Leffe Radieuse

Brewed by InBev Belgium
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Leuven, Belgium

The beer has that deep ruby brown color that I love, the beige head is generous, the lace adequate. Nose is malt, fruity, maybe a bit of plums? The start sweet, the middle light as is the cabonation, hop spicy, dry, slightly acidic, interesting flavors to say the least.

Medium head, amber colored body. Typical Leffe yeast (I think Leffe uses the same yeast for all their beers...) aroma with malt and hay tones. Quite spicy flavor with malt, caramel and fruit. Bitter finish. I do have some difficulties with Leffe....

Bottle, LCBO Giftpack 2009. Nice sweet, alcohol aroma, some dark fruit and some spice. Pours a nice dark brown with copper notes and a creamy just off-white head. Taste - creamy but light mouthfeel, strong alcohol, sweet metallic like tang. Hmm - quite warming but body is a bit to thin and the beer is a little too sweet and strong - it does not seem to come together all that well. Actually on a few more sips it is the finish - up until there it is a pleasant but simple Belgian Strong - in the finish though the sweetness takes over too much. I think it is actually the yeast + sweetness I do not like, as there is a bit of a house Leffe taste here. Glad to have a chance to try it

[1200-20080305] Tap. Mild grains aroma, not much else. Clear, dark brown amber body with a medium-lasting foamy off-white head. Mildly toasted grains flavour has sweet boozy caramel hints. Medium body has a bit of an astringent tang. Not particularly assertive but drinkable and ’radiant’ enough to mark my latest milestone as well as end a superb tour of the country! I look forward to visiting la Belgique again some day...
(@ Leffe Plaza; Brussels Airport, BE)

330ml bottle. Amber coloured with a moderate, off-white head. Sweet aroma with some grain and spice. Flavour also had plenty of sweet malt and spice, with some orange peel and a warming alcohol finish. Good.

Nice aroma. Light yeast component. Bit sweet with some malts, caramel. Dark fruits, hops. Copper brown clear with very thin off-white head. Med-heavy watery body with vibrant carb. Light sweet malts. Caramel & some raisin. Nice light floral hops give bitter dry finish. Nutty bitter dry after. Some musty grass components.

Bottle: Maple syrup nose - very nice. Dark red-amber color and a low lacy head (served in a great glass). Tastes of black cherries, a little nutty in the middle turning slighlty toasted before depositing a sharp spicy finish on the roof of the mouth. Very nice balance, medium body and a decent profile length. Enjoyed this in Paris with YB.

Bottle (from Sainsburys). Fruity with dark sugar notes and belgian yeast. Fairly sweet without much balance. Interesting to start with but ultimately disappointing.