3 Fonteinen Beersel Blond

3 Fonteinen
Brewed at De Proefbrouwerij
Style: Belgian Ale
Beersel, Belgium

Bottle @ Brugs Beertje, Brugge. Tiny beige head over an unclear, well carbonatied copper colored body. A soft and inviting sweetness in the aroma; both malts and fruit, added with hints of marzipan, wood and yeast. Taste is very well rounded. A good malt base combined with gentle, mild hops and semi-dry fruits. Supersmooth mouthfeel. Nice!

Bottle, 7%. Bready aroma with a little phenolic clove. Hazy golden colour. Big, stable, creamy white head. The flavour is mostly of clove, with some CO2. Quite peppery aftertaste. Distinct, uncompromising bitterness. On the brink of getting plastic/band aid phenols. A bit like a stronger Hefeweizen.

330mL bottle, 2006, at O’Briens on 3/23/07
Clumps of white head sit about above the liquid, while the main part of the head fades steadily to cover, leaving light lacing behind. Copper-peach body is not exactly blonde, nor is it completely clear, despite trying to leave the yeast behind.
Fresh Belgian yeast esters are very seemlessly integrated in to doughy pils malt, giving a creamy vanilla aroma laden with very light nectarines and peaches. Unfortunately, some apple-like flavors (acetyldehyde) seem to be lurking in the shadows and there are very little, if any, notes of hoppiness. Perhaps some nuttiness and very light dry grassiness, but only a touch of aromatics at best. Creamy, whitebread-like doughiness and bland yeast effects all dampen the mood, and there’s an underlying vegetal nature, albeit very subtle. Reminds me a lot of Panil Ambre, though this one has more light malt notes of honey and some straw crispness (though it’s very passing). Medium to medium-low strength of aroma, no alcohol noted.
Dough notes and sweet adjunct sugars give a very weak flavor with somewhat loose carbonation creating a very wet feel on the palate. Ample enough maltiness, probably too much of it actually, contains honey and cream flavors that initially satisfy, but never really go anywhere and combine with a bland yeast note to end somewhat nutty and vacant. What could be either soggy, old hop notes or slightly vegetal DMS notes, lay underneath. Lots of vanillin, but it almost seems like a lagering flaw, as opposed to a pure malt flavor. Not as flawed as Panil ambre and with stronger malt character, but the yeast is pretty unenjoyable and the beer is completely devoid of real character (and crispness).

(Bottle, BB 10/06/06) Pours a cloudy golden body with a medium white head. Aroma of orange peel, mustiness, and toffee. Flavor of spicy yeast, banana, caramel, and herbs.

Pours a slightly hazy golden with a white head. Aroma of apricot, yeast, syrup and cashew nuts. Medium body and smooth mouthful, flavours of stonefruits, nuts, yeast and sweet nectar. Sweet nectary finish, pretty interesting, but seemed a little thin and sweet in places.

Cloudy golden body, large white head with good lacing. Barnyard and cheese aroma. Not very tasty but what it tastes is unusual and somewhat pleasant. Malty, cheesy, watermelon, vanilla, sweet, grassy hops. A mix bag that doesn’t all stick. Why it bears the respectable 3 Fonteinen name is a mystery to me. Despite owning Jaguar I don’t see Ford selling a Jaguar Focus.

bottle (BB 06/06). Surprising, surprising! Golden duvel color with a dence head. Aroma is very different from other blonde´s, very saisonal but with a more down to earth balance-ness! Massively yeasty with some coriander and spices, maybe some wheat. Nice blonde

Draught. Pours foggy orange-gold with a frothy white head leaving intricate lace sheets. The aroma is excellent - lots of grassy hops and then notes of cookie dough. Underwhelming hop profile though there is a bit of sharp bitterness that doesn’t mix well. The malts are cookiesh but seem too sweet for the most part. Yeasty and alcoholic. Sampled at the restaurant in Beersel on May 11, 2006.