Castelain Blond Biere

Brewed by Brasserie Castelain
Style: Bière de Garde
Benifontaine, France

Pours a clear golden with big carbonation which creates a huge white head. Aroma is spicy, slightly sweet, and grassy hoppy. Flavor is quite sweet, a bit spicy, and finishes with a mild grassy bitterness, along with a bit of astringency. Body is light, fairly carbonated. Not what I expected but a very enjoyable light beer, cheers Castelain!

Poured a hazy gold with almost no head at all. Aroma was grassy with some fruit. Flavor was spicy with a bit of bubblegum to it. Body was a little thin and watery. It’s OK, but certainly not a standard of the style.

33cL bottle courtesy of yinzer at Pittsburgh gathering on 1/27/2008. Crystal clear golden color, stark white foam, decent retention. Nice earthy aroma, some very nice yeast spiciness. Flavor falls a little flat, somewhat malty with some of the yeastiness coming through but for the most part comes across as a bit watery. Was really looking forward to this, I think my expectations far exceeded reality.

750ml bottle. Hazy golden with a thick white head. Flowery, yeasty nose. A nice tart brett flavor. Went really well with the pork I ate it with.

Had the pleasure of sampling this at the 1/27/2008 Pittsburgh ratebeer.com gathering and festival upstairs, Sharp Edge Creekhouse. It will be a long time, if ever I am invited again and I see a spread of bottles like I did there - ever again. I am not good enough for the beers that were that we sampled! For example, how about this beer from yinzer! Blonde beer de Garde. Sweeter fruity aroma, but not over the top like so many stronger beers. Slight haze to an otherwise pale yellow color and appearance. Mild carbonation. Not bad an not overly bitter. Glad to have had the chance to sample this brew, thanks Mark!

Sampled at RBPG; bottle courtesy of yinzer. Floral yeasty nose, very aromatic with mild flowery orange blossom and orange rinds. Has a mild tang to the aroma. Very nice. Hazy-clear yellowish, almost white, with thin lacing white head. Medium bodied with light carbonation. Great taste, and it’s been a while since I’ve had a Bière de Garde. Flowery with yeast and light chalky after. Some apples and wheat. Tasty stuff.

Bottle sampled at the Ratebeer meet-up 01.27.08 at the Sharp Edge Creekhouse. Beer courtesy of Yinzer.

Clear gold, white head. Aroma is pear, apricot, grass. Flavor is malty, grassy, slight dried fruit, weak body.

Wow I forgot how much I love this style. Aroma was so so. Strong bread and grassy aromas. Pour was a nice dark gold with a one finger white head. Taste was delicious. Strong yeast and bread flavors with a tart vinuous aftertaste in the back of the throat. There is a different berriness in and out. Very nice.