Augustijn Blond - Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.

UCLABrewN84

California

3.9/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy orange with a foamy white head that settles to a small cap on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, grain, and some mild grass and hay aromas. Taste is of malt, grain, grass, hay, and some fruity flavors on the finish. There is a mild hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is tasty and pretty refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2012 01:54:39 | More by UCLABrewN84

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

First had: on tap at Teresa's, Wayne, PA

Golden-brown body, slightly hazy, with a large puff of foamy white head. Bready aroma, notes of candi sugar and light citrus zest. The aroma follows into the taste, light, pale bready malts, citrus zest, herbal hops, rock candy, light banana esters. Decent, but a bit thin overall. Light-medium body, a bit sticky mouthfeel, light carbonation. A decent drinker, but nothing tremendous.

Serving type: on-tap

07-25-2012 13:47:19 | More by Rifugium

wl0307

United Kingdom (England)

3.78/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Coming in a 330ml short brown bottle, BB 21/06/2012, served chilled in Tripel Karmeliet's stemmed tulip-shaped goblet.

A: light orangey-golden in colour, slightly hazy and moderately carbonated, coming with a thick & frothy off-white head that lasts extremely well.
S: citrus-zesty notes and sweet pale malts abound, rather refreshing thanks to the serving temperature; rich & enticing over-ripe tropical fruit-like esters sneak through the thick froth following each swirl, showing a really decent input of exoticism resulting candy sugar.
T: lightly citric, tannic, not quite sweet & lubricating comes the foretaste, then followed by a semi-sweet herbal, vanilla-ish as well as softly malty mid-taste. The finish comes mildly chewy and mildly estery with a decent level of sourness.
M&D: softly carbonated, smooth on the palate, which goes well with the retrained flavour profile all in all. Not a bad brew, showing a really decent, understated/quiet flavour. Better than Augustijn Brune, in terms of overall performance & balance, IMO.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2011 18:55:03 | More by wl0307

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beeswax coloured beer has a honeycomb nest of head to match. The surface is more likely to gain attention from those looking for a tempur-pedic mattress than those jonesin' for a beer. The head is foamy and white and leaves the glass looking like a salt repository. Clarity is fully appreciated and the afternoon's sun is well kindled in its reflection.

The aroma has a damp cereal graininess, hint of herbal spicy hops, and fruity nuanced yeast. It isn't too meek but fails to spill out the glass; in both content and composure it is fairly stock for a Belgian ale. A light cinnamon-y spice grows as the beer warms. It makes a fair compliment to the amber malts, but isn't substantial enough to boost the score.

Herbal hoppiness and fruity yeastiness accompany dry amber malts in the taste as flavours of Gewurztraminer wine, mint herbal tea, fruit tarts, cereal grains and banana muffins combine to make for a moderately palatable beer. A subdued spiciness is donated by the yeast which becomes literally visible in the bottom few drops of the bottle.

Augustijn Blond is not as quaffable as most its Belgian counterparts for the simple reason that it lacks in character. The flavours are mediocre at best and the mouthfeel is equally insignificant, contributing little bitterness or sweetness or lasting taste. Each sip is forgettable. The aftertaste is negligible, leaving the palate apathetic to further sips.

Belgium produces enough beers that one could live there and drink a beer every day and go well over two years without ever having to drink the same beer twice. My suggestion is you skip over Augustijn Blond for both Brouwerij Van Steenberge's and the rest of the country's other (better) offerings. After tonight, I surely doubt I'll have it again.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2011 22:08:56 | More by biegaman

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

LOOK: Carefully poured with most sediment reserved, this looks mostly clear and blonde. White champagne like head pours out of the glass and is not going anywhere. Leaves behind a bubbly lace.

SMELL: Expressive Belgian yeast notes of green grape, sour apple and funk. Cakey malt aromas chime in too, as this is a big strong blonde.

TASTE: This blonde has vinioys qualities and big doughy malts. Funky yeast notes provide a dank tartness. Noble hops are identified by a stewed leafy flavor and pleasant bitterness. Finishes with a ciderish tang as well as a metallic flavor. Warming alcohol is felt more than tasted. Dry maltyness gives the body good depth. As this blonde approaches room temperature grainy flavors develop, along with the powdery yeast, estery fruit and sweet malts.

FEEL: Full bodied ale that has a champagne like carbonation. The carbonation dries the beer out certainly, and there is an aftertaste of fruity yeast. Very drinkable with enjoyable feel and flavor.

OVERALL: Quite a nice Belgian blonde ale here. Funky yeast, copious malt, good flavors and feel. The bottle now states this beer is 8% abv, and that's the reward for paying the price. A perfect beer on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 18:07:29 | More by Stinkypuss

smakawhat

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

For a special treat, cracked open a giant Jeroboam sized (double magnum) of this and poured and evaluated in a tulip glass to be shared with lots of people. What a great way to celebrate beer bottle review 100!

This is a wonderfully gorgeous looking beer. Exceptionally clear you can see the head from the bottom. Great honey orange and gold colors, on a foamy white tight head. Excellent retention, one of the best looking beers I've seen in some time.

Smell is quite simple of yeast and soft biscuits malts. Nothing too fancy just solidly good. Pilsner crisp smelling with little Belgian yeast styles. Really great combination.

Taste excels. Great balance of biscuit bread chew, faint yeast and a great crisp mouthfeel and finish. Flavors of faint honey and a real sweet lemon with some chew.

Super easy to drink, you don't even feel the ABV on this at all goes down so easy, what a great style this is.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2011 05:36:22 | More by smakawhat

Jwale73

Rhode Island

3.23/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

11.2oz. bottle served in a tulip. Pours a translucent, golden-orange with a rocky, two inch, bright white head that slowly collapses in on itself. Head eventually settles into a frothy cap with thick, textured clusters of lacing revealed during the tasting. Nose expresses tangerines and a suggestion of candi sugar. There's also a trace of clove and a slight metallic quality. Taste is somewhat bland and also reveals a wet cardboard character as well as a bit of grassiness. Mouthfeel is light-medium with a lively, palate cleansing carbonation and a light acidity. Overall, a fairly lackluster BSPA - not something I need to revisit again.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 03:12:31 | More by Jwale73

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330ml Bottle

Appearance - The beer pours a clear yellow/gold colour with a massive size frothy and fizzy white coloured head. There is a lot of carbonation showing and there is some nice lacing on the sides of the glass. The head lasted for over 5 minutes before it began to dissipate.

Smell - bubblegum, pear, breads/grains, lemon, metallic notes

Taste & Mouth - The beer has lots of carbonation and it feels very light yet velvety on the palette. Most of the flavour consists of bubblegum, breads/grains, cloves, and lemon juice. The beer finishes with a fruity and slightly bitter aftertaste.

Drink - An above average beer that I enjoyed. It seems to be lacking just a little bit of balance, but it's still good nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2011 14:54:32 | More by spinrsx

Mitchster

Michigan

3.45/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Purchased as part of a mixed 6 pack from the brewery. 7% ABV. Dated best before 6/8/11.

Pours out to a slightly chill hazed medium golden, forming a prodigious white meringue like head. Briskly carbonated. Subtle aroma of pineapple, mango, cloves and other belgian yeast phenols. Just a hint of higher alcohols but not obtrusive. Mouthfeel is spritzy and effervescent with a medium light body. The taste starts with tropical fruits and has a nice honeysuckle malt taste in the middle, followed by a firm nondescript bitterness which hangs around in the aftertaste. Aggressively hopped.

This is a decent Belgian Blonde Ale along the lines of Duvel, but it's not something that I would likely buy again.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2010 01:39:27 | More by Mitchster

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle from the LCBO, Belgo giftpack. Best before June 6, 2013. Into a tulip.

Pours gold with some copper hues. A dish soap-like white heads sits atop, and leaves some stocky and thick lacing behind. Nose has some fruity esters and light fleshed fruits. Big yeast notes, some lightly prickly spicing and a bit of an herbal characteristic. Taste has some pale malts, fruity notes (which come through lighter than presented in the nose) but resemble some peach or nectarine-like fleshiness. White peppery spice. Light mouthfeel, with the carbonation zipping and fizzing at times. A nice refreshing and light blond.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2011 17:02:06 | More by liamt07

thierrynantes

France

3.53/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Beer bottle (33 cl.), tasted in 2011.

Appearance : orange color, with a huge white foamy head.
Smell : spicy grass aromas.
Taste and mouthfeel : spiced yeast and alcohol presence, with
creamy and malty background flavours.
Drinkability : a good beer in the style Pale Ale.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2011 18:24:33 | More by thierrynantes

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours honey gold with a huge foamy white head. Some lace. Very pretty.

Big yeast and sweet wheat and malt in the nose. A little musty grain, some fruit and a little spice.

Nice belgian blond. Malt up front, some yeast and grain, then alcohol, some spice, leading to lighter bitterness and boozy notes in the end. Enjoyable, but missing something? Some light tropical fruit. I want a little bite in the end, and everything just kinda fades.

A little mushy. Needs a touch more carbonation.

Overall, not bad. The flavors are there, though a bit flawed. Very worth a try, though not my favorite.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2012 23:37:15 | More by OtherShoe2

puboflyons

New Hampshire

4.08/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From the 11.2 fl. oz. bottle. Sampled on January 7, 2013.

The pour is golden yellow with a white fizzy head that slowly dissipates but never really goes away. There is a subdued haziness in the color.

The aroma is a beautiful array of Belgian pale malts, Belgian candied sugars, yeast, banana, clove, and allspice with a much mellower hop note.

The body is medium but creamy.

The taste is similar to the aroma with a slight pepper bite coating my throat and well-integrated alcohol. Very fine.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 22:25:20 | More by puboflyons

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Huge white soapy, rocky head. Blonde in colour, hazy. Head lasts forever and there's tons of carbonation.

S - Tons of yeast, mild zesty citrus. Yeast wins out.

T - Lot's of orange but the yeast wins out and dominates the finish.

M - Dry. Lot's of carbonation.

D - Lacks complexity but a good Belgian Pale.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2010 01:25:35 | More by tbeckett

Absumaster

Netherlands

3.4/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

An orange, golden beer with a settling head.

Smell is fruity with notes of peach and melon, some light solvent.

Taste is fruity with a nice fruity character of mostly peach and a little melon. Bitterness is low and fits the style. The beer is nicely balanced. The mouthfeel is smooth and not sharp in the back. This beer has a higher carbonation than the Brune, but it is right ibn style for a Blonde.
I did not expect that this beer would be this balanced and smooth, although not very special this beer is decent and worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 15:45:53 | More by Absumaster

Bung

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

11.2. From a sampler pack. My bottle says 8.0 abv.
A solid gold with some haze to it. Giant head overflows the New Belgium glass even with a very careful pour.

Aroma, my nose is a little stuffy, but there is sone yeasty spice and clove. A faint fruitcake and caramel.

Taste, taste has some more earthy hop notes to it. Stone fruit, some clove, light bready malt back. Finish is a little spicy clove.

Pretty light feeling with the high carbonation. There is just enough stickiness to it though. A good middle to slightly above example. Nothing to complain about, nothing to rave about. Worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 03:04:42 | More by Bung

chinchill

South Carolina

3.74/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75

11.2 oz bottle poured into a snifter.
Appearance: Pours a golden-copper color with a modest white head. Plenty of visible carbonation bubbling up. A thin partial coat and ring last throughout the entire drink, and bubbly lacing is left behind with each sip.

Smell: Belgian style spiciness dominates, with hints of clove and cardamom, but there’s also more than a hint of fruitiness, a biscuity malt base, and a light touch of floral hops.

Taste: Largely conforms to the nose and is mainly the flavor of spiced malts. Sweet, especially up front, but with a mild hop bitterness kicking in from the finish onwards.

Mouthfeel: Medium body; Medium-strong carbonation is lightly prickly.

Overall: A solid and spicy blonde with well-hidden ABV that lacks the complexity and refinement of the best Belgian alternatives.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 00:21:26 | More by chinchill

kwjd

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle purchased as part of a brewery mix 6 pack from the LCBO in Ontario. Pours a golden-orange colour with huge white head. I had to wait for the head to dissipate somewhat to actually drink this. Some lacing on the glass. Smells grassy with Belgian yeast. Quite a dry flavour, very understated sweetness. No bitterness at all really. Low carbonation in the mouthfeel, which is surprising given how much head there was.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2011 00:10:19 | More by kwjd

GratefulBeerGuy

New Hampshire

4.72/5  rDev +26.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A classic hazy blond color, quick bubbles deliver a huge, towering white head, crystal clear and white, last forever.

The aroma is veru natural, earthy and pure. big wheat, grains, earth, musky dry earth and sour from the wonderful yeast aroma, slightly sweet malt underneath.

The flavor is just exactly what I LOVE about authentic Belgian beers, Earthy, sour, musky yeast complexity that is righteous. The malt is subtle, crisp and slightly sweet with grassy, mild hops.

The feel is perfect for this style and for my own personal feeling. Light, lively, crispy, with a full lush, smooth finish. Spot-on.

I just love this one through and through.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2011 20:21:36 | More by GratefulBeerGuy

CampusCrew

Florida

4/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

appearance: blone, big head like a sundae.

smell: banana, tropical fruits

taste: lots of spice, tropical fruits, banana

mouthfeel: a little light, good carbonation, not over done

drinkability: great belgian blonde and not overly sweet. important to me.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2011 16:37:29 | More by CampusCrew

KTCamm

New Jersey

4.08/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

330 ml stubby, poured into a Duvel glass.

Pours crystal clear golden yellow with erupting white foam. Long lasting, and very clingy.

Mild malty and fruity/spicy smell.

Very clean fruity taste - hints of bubblegum? Evolves into a slightly sour finish. Very clean finish.

Creamy mouthfeel.

Very tasty, light hop close. Another solid brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2009 17:01:21 | More by KTCamm

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

3.73/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice golden ale, pleasingly rounded and with a good palate.

Presentation: 33 cl brown capped bottle. Label displays the branding with the image of a monk turning the mash in a stained glass like illustration. Served in a tulip glass.

A - Slightly hazy golden pour, towering frothy head with good retention, nice surface memory and lacing.

S - Yeasty nose with citric touches, peppery hint and a hint of bready malts...

T - And the mouth follows nicely with that soft yeasty sense, touches of muted hoppy citric notes, with light peppery hints, and biscuity malt.

M - Medium-light body with medium carbonation, fine bubbles with a nice soft semi-dry finish.

O - Very nice flow, somewhat generic but with enough flavor and rhythm to make it notable.

Notes: Fair enough, nothing for the ages but rather approachable, very good to share socially and engage people in quality brews. I confess I´m holding a Jeroboam of this for something next week, and I think it should work really well.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 02:16:10 | More by Daniellobo

BeerLover99

New Jersey

3.68/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: honeycomb/bubbly body, 2 finger white head,
mighty fine lacing

S: banana, beglian yeast, grain, mild
spices

T: sweet citrus, yeast, malt, grain, light spicy finish

M: med body, smooth mouth

O: Quite refreshing. Would get again
and recommend. I rarely tire from
Belgian beers.

RATHER GOOD, WORTH TRYING!

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2012 20:57:33 | More by BeerLover99

peensteen

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Hazy pale blonde colour, just over one finger of white head, fairly thick lace left on the glass. Smell is yeasty with some tropical fruit, some bubblegum/candy notes, mild hop bill, muted spice notes as well. Taste is dry and yeasty, some of the tropical fruit comes out in the middle, spicy, dry fruity finish, light bubblegum and banana flavours come out in finish. High carbonation, dry and fairly full bodied, good feel. This was a really good belgian pale, one of the more enjoyable of the style in recent memory, wonderful dry ale that I will most certainly revisit.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2011 19:03:10 | More by peensteen

jazzyjeff13

United Kingdom (England)

3.3/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A 330ml bottle with a BB of March 2013. Purchased as part of a sampler pack from this brewery. The front label features an image of a monk trapped in a giant spider's web.

Poured into a Stella chalice. A pale golden hue with good carbonation - becomes significantly clouded by fine yeast sediment towards the end of the pour. Produces a huge head of white foam with impressive stability; reminiscent of Duvel. The head eventually subsides, leaving frothy lacing around the glass. Aroma of yeast and esters, with notes of banana, cloves and a hint of spice.

Tastes of light malt with plenty of yeast and esters dominating the flavour. Notes of banana. Slightly sour, with a faint hint of sweetness - this is somewhat unbalanced. No bitterness to mention, and the alcohol seems well hidden. Mouthfeel is tingly, leaving the palate dry. Leaves a mildly acrid yeasty aftertaste.

A decent belgian blonde, but it won't change your life. The complex yeasty characteristics are OK, but it has an acrid undertone that spoils the flavour. Worthy...

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2011 22:02:52 | More by jazzyjeff13