Swaf Blonde (formerly Vervifontaine)

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

huge rocky head, golden colour but the dark room maybe is playing games with me, it looks like it´s little darker than gold. Aroma is rather faint, I was expecting a bit more in that department. Some citrus and yeast in the aroma. Taste is a bit spicy, some coriander, oranges, citrus again, light malt and a whole lot of yeast. There is a tingling bitterness in the finish, which is similar to other ginseng drinks. When I pour the bottom in the glass the beer becomes incredibly cloudy, a bit more intence aroma and more powerful finish. Extremely well balanced, very complex and maybe something you cant really explain. I dont know if this was a Vervifontaine bottle bb 01/07. Like the other brews from that brewery it is very complex and well made. A bit something out of the ordinary, but delicious noneoftheless

Hazy blonde pour with a thin white head. Aroma of spices and yeast. Flavor of spices, yeast and tart apples. The body is light with a creamy texture and moderate carbonation. Interesting but the spices feel a bit overkill.

Bottled. Hazy yellowish (brown notes) colour, huge foamy head. Fruity aroma with some dishwatery hints. Sweet flavour of fruit along with yeast and soap or "skincare" notes. Weird sweetness in all three La Swaf!s most likely the ginseng.

Ah, another ginseng-laden gem from Rene and Pierre! This one allows more of the malt to come through. It begins with a slightly hazy golden body and a tall, rocky head that dissipates in shredded chunks. The aroma is both perfumy and medicinal, flowery and herbal, the latter of each duo due to the heavy-handed spicing. The flavor is a light malt, full of citric fruits, oranges and lemons. Then the spices (ginseng, licorice, pepper...) slap you once again. An interesting, oddly enjoyable kind of a drink.

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Bottled
Hazy yellow color with huge creamy/foamy head. Sweet berry-like (strawberry, cherry) aroma, also lemony hops. Harsh spicey-peppery, licorice flavors - propably because of ginseng. Long harsh-bitter aftertaste. Not very enjoayble.

Head is initially large, frothy, rocky, white, fully lasting. Body is hazy dark yellow, bottle conditioned. Aroma is lightly malty (toasted grain/bread), moderately hoppy (flowers, herbs, lemon), moderately yeasty (horseblanket, cobwebs), with notes of ginger, mint, band-aid, eucalyptus, honey, etc. Flavor is moderately sweet, moderately acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is lightly sweet, moderately acidic, moderately bitter, long. Medium to full body, creamy/velvety texture, lively carbonation, lightly alcoholic. Just what I expected it to be, after having the Ambrée. Phenomenal complex nose, great flavor balance with a finish that goes on forever (thanks in no small part to the ginseng, I’m sure, which also gives it a slick feel on the tongue). The best of the three Swaf beers IMHO. This flaunts its spiced nature for sure, but the base beer elements are strong and luscious. Balance, baby, it’s all about balance.

(Bottled) Very hazy, yellow-orange color with a very large, tight, lacy and everlasting head. Herby and peppery-spicy aroma with stuffy rose talc powder and slight cardboard hints (I don’t know what ginseng smells like). Quite pleasant, yeasty, fruity and hoppy flavor with some rubbery notes. Medium-bodied, creamy, carbonated, refreshing palate with a long, bitter and dry finish. Quite pleasant at first, but towards the end of bottle you feel less sorry for the retirement of this brew. The aroma turns stuffed and quite unpleasant. The flavor and palate are not bad, though.

Still drunk as "La Swaf!" from Vervifontaine <P>Collapsing, very dense head, very stable; hazy light orange, very carbonated. Very fresh, citrussy hops - GREAT. Slightly pharmaceutical (no doubt the ginseng) flavour, but obviously in a very nice, citrussy way. There’s a definite liquorice taste in the finish. End of the bottle is much sweeter because of the yeast. Medium bodied, very refreshing. Yeast gives an enormous, creamy boost. ANOTHER great one from Vervifontaine. I’m liking their beers more and more...