 Ernest (4254), Boulder, Colorado, USA
Jan 28, 2005
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.
goldtwins (3740), Nesconset, New York, USA
Aug 8, 2008 RBSG @ O’Briens from Dr. Bill. Labeled as Vervifontaine Blonde. Poured a chunky and hazy yellow color with a white head. The aroma had a mild sweetness and toasted malt notes. Hints of leather were also floating around. The flavor was malty with a mild earthiness. Dry yeasty finish with a bite that tastes like black licorice.
ClarkVV (3547), Allston, Massachusetts, USA
Jan 7, 2008 11.12oz bottle from Tiggmtl, drunk on 11/3/07. BB July 2007
With a pop of the cap, I get an immediate rush of a very pleasan mixture of soft, floral, heathery hops and light honey-vanilla pale malt notes. Wow, we may actually have something here....(unlike the brune and ambree, which were very disappointing). I pour a glass and leave it alone for a few minutes to breath. Sediment left behind in the bottle, and a mostly clear peach-golden body with a large, but mostly dissipating head. Light lacing.
When I come back, to my displeasure, there is no sign of either the hops or malts. Instead, I’m greeted with rather dull yeast notes, plentiful (overbearing) esters and almost a pineapple-like sweetness. Very odd, especially given how it started out. Some yeast blandness and dry, bread-like graininess takes some of the sweetness down a notch, but there’s nothing here that is elegant or particularly enjoyable. Don’t know if there’s some DMS in the nose, or if that’s just a mix of the esters, ginseng and sweetness....no alcohol noted in the aroma, medium strength overall.
Very basic honey sweetness in the flavor, with medium amounts of carbonation that allow some looseness in to the texture. Sweetness ranges between sticky sponge cake and overly sweet vanilla cake, with plentiful apricot/peach/pineapple notes and moderately strong phenolic spiciness on the end (white pepper, light medicinal notes). Attenuation is off (too sweet), texture is too sticky, while the carbonation too loose. Alcohol is concealed, and there seem to be few flaws. Eh....
NoiZe (949), Zeist, Netherlands
Jul 27, 2007 Hazy golden colored brew. With ginseng, this is not notable in the flavor or the aroma. Sweet and fruity aroma, a bit spicy. Just an avarage blonde flavor with added fruits.
Lubiere (3324), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Apr 22, 2007 A hazy blonde with a thick collapsing white head. Some gunk developped under the cap. A sweet spicy aroma, with notes of lemon and ginger. In mouth, a rather bland and boring belgian ale with lemon, light coriander, not much life. Good for cooking...Bieropholie import, BB 11-03-07.
Ungstrup (11385), Frederiksberg, Denmark
Mar 20, 2007 Bottled. An unclear orange beer with a lazing off-white head. The aroma is sweet spicy and malty, and the flavor is sweet with notes of malt, spices, and medicin.
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