Leffe Blonde - Abbaye de Leffe S.A.

Dogbrick

Ohio

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

Pours a pretty golden color with tiny columns of rising bubbles. Thick and foamy white head with fair retention. Patches of lacing on the glass. The aroma is on the hoppy side and has a nice spiced undertone as well. Medium-bodied and spicy with hops and yeast flavors. The flavor profile is not as complex as many Belgians but it is still pretty tasty. The finish is spicy and fruity and lingers a bit. Above average overall.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2007 21:02:30 | More by Dogbrick

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.05/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Glowing golden yellow color, strong medium white bubbly thick head appears, fades within a short while to a thin skim and thin ring, lace in minimal strings. Nice nose of malty sweetness, dulled mild citrus and banana yeasted spice and tiny phenolic notes coming through as it warms. Taste is quite mild of malt sweetness, wheat, some dulled citrusy lemon notes with a touch of banana and spices. Its a nice mix with some light hops, finishes pretty strong with a big fullness on the palate and some fruity dryness with peppery notes. The feel is well carbonated with a slightly small start but grabs hold quickly and becomes quite full with a nice subtle dry finish thats crisp and dulled of citrus and spice. Not all that flavorful or complex but the carbonation makes up for some of that. A pretty nice blond abbey that comes across like a hefe on steroids.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2003 18:51:25 | More by tavernjef

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.38/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

330ml from the Coop for about $1.70.. poured into my New Belgium snifter.

Big rocky head drops leaving significant lace chunks.. clear golden brew.

Very spicy aroma doesn't leave room for much else... cloves and whiffs of black pepper... light peachy/pear fruitiness... smells pretty sweet.

.. it is pretty sweet.. descent hop backbone.. but again spiciness dominates.. more fruitiness than the aroma.. more peaches and pears spiked with whole cloves... not overly complex but not horrible.. seems like a "supermarket" Belgian... Overall, just too sweet for me.

I've had Leffe Blond more than a few times, but now that I've reviewed it, I probably won't buy it unless I am going to be brewing a BPA and need some for comparison.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2008 07:55:26 | More by JohnGalt1

mactrail

California

3.9/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Really mellow, smooth, and malty. Great Belgian yeasty flavor. Big head with a good mouthful of carbonation. Creamy mouthfeel. Spicy and aromatic. Flowers and candy are the flavors, but it has an acidic touch, which along with the modest alcohol makes it perfectly drinkable. The beer is fairly sweet, which is a plus for me in this style. Medium body.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2011 04:47:19 | More by mactrail

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.05/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Comes out of the tap a nice clear golden color, with a decent head. Aroma is strong and malty and has a decided lemony overtone. Flavor is malty and strongly of citrus, mainly lemon and nicely tart. Texture is smooth, and finish is refreshing and satisfying.

Serving type: on-tap

10-12-2008 01:58:39 | More by Cyberkedi

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

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

Leffe blonde appears clear and golden hued with an inch of white fluffy head that leaves a fair amount of lacing on the glass. The aroma is of fruit, yeast, and alcohol. The flavor is good, and distinctly Belgian. The alcohol is more noticeable than I would like. The feel is medium bodied with plenty of carbonation and an alcoholic finish. This is a decent Belgian brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2011 20:18:16 | More by Huhzubendah

RoyalT

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance – The body is light orange in color with some carbonation visible. The head was decent but went down rather quickly.

Smell – The yeast aroma was mixed with a strong orange scent. There were the standard Belgian spices at the nose as well.

Taste – This one is not bad. The yeast comes out more in the taste. There are few more fruits that show up such as ripe melons and grapes. The spicing is light and subdued.

Mouthfeel – There’s some good carbonation in there. This one went down smooth and easy.

Drinkability – This was a nice ale that went down pleasantly.

Comments – There’s nothing real exciting to this one, but it got the job done. It lacked the bite that I personally enjoy in a good BSPA, but went about its business successfully.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2003 01:10:30 | More by RoyalT

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A. 12 oz. bottle. Light yellow and tawny with a white head.

s. Light fruits and belgian yeast.

T. Very flavorful. Fruit is apparant, dried raisin specifically makes an impression. Also a helping of banana goodness comes from that funky yeast. Has some characterics of a Hefeweizen but much more complex. Sweetish.

M. A bit excessively carbonated in my opinion, but still a fine drinker.

D. This is a very good BPA. If you're looking for a great hop profile, I'd look elsewhere. If you're looking for a very well balanced, complex belgian style pale ale, here it is.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2008 20:45:10 | More by Stinkypuss

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

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

Poured into a Leffe goblet, a nice yellow heady beer. It really reminds me of a wheat ale. Same style of characteristics, dryish, but sweet. Nothing too exciting, but yet, nothing to really complain about. Alcohol is there, but not easily detected. A good Belgian session beer.

Serving type: on-tap

05-31-2007 21:20:21 | More by OWSLEY069

avalon07

South Carolina

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

A: When poured from a bottle to a tulip glass, had an amber color and a thin appearance. Different from other Belgians. Had a fairly small amount of head, which quickly disappeared.

S: The aroma wasn't exactly overwhelming. Some light fruits, malt, spices. Not bad, but didn't blow me away.

T: A little thin in this department. Had a yeasty flavor, along with some apples and spices. It just wasn't that complex.

M: Had a decent amount of carbonation and a syrupy finish.

D: Despite its debits, this is a drinkable beer. Granted, this doesn't necessarily make it a brilliant example of the brewing art, but its not bad either.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2008 13:22:09 | More by avalon07

gford217

Georgia

3.73/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Johnathan's Bistro in Appleton, WI.

Pours clear golden amber with a small swirl of bubbles on top and little bits of lacing on the way down.

The aroma is extremely sweet and dominated by the Belgian yeast, bubblegum and bananas. There is only the faintest hint of hops in the nose.

The hops are a little more prominent in the taste but the spices, clove mainly, really amp up the spiciness of the taste on top of the underlying Belgian yeast sweetness.

The mouthfeel is highly carbonated and that, combined with the spices, really tingles the tongue in the finish.

This is a decent Belgian beer though not quite as complex or drinkable as some of the better Belgians I've had. Decent.

Serving type: on-tap

01-28-2009 02:23:11 | More by gford217

TheLongBeachBum

California

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

Presentation: 12 fluid ounce bottle. Very Belgium in appearance, traditional looking label with a gold foil covered crown cap, and a freebie from a local bar that I usually frequent on a Sunday Night.

Appearance: A lovely golden color, with a clean looking white head whose formation is aided by the high inherent carbonation.

Nose: Fruity and sweet, malt and grain break through and contribute to a nose that is very Leffe in nature. Once inhaled, rarely forgotten.

Taste: Fruity introduction that has a malt appeal mixed with cloves and bananas in the beginning. Finish is sweet and slightly cloying at times, with some lingering malt aspects. One of those beers that has a very simple, yet distinctive taste. Far from complex, but not at all bad for a mass produced beer.

Mouthfeel: Average, yet solid and well defined. Enough to alert you to the fact that you are still awake at 5am after a heavy session in the Paters’ Vaetje in Antwerp.

Drinkability: What can I say? I have drunk so much of this beer whilst in Belgium that it scares me. Whatever time of day, or night, however many other “quality Belgium’s” I have previously drunk; Leffe Blonde always seems to be a relatively easy drinking beer. It makes a great 6am beer I can tell you. Its only drawback, as a session beer, is the fact that it is a bit too sweet and cloying at times.

Overall: Ask anyone what their first Belgium beer was; and I guarantee that 90% will say Stella Artois, Chimay, Hoegaarden or Leffe. Widely available at even the smallest dive bar in Belgium, so much so that I often find I heavily rely on a Leffe Blonde at 4am in the morning after a serious day on the beer. Despite the tendency to “knock” this beer for its mass-appeal, I will most certainly refrain from doing so. At the end of the day this is a Blonde Ale, it is no Westie 12, merely the equivalent of a session beer that happens to be produced by Interbrew. That said, it is still leagues ahead of most other Countries session beers IMHO. A decent, solid, Blonde beer that has enough restrained flavors to convert macro drinkers, whilst having enough character to retain some loyalty from seasoned drinkers. I still occasionally enjoy this beer, and will continue to do so. Far better on draft than from the bottle I find.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2003 06:28:33 | More by TheLongBeachBum

ZAP

Minnesota

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

A-Golden color...off white head..

S-Yeasty...bubble gum...some cloves...a little banana

T-Nice bubble gum/banana sweetness...some light cloves....more flavor than I expected...

M-Finishes a little airy....short finish....body is light side of medium to medium

O-This is nice drinker with some nice flavors to it. Bought a single and am glad I did. Not sure I'll ever buy it again though with so many other options of Belgians out there..

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2012 05:12:37 | More by ZAP

dirtylou

Washington

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

on tap somewhere in the hills of montmartre (paris) - very common tap in france, often times the best tap

appearance: served a dull golden tone with a big and wavy white head that holds itself strong

smell: sweet belgian yeast strains, lacking the complexity you would often find with a belgian pale

taste: again lacking overall complexity...light on the yeast, mild grassyness, oversweetened hops, orange peel, clove. its good and when in france it almost feels great - in belgium, you'd be an idiot to order this

mouthfeel: decent carbonation, medium body

drinkability: high

Serving type: on-tap

07-23-2008 04:47:11 | More by dirtylou

cokes

Wisconsin

3.28/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Clear gold with a blooming pale beige topping.
Nose full of rubber bands and processed sugar, all sprinkled with cloves.
Begins with some fruit. Orangey, but not as sharp, nor as defined. Lightly bready malt backing. Turns increasingly sugary with each sip. Both cane and brown sugars. Dilute spicing that seems to indicated clove and/or coriander.
I thought it resembled a Belgian-bent hellesbock for a while.
But I don't anymore.
Bitterness and hop traits are minimal.
Light bodied and lacking pizzazz.
This was drinkable (actually, *quite* drinkable) given its vessel...a midget 25cL bottle. But as I suck a cloying, pulpy brown sugar sap off my cheeks, I don't plan to reach for another.
And this is hardly a "one-and-done" style.

Decent...maybe...sort of...

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2004 00:16:49 | More by cokes

beertunes

Washington

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

Poured into tulip. Poured a nice deep, gold color with a tall, fluffy, white head that had very good retention and surprisingly light lacing.

The aroma was slightly sweet, with a nice grain scent and a very good yeast scent. The taste followed along very closely with there being a slightly more noticeable spice taste being supported by the nice base grains.

The body was very good, full, round, smooth and clean without being heavy or sticky. Drinkability is excellent, I could have this all day long.

Overall, a near excellent beer that is certainly worth your time.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2010 00:20:14 | More by beertunes

TurdFurgison

Ohio

3.4/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Presentation: Poured from 11.2 oz bottle into hotel glass. The glass was too small, so I had to fill twice.

Appearance: Very clear yellow with thin white head. Belgian abbey styles don't usually look this clear to me...

Smell: Slightly bready yeast. Actually a good smell, but not very strong.

Taste: The flavor was OK, with malty breadiness, but it wasn't rich enough for me.

Notes: For the price ($1.80), not bad. But I can find excellent examples of Belgian ales easily, so why try this twice?

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2005 01:59:03 | More by TurdFurgison

DefenCorps

Oregon

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

On tap at a hookah bar tonight.

Pouring amber with a thin, white with decent retention and lacing, this is solid. Initially, this is a little too cold, resulting in the nose being muted, but as it warms up, I get some cotton candy, sugar water, a little honey and a moderate spice. The spice character is some blend of clove and nutmeg The palate replicates the nose. Definite sugar water and cotton candy are present, and there's a light hop character present as a mild bitterness. Spices appear mid-palate, and linger into the finish along with sugar. Light in body with high carbonation, this feels soft and gentle on the palate, wonderful. Quite enjoyable, this, though there are many beers I'd pick over this.

Serving type: on-tap

11-05-2010 03:26:58 | More by DefenCorps

francisweizen

Australia

3.58/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This brew pours a very deep golden with a very nice white head. The aromas are spicy, and inticing but too sweet. The aromas are a bit subdued compared to the draught version of this brew, but the taste is pretty much the same...too damn sweet! This could be a very good Belgian ale if they tone down the sweetness and spiciness a bit and add some more malt/hop flavors. The mouthfeel was a bit too thick and syrupy, yet less syrupy than on tap, but not too bad and the drinkability suffers from the sweetness...

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2003 07:21:53 | More by francisweizen

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.73/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a surprisingly clear medium golden color with a thick fluffy white foam that recedes somewhat quick and leaves a nice lace pattern behind.

Smells Belgian and sweet, if not a bit too clean. I get some cinnamon and cassis as well as plenty of clove. Reminds me a bit of the old Blackjack chewing gum from the old days.

Taste is better than I expected from such a mass produced Belgian giant. The yeast is in the forefront as it should be with pronounced clove and what I imagine a tangerine-banana cross would taste like. A touch of honey and hops cross the palate near the finish and make this a fairly refreshing beer overall. Nowhere close to the best Belgian blonde, but still a tasty option that can easily be found at a decent price. Wont have any problems finishing off the six pack I got.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2009 01:27:00 | More by twiggamortis420

nickfl

Florida

3.6/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Two fingers of white foam on top of a clear, golden body. The head settles at a moderate pace and leaves nice lace.

S - Malty with a honey/ pilsner malt character. Slight yeasty fruit character and some herbal hops.

T - Fruity yeast and honey malt notes up front. Earthy hops in the middle. Pilsner malt and weak hop bitterness in the finish.

M - Medium-thick body, moderate carbonation, and a dry finish.

D - A bit light of yeast character, but enjoyable and drinkable. Nice earthy hop character.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2008 03:08:21 | More by nickfl

bark

Sweden

3.28/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The colour is gold with a tint of red, liquid is clear. The low beige
foam dissolves into an almost invisible lid.

The smell is fruity with a clear flavour of yeast. There are also
some notes of almonds, cherries and raspberries

The carbonation is soda-like with a sparkling mouthfeel, which suits
this style fine.

The taste is somewhat yeasty, with a great variety of fruity flavours
and touches of cask-maturing and candy sugar with some light
bitterness. The aftertaste got notes of sweet malt, dark rum and a
hint of alcohol.

Compared to other abbey-style beers, this one from Interbrew just
lacks some personality.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2004 22:40:00 | More by bark

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

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

smakawhat

Maryland

4.22/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the bottle into an official Leffe glass.

A very simple one finger white head, almost rock solid, but it falls at a good clip. Body is a perfect clear honey dark twenty four carat gold with visible carbonation. Bubbles are soapy, ring left but head upon settling is pock marked. Minimal lacing upon drinking is present but really not much.

Smell is slight funk but mostly a sweet spice (nutmeg?) but not overpowering sweet. This also smells like a bakery in a sweet way, it's like cake. Very clean smelling also.

Taste is very sweet and like honey. Spice comes through with the sweetness and cake dough structure. It reminds me of a coffee cake or spiced cake. No it doesn't taste like coffee. Borderline nutmeg as well. Mouthfeel has a little syrup quality to it but not too bad, quite tolerable and in a nice coating way also.

I really don't understand why some people hate this beer, it's perfectly fine for what it is. It is also very common and inexpensive and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2011 04:17:32 | More by smakawhat