Abbaye des Rocs Blanche des Honnelles (Blanche Double)

Brewed by Brasserie de l’Abbaye des Rocs
Style: Belgian White (Witbier)
Montignies-sur-Roc, Belgium

Bottled. Hazy nut brown, big white creamy head. Aroma of citric fruit and wheat. Flavour of yeast, fruit and wheat. Very wellbalanced, not too sweet. Carbonation pleasant, and a bit biting.

Hazy orange/yellow with irregular head. More citrus and freshness in the flavor than the aroma, which had clove, orange peel, lemon. Frothy palate. Something a little dull to it but it has a good range of flavors.

Golden ale with a thick white head. Pleasant aroma of wheat and apples, with butterscotch notes. Lightly sweet with strong coriander notes and sharp metallic hops with an iron-like finish. Rather rich and strong for a Blanche! Bought at Delhaize, Brussels. Tasted May 2005.

That this is not the typical witbier was apparent on the first pour- the light orange body is hardly "white," and the tart aroma, with its apple cider, pears, spice, and plastics is also atypical. Yeasty body with the same plastics (not pleasant, but probably natural) in addition to sweet apple juice, pear, and musty hay. This bottle is certainly old (it features an older label and is corked), but it is lively and effervescent. With each sip, the impression of an alcoholic cider becomes stronger and stronger, and the plastics become subdued. The best thing about this beer is its initial perfumey, fruity aroma, which makes this brewery’s yeast among the most interesting on the planet. I’m not as enthusiastic about the flavor, but it’s decent if not great. Worth a look.

Much creamy and abounded head, optimal persistence. Orange clearly color, much hazy and fizz, rich of sediments. Much alcoholic and spiced scent, enough complex and fragrant. Prickly taste with an elevated alcoholic perception; overbearing bitter with flowery and honey notes mostly on the end.

Undated 750mL bottle consumed on 11/25/2005. It has a cork in it, so it must be at least 2002 or older, not sure. Uncorking produces an immense pop, but no rush at all. Large light yellow tinged white head is moderately well-retained and laces lightly. Vigorous carbonation, and plenty of sediment. Color is a deep, baked hay and golden-copper yellow. Aroma of tart, distinctive, musty, lightly cidery AdR’s yeast. Lemons, honey, spices (coriander, white pepper), but really overpowering yeastiness. Bit of cork notes and a touch of woodiness from the yeast. Flavor is very tart, lightly to moderately acidic and fully yeasty. Touches of coriander-like spiciness, bits of strong clover and honey with a white pepper and lemon finish that is quite acidic. Body is medium with mostly pils-like honeyish malt, maybe a touch of sweet baked bread dough. Texture has tight carbonation, poigant and very appropriate for the tangy-tart yeast and spice flavors. Light grainy dryness on end shows the wheat/oats, but it is only in texture, there is very little creamy wheat or oaty flavor. Some of the dyrness in flavor could be (must be?) from the wheat, I suppose. No alcohol noted, lightly cidery and sharp. You really have to appreciate the AdR’s yeast to enjoy this one.

Opaque and light orange with a frothy, white head. Clean, yeasty, fresh, inviting nose (made me think of passion fruit). Creamy-soft and smooth on the tongue; nice and dry finish. Very pleasant malts -- chewy dough, sweet crackers and fresh bread. Light spices lingered comfortably in the background. Estery aromas gave it a nip. All components merged wonderfully into a nicely balanced beer. Not over-the-top in any way, but well made and very pleasant to drink.

Dusty and soapy head. Semi-clear gold/amber body. Wheaty grape perfume aroma. Very pleasant. More grapiness appears in the taste… a bit of a straightforward herbal taste. Some light licorice too. Sour sugar cookies. Not bad…