Saint Landelin La Divine - Les Brasseurs de Gayant

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Props to my in-laws for this treat...

A - Pours a clear golden colour, finger of head, solid retention and nice chunky, sheeting lacing.

S - Nose offers up some fruity sweetness, musty pears, caramel, buttered pecans and a touch of sour apple on the finish.

T - Much like the nose, fruity sweetness, with the pears and sour apple coming through alongside the caramel and a touch of musty peat on the finish.

M - Medium bodied, smooth and surprisingly wet.

O - At 8.5%, this is incredibly smooth, easy drinking and dangerously drinkable. Easily one of the smoothest 8%-ers I've ever had. I will be grabbing another bottle of this.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 20:34:04 | More by andrenaline

peensteen

Ontario (Canada)

3.66/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Pale amber colour, 2 fingers of fluffy white head, good lace here as well. Smell is yeasty with a bit of spice, apple and candied fruits, crisp grainy malts with just a bit of lemony hop, finished with more spice and some earthy points. Taste goes south a bit here, some of that candied fruit from the nose, light bitterness but moderatley sweet all the way through, hard candy flavours with a odd smoke like flavour toward the finish here. Medium carbonation and medium body, pretty nice feel. Not a bad beer, but I am begining to suspect that I'm not a huge fan of this style though, still fairly drinkable and would drink it again if someone handed me a glass but otherwise I'm not going looking for it.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 20:43:59 | More by peensteen

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.7/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

750ml Bottle from the Ottawa LCBO for $8.00

Appearance - Clear amber colour with an average size fizzy off-white coloured head. There is an average amount of carbonation showing and there is some fair lacing. The head lasted for 3-4 minutes.

Smell - Breads/grains, bananas, clove/yeast, corn

Taste & Mouth - There is a high amount of carbonation and I can taste breads/grains mixed with bananas and corn. There is also a bit of a yeasty spiciness and a bit of a rustiness. It ends with a slightly bitter aftertaste.

Overall - Good not great. Worth trying once but not something that really stands out enough to buy again. It became a little boring to get through the 750ml size bottle.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 00:03:34 | More by spinrsx

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

3.81/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

BB June 15, 2014.

Beer is a clear amber colour. Moderate to large white head. Fades steadily, leaves some lace.

Nose contains caramel and biscuity malt scents, light fruits, a bit of an almond scent, yeast and brown sugar.

Taste is fairly similar to the nose. Quite malty, biscuit and caramel. Yeast is prominent as well, with some spicing and fruit. I still get some almond. I like it better in the nose. Fairly sweet.

Medium bodied, moderate to high carbonation, bready.

Overall, decent, but not great. Not something I would return to.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 01:05:36 | More by jrenihan

impending

California

3.84/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

B+

750ml into a tulip. Pours nearly transparent copper amber, orange tinged minor head, minor lacing.

Aroma is of sweet light skinned fruits begun to soften. Mild spice and camphor.

Honey as if about to turn, phenolic but pleasant enough. Muted pear and apple. Brief dry twang leads to a sweet aftertaste. A tad thicker than medium smooth mouthfeel. Needs warmth before the full complexity comes out.
cheers
jd

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 05:27:05 | More by impending

kaseydad

California

3.63/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a crystal clear gold color and a nice looking white foamy head. Much retention is evident.

Slightly fruity aroma with light caramel and a little grassy. As it warms, the caramel is more pronounced.

The taste is fruity with a big malt swallow. Kindy earthy tastes as well. Some wood and a slight nutty taste too. Dry finish but a lingering aftertaste.

Bubbly a plenty. Carbonated well. Swing top cap did its job.

Overall I enjoyed the experience. Would I race out to grab another? No. Would I recommend trying this for the Biere de Garde novice? Sure. I will say I would love to try this from the source.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2012 01:07:41 | More by kaseydad

BellsFan

Michigan

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

Appearance. Poured from a 750 mL swing top bottle into a 400 mL pilsner to reveal a golden beverage with about two fingers of head.

Nose. Its aroma was faint but unfortunately reminded me of an American Lager.

Taste. Honey and a hint of hops. Mostly sweet.

Mouthfeel. Crisp and thicker than a typical pilser, although I don't know if this is a pilsner.

Overall a good summer beer but know the 8%ABV sneeks up on you.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2012 21:23:23 | More by BellsFan

KrisPaulk77

Mississippi

2.8/5  rDev -24.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

The beer pours deep golden, next to no head. Light bits of lace cling to the glass. The body seems a bit thick, almost syrupy.
The aroma is sugary and sweet, rich honey, light floral aromas, and malt.
The flavor is sweet, sugary and malty, rich with the same honey noates as the aroma. Mild bitterness in the background. Quite rich flavors.
The feel is thick and syrupy, and honestly, not easy to drink.
Not a terrible brew. Overall, decent. I'd have it again, but not often.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 02:31:42 | More by KrisPaulk77

SummitVA

Maryland

3.58/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Light hiss as the bottle open. Deep golden pour with low carbonation.

S - Sweet candy, brown sugar, and malt.

T - Big brown sugar initially with a bit of malt character. Crisp finish suggest some bitterness, but no other hop character present. Sweet candied sugar and heat in finish.

M - Light medium. Despite low carbonation, this still tastes remarkably light.

O - A fine, clean Biere de Garde. A little overpriced, but I'd definitely seek out another bottle and open it at a more appropriate time of the year.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2011 00:29:50 | More by SummitVA

BEERchitect

Kentucky

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

A very eloquent, softly sweet, and floral Belgian ale that, without the cork, avoids the more must wood notes of most Biere de Garde.

Pouring a mostly clear, rich golden color, the beer builds a creamy and delicate white head of solid staying power and subtle lace.

Soft, sweet malts are the perfect complement to flowery notes for the scent of honeysuckle and light perfume. A light musty malt character pulls out of the more elegant mold and accents the spices from yeast. A very nice beer that's usually what I want out of Leffe Blonde.

Succulent but with the finess flavor of powdered sugar begins to shape the malt character. Further rounded by a light honey/nectar taste, soft caramel, and sugar cookies, the malt character is uniquely moderate yet complex. White pepper, herbal hops, and a mix of pear apples give variety, depth, and intrigue to the well melded ale.

Medium throughout, the beer begins with a supple sweetness that seemingly disolves on the tongue in a very cotton candy, evaporative way. The beer makes a quite fade into a late dryness of light peppery spice and moderate alcohols.

A delicious Belgian pale ale/golden ale that's kinda what I like to think is similar to the monk's paterbiers. But I'm used to more aged character or even a more cork-like woodiness in beers listed in the Biere de Garde style.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2011 04:26:50 | More by BEERchitect

evilkalla

Alabama

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

Serving: Bottle into a chalice.

A: Poured a pale yellow/light copper, slightly cloudy, with a thin wisp of head which immediately dissipated. A fair level of carbonation is visible.

S: Has a yeasty smell to it, sort of flowery, but that's about all I can detect.

T: Has a nutty essence to it, with sort of a wild fruit character. It reminds me of wild scuppernongs that grow here in the south. Has a somewhat bitter and crisp finish to it. Not bad.

M: Not overly thick or thin. I think it's just about right.

O: I haven't had a lot of beers in this style; this one isn't bad, although I don't think the style is to my liking. Still, an ok tasting beer, I don't regret the purchase.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2011 23:36:56 | More by evilkalla

speter

New Jersey

4.18/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Clear slightly ruddy golden color with a two-finger fluffy white head. Good retention and lacing. Marred slightly by some small black floaters.

S: Like a buttered dinner roll. Toasty caramel and honey overtones.

T: A very malty front that transitions to apple and pear esters just past mid-palate. The hops kick in late, but persist nicely through the finish and aftertaste. Overall, a nicely complex taste.

M: Rich and creamy, somewhat in the bock range. The alcohol is well-integrated.

O: A beautiful bière de garde, well worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2011 02:37:29 | More by speter

kojevergas

California

2.7/5  rDev -27.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

.33cl bottle acquired in Strasbourg, France, and poured into an An Brainblasta goblet in me companion's gaff in Belfort, France. Reviewed live.

A: Two finger head, quite thin, without cream, but of good retention. Clear transparent colour.

Sm: Light orange esters over top a pleasant barley foundation. No cream.

T: The esters are only on the fringe, replaced by caramelized malt, some spices, and weak barley. Far more simple than expected, to a disappointing degree. Weakly, underwhelmingly built for the style. Sort of balanced, but with a boring climax. I expected more.

Mf: Smooth and wet. Doesn't complement the flavours of the body.

Dr: Disguises its ABV remarkably well, but fails to offer the wealth of flavour expected for the style and presentation. Fairly drinkable, but disappointing overall. Not really worth a go unless you're into generic would-be abbey beers.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2011 15:48:03 | More by kojevergas

Mebuzzard

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A good looking beer right here. Bright copper, clean and clear. Off white head, thick, dense. Settles in the middle and around as a collar. Great sticky lacing.

Malt and spice aroma. Light caramel or toasted bread up front, but spice comes in quick and hard. Alcohol is noticeable.

Malt takes a back seat in the flavors. Although it is present, and provides a backbone, it is very slight. The spice, florals and some white pepper (?) combine with the alcohol to afford quite a sharp punch. Overall I would like to see more malt...or malt strength.
Carbonation seems to belie the big head. It feels a bit thin and I think more bubbles would give it a very nice 'pop' to it.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2011 05:40:28 | More by Mebuzzard

kwjd

Ontario (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked this up at a Wegman's in Buffalo because I thought it looked interesting. Pours a bubbly orange colour with thick white head. Great head retention with lots of lacing on the glass. Smells of grassy hops with some sort of fruitiness. Lots of yeast in the aroma too. Fairly sweet flavour. I'm really enjoying this beer. I would definitely have this again.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2011 04:06:29 | More by kwjd

chiccabeer

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a glass and there was a decent amount of head. Smell is very good with a light amount of fruit. This beer is very smooth with a great feel. The beer has a sweetness to it, and a nice flavor. Just a well made ale. It would be good to have after dinner. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2011 02:43:44 | More by chiccabeer

jonb5

United Kingdom (England)

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

250ml bottle, poured into leffe chalice. Half finger head, clear, amber colour. Sweat yeasty smell. This isn't a complex beer, it had a nice sweet taste, there were hints of pear and apple. It was smooth, as the alcohol was well hidden its possible to drink a few of these but it could get dangerous at this strength.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2011 20:06:35 | More by jonb5

Naugros

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

25.4 oz (750ml) bottle with swing top and stopper - dated 07.28.11 which I'm assuming is the "enjoy by" date. There's another number beneath the date (which the reviewer before alludes to) that reads L.02.1.08 If it's a date I can't imagine it refers to the brewing of the beer. To brew in French is brasser, so I'm trying to think of another French verb that begins with an L that might give me a hint. No luck.

Golden amber and crystal clear with visible carbonation. Beautiful white, frothy head that attains 2" think and quickly dissipates leaving behind spotty lacing.

Ah brettanomyces, it's been too long. The funk associated with that yeast strain is not all there is to smell here. Light citrus and herbal tones also come through on a biscuit base.

The biscuit and light citrus show up on the tongue and impart a sweetness that was also perceived in the smell. Alcohol is supposed to be evident in biere de garde, but I'm not fond of the way this one makes it known. It's vinous and astringent on the palate, like sacramental wine.

The beer is medium-bodied, bordering on light with subtle carbonation. The astringency hits too far forward on the palate for my liking and it leaves a sticky coating on the lips.

This one starts off so nicely in its presentation and it starts to lose me at the first sip. I still found myself finishing the whole bottle with the help of some blue cheese and crackers, which it paired with exceptionally.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2011 02:25:48 | More by Naugros

crossovert

Wisconsin

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

750ml swing top bottle. The label has two dates on it: 07/28/11 and I can'read the other one.

It pours a clear honey color with a large foamy white head. The head dissipates rather quickly leaving some nice lacing.

The smell is rather clean. There is a cloviness to it and just some simple bready malt. Over that is a distinct noble hop scent. It is subtle, but nice.

The flavor is sweeter. Quite sweet indeed actually. It has a semi nuttiness with a nice bit of caramel. This is accented by a distinct fruitiness, some spice, and a touch of hops, though not as much hops as indicated in the smell.

It is pretty good, they could have dialed down the sweetness but other than that a solid, subtle brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2011 02:12:13 | More by crossovert

BretSikkink

Mexico

3.63/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Orange-brown color with lots of golden highlights. Tiny bubbles and some good haze liven up this look. White head looks pretty nice, keeps okay, and really leaves good lace.

Faint aromas, somewhat malty and spicy, but the overripe light fruits are the star. The flavor is fairly spicy in a phenolic way, with pale malt and toasted bread adding some punch. Golden apple and pear, slightly bruised, provide much of the taste.

Easier to take this one down with a better mouthfeel. A little slick, and it seems to showcase every tenth of the 8.5% abv.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2010 04:16:10 | More by BretSikkink

armock

New York

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

A - Poured a golden color wih a white head that leaves some lacing behind

S - is of sweet malt and Belgian yeast

T - Like the nose sweet malt with some Belgian yeast notes

M - This beer has a medium body with medium carbonation to it

D - While this isn't the best beer for the style its still a damn good beer that I could drink again worth picking up to try sometime

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2010 04:36:10 | More by armock

boss302

Florida

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

750ml bottle, flip top, my bottle stated 8%, not 8.5%abv

A Orange, unclear. I had a decent head, but not thick.

S Mostly a yeasty estery aroma. No hops that I noticed.

T There is some bitterness, but it is more of a bitter malt taste. There is some sweet caramel malt to balance, but not much hop taste. There is some medicinal astringency. Finish is yeasty.

M Medium body, good malt thickness. Carbonation is light, but OK

D A pretty good beer, alcohol isnt really noticeable in the flavor. The brewers did a good job of disquising it.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2010 01:12:31 | More by boss302

jera1350

Minnesota

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

Golden color with a white head of suds that leave a good amount of lacing around the tulip.

Lightly fruity with a wheat scent and honey sweetness.

Decent complexity. Wheaty with an apple and pear fruit sweetness. Good hop presence on the back end.

Medium body with a silky smooth feel.

A nice beer that drinks well. Easy enough for anyone to drink, yet has complexity to satisfy the beer geeks.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2010 22:25:03 | More by jera1350

ThaCreep

Belgium

3.7/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bronze. Alcohol if this one might think in a beer of this ABV. In the mouth, the hops are good but a little too quiet. Rather we perceive the sun cereals, which are inevitably think of cakes or biscuits wheat just baked. So rather fine taste slightly woody aroma with a bitter aftertaste rather light.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2010 10:00:19 | More by ThaCreep

Absumaster

Netherlands

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

A clear, orange, golden beer with a thin head. Very little visible carbonation.

Smell is eastry fruity and has some exotic fruit in it. I smell apricot, pear, mango, maybe some banana. The malt is a little dextrinous.

Taste has a base of light caramel/ dextrine malt, which gives the beer a nice malty backbone. The yeast adds a fruity character with notes of apricot and apple. Bitterness is low. The mouthfeel is a little (too) sticky. This beer appears to be quite similar to Duvel, but without the dryness and bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2010 15:32:19 | More by Absumaster