Radermacher Rader Blonde

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

Well now. Truly unique. And as previously mentioned not for everybody. The brewer has created an intriguing concoction that has the sense of mastery about it. I have a hard time imagining anyone else taking these ingredients and crafting something as palatable as this. The commercial description say "subtle juniper". I have a bad sinus infection so that my smell and taste are greatly diminished. But I can certainly pick up the juniper characteristics here! Whoa nelly. It’s not a dark beer. It is hazy. Some lace and a lasting thin head. Gin beer. Go figure. Nice.

Draught. Poured by a brewery official not knowing the first letter of the beer alphabet: 5cl of water remaining in the glass, spout fully in the head, had nearly to pour in three times - all the possible faults from the book. Disgrace! <P> Hell-gold beer; very dense fine head, stable as glue. Superb juniper-branch nose, laurel, piney and resiny. Again superb juniper - this time rather the berries - and resiny taste - truly great and innovative (although, the original "Dikkenek" from Martens...). Slick, medium bodied, some burning MF, not due to the malts, rather the distillate. This is a great new beertaste. This ought to get 17/20 maybe, but having this poured in such way by a brewery official, needs a form of punishment.

On tap at Delirium Cafe, Brussels. Cloudy yellow, with soft, rippled lacing. Lots of flavours here: minty, melon, herby. Reminds me more of a Blanche than a Blonde, though there is a detectable malt presence. Very perfumed and floral. Rather good - fresh and tasty.

(Bottled) Hazy, almost greenish-yellow color with a largeish, tight and pillowy head. Perfumy, very strong and distinctive juniper berry, pine and rosemary aroma with lemony fruitiness and grassy hops. Slightly sweet, acidic, moderately malty, very pleasant genever flavor. Medium-bodied, somewhat bitter and carbonated, very refreshing palate. A very nice and pleasant, refreshing brew. Not too complex, but balanced and original.

Wow. That is one unique beer. Pours a pale (slightly hazy) yellow-gold with an aroma of peppery citrus zest, with noticeable juniper qualities. The flavor is great with a very big sugary lemon flavor and some pepper, but it is not a saison, it is light and refreshing pepper. The juniper distillate comes out very subtly. Good stuff!

cloudy honey colour, big creamy head, beautiful lace, strong juniper aroma, loads of spices and herbs, touch of alcohol, very smooth, full-bodied, light bitterness and a long dry aftertaste of juniper - lot of character for this original and well-balanced beer

I liked this. It was totally something different. The juniper aroma is intense as is the flavour. It is light and refrehsing and works well. It also has a bit of citrus in the flavour. I do like gin, so I am sure that it helps the way I taste this beer.

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!