicinal flavour.

Too processed and clean for a Belgian blonde, sweet to the point of almost being syrupy on the palate. There are other Belgian blond ales that are far superior to this one. Perhaps worth a try if you appreciate the style.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2002 19:54:20 | More by Jason

StevieW

Florida

2.95/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Tannish in color, and clear with a large thick head, foamy even, but evaportated quickly. The clearness of the beer was striking. Mine smelled somewhat harsh, stale almost. Tasted rather sweat, lots of syrupy, sweet, and citrus. Very smooth gong down but not thin. Overall it had some flashes of being a great beer, but the harsh smell seemed to dominate this one. I bought this as a single bottle of a pack, maybe is was old, that's why is what sold that way. Anyway, I am kinda glad I only had one to drink....Whose next ?

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2002 09:31:02 | More by StevieW

Andy

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Huge off white head with tight carbonation. golden amber color. great complex aroma, slightly spicy. deceptively pale and drinkable. some vanilla and mixed fruit flavor. somewhat spicy. little to no hop character and leaves beer unbalanced.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2002 20:23:14 | More by Andy

rastaman

United Kingdom (England)

2.98/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Its Ok, but i don't think its anything outstanding, but i don't think its meant to be, a bit sweet, and one of the more commercial Abbey blond style belgian ales.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2002 09:25:59 | More by rastaman

John

New York

3.48/5  rDev -2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I thought this was an enjoyable beer. Mildly sweet with subtle fruit and spiciness. Hazy golden appearance. Limited complexity when compared to other Belgian triples/pales. Could easily knock back a few of these. A good entry level Belgian brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2002 13:00:31 | More by John