Black Diamond Free Style Belgian Blonde Ale - Black Diamond Brewing Co.

UCLABrewN84

California

3.24/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Bottled 6/2012.

Pours a murky honey orange with a foamy tan head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Small patches of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, grain, and a mild Belgian yeast aroma. Taste is much the same with light fruit and spice flavors on the finish. There is a very mild amount of spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a slightly above average beer that is drinkable but not a very good take on the style in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 05:47:30 | More by UCLABrewN84

h4ger

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev +7.1%

03-24-2013 01:39:45 | More by h4ger

raythealeman

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev 0%

03-08-2013 01:04:53 | More by raythealeman

sixerofelixir

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev 0%

02-27-2013 19:10:35 | More by sixerofelixir

soccerman7

Vermont

3.75/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured into a tulip glass

A - Very fast disappearing head. A thin small ring lingers. Nice color though with a steady carbonation.

S - Nice nose. A bit malty for the style. A range of esters balance it. Nearly no hop notes.

T - Very mild on the esters. Rather malty but balanced by the hops.

M - Very smooth and really approachable. Pleasant afternoon brew.

O - While not a top candidate for the style it is a very approachable and very pleasant easy afternoon brew. I would buy again but not going to seek it out.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 21:44:40 | More by soccerman7

Hopmeplease

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +21.4%

02-22-2013 02:50:29 | More by Hopmeplease

AngusOg

Maryland

3/5  rDev -14.3%

01-27-2013 01:58:09 | More by AngusOg

tastymug

Ohio

2.5/5  rDev -28.6%

01-18-2013 19:42:11 | More by tastymug

KTCamm

New Jersey

3.7/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a light copper color with just a smidge of white foam. Belgian yeast nose. taste is a fruity flavorful malt, with a dry finish. Subtle rye flavor deep down. Mild grtiness tat supports the mouthfeel. Nice peppy ale.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 13:12:49 | More by KTCamm

alejandro

Maryland

3/5  rDev -14.3%

11-04-2012 03:26:03 | More by alejandro

ChrisL24481

New Hampshire

3/5  rDev -14.3%

10-21-2012 20:53:24 | More by ChrisL24481

Brad007

Vermont

3.58/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a blonde color with a one-finger head into my glass. I didn't realize it was a BPA as I thought they were going for a blonde.

Spicy notes from the yeast combine with the force of a light, buttery malt background to form the basis of this ale.

The taste reflects it as well. Middle of the road, which I do appreciate after drinking many over hopped examples of this style.

It's a double-edged sword too as the result is a watered-down example that tastes more like an APA due to the malt. Might be carbonation?

Not a bad choice but best to go authentic if you want to truly "get" the style.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 23:17:25 | More by Brad007

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.88/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From the 12 fl. oz. bottle with a notch on label at July 2012. Sampled on September 22, 2012.

It pours clean with a golden-copper tone and a small, short lived off-white head.

On the nose there are characteristics of grainy malts, yeast, a slightest of spice, and the slightest of hops.

The light body is slightly astringent.

The taste is better than the aroma and does bring out some of the traditional characteristics of a Belgian Blonde with barley malts, grains, yeast, some spice, and a short-lingering clean hop finish. I found it to be drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 18:57:24 | More by puboflyons

GuyIncognito

Maine

3.75/5  rDev +7.1%

09-22-2012 15:15:37 | More by GuyIncognito

phantos

Arizona

3.5/5  rDev 0%

08-21-2012 17:49:00 | More by phantos

outsider

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev 0%

07-05-2012 21:37:50 | More by outsider

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.48/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle, label marked with April 2012 but I have no idea if that's a best by or brewed on date. Oh well, I'll drink it anyway. Served in a tulip, the beer pours a slightly hazy dark gold color with a half inch off-white head that went away quickly. Not much lacing at all. Aroma is sweet, the brew smells like sweet malt, apple juice, and some sugar. The brew mostly tastes fruity, like sweet malt, apples, pears, bananas and some slight spicy hops. Mouthfeel/body is light/medium, it's a little bit smooth and easy enough to drink. I think it's a solid enough brew overall. This is the first Black Diamond brew I've tried, I think I'll try and pick up more of their beers in the future. Single bottle bought from Blacklick Wine and Spirits for $1.79.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 23:53:07 | More by bluejacket74

Brenden

Ohio

3.35/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Deeper and darker than most blondes of any origin, this beer is about as close to amber as it gets. The small white head that forms falls away fast, leaving only a filmy layer behind but some spotting and strained patching does manage to find the glass as it drops.
The smell is pretty standard; a good but not cloying sweetness of white fruits flesh and something a little sugary, light Belgian yeast notes of banana, bubble gum and light, dusty sort of earthiness, and a good malts foundation. A spicy bite is noticeable as well.
The flavor offers the sweetness right up front, then it backs away and what comes through is a little of the earthiness and even some hops bitterness, but as it transitions into the finish it edges into a sourness. It's an odd taste that's left in the mouth, as the sour tanginess takes over more with each sip. It just seems jumbled. The spiciness bites more as it warms, but feels more like blind heat than flavor.
The feel is pretty good. This beer seems to be going for all crispness, as it has plenty of bite that doesn't get particularly smooth. The body edges on medium.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2012 20:15:51 | More by Brenden

hosehead83

Ohio

3.73/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz. bottle inot a standard pint glass.
Deep golden color, with a short, airy head of white foam.
Aroma-Spicy Belgian yeast note
Taste-Pilsner malt,Belgian yeast, spicy rye. Subtle hops understated. A bit fruity in the finish. Overall, an interesting flavor and take on the style, but somehow misses the mark.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2012 15:33:28 | More by hosehead83

jaidenjb

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev 0%

05-21-2012 00:00:16 | More by jaidenjb

schoolboy

Ohio

3.88/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Wow, this looks great. But it smells and tastes a bit metalic. It has a tartness that is a bit too much as well.

I think what they did was sanitize a dirty style. Unlike a more authentic version, this has not gone bad, so it has an odd character and is missing the appropriate funk. I will avoid this.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 00:54:43 | More by schoolboy

HarmonMW

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +7.1%

05-05-2012 01:25:08 | More by HarmonMW

OscarO67

California

3.5/5  rDev 0%

12-18-2011 05:10:47 | More by OscarO67

barleyroad

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance is medium Gold, semi-cloudy. Smell has a nice blend of rye and good old euro pilsner malt. Mouthfeel is smooth, silky which adds to the flavor. Taste is one of the best belgian style we have had. All flavors melt well. Overall this is a very drinkable Blonde. This Blonde is worthy of a second date. Will go well with fried chicken or even a good fried fish.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2011 00:33:43 | More by barleyroad

ROGUE16

Delaware

4/5  rDev +14.3%

12-14-2011 23:33:29 | More by ROGUE16