La-Chouffe Blonde Bier

Country - Belgium

Percntage - 8.0%

Brewing Company - Brasserie d'Archouffe

Presented in a Champagne style bottle, Maca has been attracted to this beer for some time as the label on the bottle depicting a dwarf bending over for some absurd reason reminds him of  a joke "One little mushroom for my Basket"
Each time we have opened this beer there is a large burst of carbonation past the cap that covers one self in a spray of beer, so be wary upon opening! When poured this is a cloudy straw coloured beer with an excellent frothy white head providing a wonderful bouquet of orange, mandarin, coriander, and clove with a hint of grape fruit. This is a strong, flavourful beer with a light carbonation on the palate. Although containing barley malt the coriander and spice dominate the complex flavour and the alcohol is well masked, with a slight bitterness at the end. This is a superb performing beer that should be enjoyed with a mild cheese platter at your next dinner function.

Verdict - Excellent

Leffe Blonde

Country - Belgium

Percentage - 6.6%

Brewing Company - Abbaye de Leffe SA

When poured this is a clear dark gold amber colour with millions of tiny bubbles of carbonation drifting gently up through the beer associated with a superb extremely frothy white head providing a giant bouquet of fruity banana and peach. This is a smooth full bodied beer that is very sweet on the palate with little bitterness. Complex fruity colourful flavours roll throughout the mouth but remains too sweet with the Belgium yeast dominating all aspects of the brew. The alcohol in this beer attempts to remain hidden amongst the sweet fruity flavour but can still be detected despite the mild lingering aftertaste. This is a decent Blond style beer but falls short of the achievement obtained by the La Trappe Blond and La-Chouffe Blond Bier.

Verdict - Great

Achel Trappist Blond

Country - Belgium

Percentage - 8.0%

Brewing Company - Brauwerij der St. Benedictusabdij de Achelse

"Authentic Trappist product" When poured this is a cloudy gold colour beer with a large frothy white head and excellent lacing providing a weak aroma of a little spice and fruit. On tasting, the alcohol is not well masked. it is a sweet beer with a light body and good yeast Belgium flavours finishing on a slight sweet bread note. This is a good Tripel but is a shadow of others in the same style.

Verdict - OK

Matso's Mango Beer

Country - Australia

Percentage - 4.5%

Brewing Company - Matso's Broome Brewery

When poured this is a clear gold colour beer with a white head providing a sweet aroma of beautiful ripe mango, the inspiration for this tropical style beer. With good lacing as the beer is consumed this is a refreshing and sweet beer with a lovely flavour of lush mango and cream. This is a well balanced beer with a dry sweetness reportedly based on a classic Belgium Blonde recipe using 100% natural mango making for a unique beer. Overall a sweet tasting mango beer ideal for a hot afternoon but defiantly not a session beer, in fact why not share this with a good mate before the start of a session!

Verdict - Great

Harviestoun Bitter & Twisted Blond Beer

Country - Scotland

Percentage - 4.2%

Brewing Company - Harviestoun Brewery

When poured this is a hazy gold colour beer with a poor white head and no effervescence to be seen in the beer. The "late hopping with Styrian Golding's " adds little to what is a slightly spicy aroma. On tasting this is a smooth beer with a medium body. There are some citrus notes at the end of the palate and some moresome spicy notes. This is not a bad tasting beer but one has to do alot of drinking for 4.2% ABV (500ml). Perhaps the Scottish need to stick to brewing whiskey.

Veredict - Good