Cuvée Des Jonquilles - Brasserie Bailleux

ptykozoon

California

3.03/5  rDev -26.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Hazy orange/yellow. Large inch head, fuzzy lacing on the sides.

Meh, pretty subdued, nothing much going on here. Lemon peel, oak, wheat.

Lime, a bit of oak - tastes like a watered down witbier. Fairly mediocre.

Average mouthfeel, tastes no where near 7%, more like 4%.

A nice beer, but really nothing worth any trouble.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2012 01:10:08 | More by ptykozoon

kojevergas

California

3.2/5  rDev -22.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

75cl green glass (damnit!) bottle with cork top served into a Westvleteren goblet in Belfort, France, where it was also acquired. Reviewed live.

A: 1.5 finger head of decent cream, okay thickness, and good retention. Cloudy lemon-yellow colour.

Sm: Lemon, barley, and slight cream. A mild strength aroma.

T: Lemon citrus ester hops. Some welcome light cream comes through, particularly on the climax. A light barley body. Quite refreshing albeit simple. Well built and balanced for what it's trying to do. Typical for the style.

Mf: Coarsely sharp and wet, with enough smoothness to remain refreshing. Quite nice, and complementary of the flavours in the body.

Dr: It's very drinkable, relatively high ABV, decently priced, and of enjoyable quality. It's not special, but it's worth a go. Give her a spin, lads.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2011 20:15:24 | More by kojevergas

alenonbeeradv

California

3.3/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - a nice blond barnyard color. hazy hay hues and beaming yellow.

S- old man armpit. Bitter and funky. Tart farmyard.

T - yeasty but not too funky. Surprisingly sweet and floral hens the daffodils on the bottle I take it. Kinda biscuity on the finish.

M - pretty low in carbonation. Kinda like a mix between a limbic and a champagne. Yeasty and active.

O - pretty nice. Not something I'm gonna buy for just myself again. A little too sweet to drink the whole bottle alone.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2011 04:44:01 | More by alenonbeeradv

crusian

Texas

3.45/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle from awesome girlfriend from beertopia in Omaha.
The pour is amazing... pours a nice murky yellow, and the head ia simply amazing. I have never quite seen anything like this... the pour fills 3/4 of the glass, with about a finger of head. And then it begins to grow, like the compressed sponge toy for kids. It slowly grows out of the glass, and I mean slowly...and by the time it stops, it is about 3 inches out the top... incredible.
Funky lemon on the nose.
Taste has some peach, lemon, some apple and a bit of funk and a dry crisp finish.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2011 04:16:40 | More by crusian

emmasdad

Colorado

3.65/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Ken for sharing this one at a recent tasting. Poured a hazy yellow with a lingering ring of white foam. Aromas of bread, lemons, yeast and flowers. On the palate, this one was light bodied, tart and prickly, with flavors of straw, vanilla, yeast, lemons and light floral notes with a smooth dry citrus finish.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2011 02:30:52 | More by emmasdad

NoLiberty

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

App: Golden straw color pours from the 750 ml bottle. Big foaming white head settles to a lasting head, low lacing and fairly clear for being unfiltered.

Aroma: Smells more like a saison than a biere de garde. Spicy, slightly sweet, some earthy funk and peppery notes. Pretty crisp and clean. Good, but not to style.

Taste: Fairly flat but more flavor than their saison with more sweetness and spicier with dryness and some mild hoppiness in the middle and finish.

Mouth: Light to medium bodied with slightly more carbonation than the saison. Dry but still sticky in places.

Drink: Yeah, pretty nice.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2008 22:29:54 | More by NoLiberty

mactrail

California

3.84/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

Good thing I had the bottle pointing away from me, as the cork suddenly blew out and bounced off the ceiling without being touched. Somebody is just one bad luck day from losing an eye on these damned Belgian corks. Really fruity aroma is outstanding, and inescapable on every sip.

I would call this more of a Saison with the rich and mellow taste. If it's not Brett, it sure tastes like it to me. Deeply funky. Less of the drying effect of most Belgian yeast. Pineapple and yeast flavors, with some spiciness.

A totally distinctive brew that should be tried just for the education. From the 750 ml Belgian-style bottle purchased at Bottleworks in San Diego for 14 bucks.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 05:56:41 | More by mactrail

larsenju

Wisconsin

3.85/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Hazy golden body with a bubbly white head, dropped quickly with little lacing. The head retention could use some work.

S-Bready malts and a yeasty character dominate with a little lemon and some light pepper along with a dry and hidden mineral quality.

T-Lots of bread with some fruity esters and just a little spice. As the beer warmed I started to get some ripe pear and even just a hint of cherry. There is also a little floral character, especially on the finish.

M-Big spritzy carbonation, light body and finishing quite dry.

D-True to its purpose this is a very refreshing, albeit strong. I liked its simplicity, and some of the fruits really set this beer apart from others. Although the ABV is beyond what would be traditional, it is well masked and I didn't think it detracted from the overall experience. Worth trying, but I don't know if I will buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2011 02:52:42 | More by larsenju

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

pours a hazy deep golden yellow with a thin tight small bubbled head. Nose is pretty nice, light barnyard yeast notes, lemony and airy with a faint spice to it. Taste is similar, a bit brighter with more barnyard, nice balance of yeast, more peppery mid to back palate, assertive carb, semi dry finish, light and refreshing, gets a touch sweet and syrupy towards the finish

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2012 13:27:51 | More by cpetrone84

Dlish

California

3.93/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

A- good straw haze color that comes out, good amount of thin yeast, three-four fingers of foam.

S- Pretty estery, and of banana and clove, hint of fruit, like apple or strawberrys.

T- Increasingly mouth taste and texture. Very dry taste, good amount of red grape taste to it. Hint of apple, bit of coriander seed, just hints of orange rinds and boiled vegetables. Not only is it dry it also have a bit of sourness to the ending.

M- very fine bubbles, increasingly smooth tasting. It fits well for the fruitiness and makes it a great spring time beer.

D- Very smooth a dry, I'm not sure the bottle date, its been sitting in my brew shop for a what looks like a few months. I'm a little disappointing by the smell, the taste is good, but I wanted a bit more herb, then vegetable. The mouth-feel is what sets this one a apart from other beers for me.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2011 05:47:44 | More by Dlish

oline73

Maryland

3.95/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

We had this during our time in France. Poured from the bottle into a champagne flute.

Appearance: pours a cloudy yellow with an amber hue. There is a finger of white head that fades to a ring around the glass.

Smell: light and sweet with herbal notes along with some banana and bubble gum. There is a slight tartness showing up.

Taste: Wheat malt shows up, but not very sweet. Fruity and floral. Banana, clove, and bubble gum. Herbal banana finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with lively carbonation and a dry finish.

Overall: carbonation lightens flavor. Easy to drink, no hint of abv.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2012 20:59:49 | More by oline73

spoony

Colorado

3.95/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

From a 750 ml bottle into a tulip.

A-The cork jumped out with very little effort, but no gushing, which was nice. Still, there was some serious carbonation that produced a solid three-finger off-white head. The brew was slightly cloudy with colors like straw and wheat.

S-This beer had a mild smell. I picked up some funk and a little citrus (lemon mostly). Also some grassy, earthy notes.

T-The taste is bigger than the smell. I again got funk and light citrus flavors with some grass and straw, but also honey and vanilla. There was a pleasant cereal grain and malt taste on the back end.

M-Nicely carbonated and lighter to medium bodied. Slightly sweeter finish, but not heavy or cloying.

O-A really solid, if unremarkable, beer. The smell and flavors do not hit you over the head, but I don't think that is what this beer was trying to do. High marks for a well-balanced mouthfeel, too.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 16:23:53 | More by spoony

petacutlasaurus

Maryland

3.98/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Al at Connecticut Ave W&L for stocking. Brought one of these along with a Siberian Night over to a friend's one night. I was with mostly non-beer drinkers but, after describing to them the usual qualities of a Bier de Garde, got them all to try some. Lo and behold, this beer made some converts.

A very approachable beer - the Cuvee des Jonquilles is light in color and gravity with a sweet, floral aroma and a grainy, wheaty texture. One of the breadier bier de gardes I've yet had. A nice bottle to uncork at a celebration or, with a label like that, maybe the start of spring.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2011 20:48:24 | More by petacutlasaurus

goatxpower

California

3.98/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- Serves up a hazy straw color with a thick, frothy white head

S- Lemon, hay, "Belgian" aromas

T- it has an almost lemon bar like taste. There is a tartness that is paired with a creamy sweetness. There are some pear notes and some ambiguous spice notes. It is somehow complex, yet subtle at the same time. Bier de garde isn't usually my style, but this one is goood.

M- nice level of carbonation, slightly creamy body

O- this is a good beer. It would be great on a hot day (today is NOT a hot day). The tartness took me a minute to get accustomed to, but I was really digging it towards the end of the bottle. This was a tasty find.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 02:47:53 | More by goatxpower

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

3.99/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

750ml bottle into a snifter

A: It's a gusher - not too bad, though. Unfortunately it does rouse the yeast, though. The beer pours a hazy golden color with flakes of yeast throughout. Active carbonation is evident with a three finger head that fairly quickly recedes to a thin film.

S: A sweet citrus aroma is quite strong in this beer. It's refreshing and quite nice. A bit musty with a nice amount of clove. An underlying floral nature is also present with a touch of earthiness.

T: Not nearly as bright as the aroma. Clove is much more apparent with some citrus and a touch of oxidation. Bready malts are quite strong. Alcohol is noticeable, but not overwhelming. Enjoyable.

M: Medium thickness with very strong carbonation.

O: A nice Biere de Garde. I wish the flavor was a bit brighter with as much complexity as the aroma.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2013 01:01:29 | More by coreyfmcdonald

Jredner

Florida

4/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle from Knightly Spirits Orlando.

The body is lemon yellow and very active with carbonation bubbles. The head is two fingers thick and ridiculously bubbly/frothy making it look like white sea foam. A second top off produced a much creamier and more well formed head so the first pour could have been agitation.

The aroma is floral, grainy, slightly sharp a little dusty which tickles the nose and some mild sweetness that seems sugary, but could be malt.

Soft vanilla and old lemon in the fore with sweet grains and malt. Tongue tickling and herbal bitter through the middle. The finish is malt, lemongrass and a hint of bannana-like German Hefe flavor. Pretty interesting beer. A touch sweet, but still very drinkable and tasty.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2006 17:17:11 | More by Jredner

glid02

Georgia

4/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle purchased from Five Points Bottle in Athens, GA.

The cork was intensely dented from the cage however the opening of the beer yielded only a good-sized pop and no beer was lost. Pours a hazy yellow-straw color with a one-finger white head. The head recedes into a thin layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells of moderately dry pale malts with good amounts of floral and earthy hop aromas. Also present are small amounts of medium fruit aromas - mostly pears.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Smooth pale malt flavors kick things off and are joined quickly by earthy and somewhat leafy hop aromas. Midway through the sip slight amounts of musty flavors make an appearance before being overtaken by solid amounts of medium fruits. The fruit flavors carry through to a crisp and moderately bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with smooth carbonation.

Drinkability is also good. I had no problems finishing my glass and could have another.

Overall this was one of the more complex biere de garde's that I remember having. A refreshing beer that's worth a shot if you see it around.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2010 00:08:41 | More by glid02

dstc

Florida

4/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy yellow color with an airy white head. Head falls rather quickly to a very minimal one. Thinnest of lace.

Aroma is of grains yet rather clean. Bit of skunkiness in the smell as well.

Nice farmhouse taste that is rather clean. Mild malt and even milder hops. Pleasantly tart. Very refreshing.

Thin to medium bodied in the mouth. Bit sharp with plenty of carbonation.

Easy to drink and quenches the thirst. Nice brew.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2011 15:26:13 | More by dstc

drabmuh

Maryland

4/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks Thorpe, beer is yellow / amber and clear. A nice white head, small bubbles, minimal lacing, low carbonation, looks fine.

Aroma is sweet, malty, pilsen, nice.

Beer is light in body sweet and a little floral, it is interesting. A simple but completely decent Biere de Garde. I really enjoyed it and I'd even have it again perhaps.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2012 16:59:20 | More by drabmuh

thierrynantes

France

4.01/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beer bottle (75 cl.) purchased from Bières & Chopes, and tasted in 2013.

Appearance : yellow golden color with a huge white foamy head (w lacing).
Smell : yeasty and fruity aromas.
Taste & mouthfeel : fruity, malty and spicy flavors with a yeasty finish.
Drinkability : a nice beer in the French style "bière de garde".

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 05:46:05 | More by thierrynantes

mwilbur

Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 750 mL bottle into tulip. Bottle opens with an assertive "pop"...hinting at the carbonation within.
A: Pours a greenish lemon yellow with loads of carbonation producing a monster 4+ inch bubbly white head.
S: Green apple, funk, soft citrus, grass, and some spicy yeast.
T: White pepper, musty earthiness, mild citrus note, soft melon, green apple, wheat and other grass notes. Complex and delicate.
M: A pleasant effervescence from the high carbonation. Light body. Delicately sweet with a hint of tartness. Mildly dry finish.
D: An interesting take on style...a blonde biere de garde. A pleasant and refreshing brew, but not outstanding.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2011 04:50:51 | More by mwilbur

dgallina

Georgia

4.08/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750ml green bottle without freshness date.

The beer literally explodes out of the bottle as soon as the cork is nudged. Settles into the tulip very pale and slightly cloudy yellow; a thin sheen of meringue-like head and good lace. Peppery and tartly lemony aroma, with coarse grain, yeast, and hop background. Airy thin body with crazily vivacious carbonation. Powdery sweet & tart lime and lemon flavors. A grainy and slightly musty yeast center dries to a well-hopped finish. A bit thin in flavor compared to others, but quite refreshing overall.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2006 02:37:34 | More by dgallina

horndecker

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 ml green bottle caged and corked.

Pale straw, green at the edges, beautiful volcanic head which flashes away after a bit, leaving just a little lace. It looks crisp and fresh like granny smith apples. Smells of tangerine, grassy hops, lemon and melon. The taste springs spicy, peppery from a mild hoppy start to a smooth balanced malt flavor. Long herbal finish, a bit dry, very tasty, very refreshing. A very nice, lighter (not lighter in alcohol) biere de garde.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2006 13:02:04 | More by horndecker

Digimaika2

Ontario (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a cloudy golden colour with thick head that immediately vanishes to a ring around the glass. Good retention down the glass.

S: Wonderful funky earthy (almost mushroom-like) and floral notes, fruits including pear and a bit of tangerine, yeast, honey, and a very slight nuttyness like chopped walnuts. Quite complex and quite pleasant.

T: Quite smoother and lighter than I was expecting with tastes similar to the above mentioned smell. An appealing bit of initial sourness to this that I couldn't detect on the nose. Lingering bitterness with a good crisp dry aftertaste.

M: Moderate amount of carbonation (might be a bit too much for some) with a thinner mouthfeel. Works well for this style.

D: Would love to drink acouple of these throughout the night. Quite easy to drink and satisfying for a farmhouse ale.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2011 23:26:49 | More by Digimaika2

BradLikesBrew

Missouri

4.1/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Cloudy light straw colored body and a white head.

The first aromas gave me visions of bad Heineken: totally skunked. Damn green bottles I thought, why do brewers still use these? But luckily the skunk subsided and I was able to really enjoy this beer. Noble hops to the rescue!

On the palate grassy hops, soft bready malt, lemon peel, earthy, musty yeast character and moderate hop bitterness produce a zesty, balanced and refreshing beer with a hint of tartness and just a hint of malty sweetness.

Crisp, medium, highly carbonated body.

A perfect example of what French Farmhouse ales have to offer. Not as malty as other Biere de Gardes, more like a Belgian Saison. Would pair well with a wide range of foods, we enjoyed ours with tamales.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2011 00:25:59 | More by BradLikesBrew