Radermacher Rader Blonde

Brewed by Brasserie de l’Abbaye du Val-Dieu
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Aubel, Belgium

Wow, I was merely expecting a Belgian blonde style of ale with subtle spiciness but this is pretty full blown gin flavoured, right down to the juniper burps. Nice blonde color, creamy head, smells like gin but sorta middle of the road, Beefeater not Bombay Saphire let’s say, with a slightly overwhelming lemony-floral element. Interesting but probably won’t buy this very often...

I once tried to make a juniper berries infusion; according to the instructions, it was supposed to make a refereshing summer brew. Well,let’s just say it went straight down the drain... This brew, however, is a different story. Hazy straw yellow body, thin soapy lasting white head. Strong pine resin aroma (it’s them juniper berries) as soon as the bottle is opened. Similar in style to a very spicy Belgian Ale/Witbier, hoppy and yeasty. Fruity sweetness. Slightly citric finish. Malt profile and body are rather thin, but it doesn’t detract much from the overall experience as the beer is meant to be easily drinkable and refershing. Very original and interesting brew that may not fit everybody’s taste.

From tap. Delirium cafe, Brussel. Hazy yellow beer with a small white head. Very spicy aroma with some malt notes. Flavour is again very spicy(didn’t get much juniperberries, but a lot of ginger and some coriander), sourrish and a bit bitter near the finish. Rather thin bodied with too much ginger...

Bottled:
Very intensive juniper note. Intensive juniper flavor, quite nice, strange and special. Light sourly and yeasty. A bit more body in the end would be nice.

Bottle (Utobeer): Obvious aroma of juniper berries on opening. Quite highly carbonated, though not OTT, just right. Golden in colour with white head. Nose is very spicy, loads of white pepper and almost some chinese 5-spice. Juniper berries still dominate though. Flavour has a weird, sand-like dirt flavour, which sounds bad but is actually pleasant. Berries show through along with gentle spice and mild fruits. Suprisingly enjoyable!

Draught. Nice pine and fruit aroma, a bit soapy. Slightly cloudy golden colour. Small, stable white head. Thin mouthfeel. Pilsnerlike, but with more flavour and rather nice.

Aroma intenso di ginepro. Corpo molto leggero. Gusto maltato, dolce, molto sbilanciato, che ricorda vagamente uno sciroppo per la tosse (evito di fare pubblicità al medicinale). Aromatizzata con Ginepro e coriandolo.

Bottled. Sampled at Delirium Café, Göteborg. Amber colour. Light diacetyl nose. along with juniper tree. Overall a frsh aroma naturally. Flavour is big dusty, with juniper. Body is light. Easy drinking here but very one dimensional.