This is the third brew by La Binchoise that I have tried, the other two being an amber and a special. The blonde is, as you can imagine, lighter but it is quite a bit so, a pale-ish orange straw.
The most prominent thing you notice about the beer is the round pale malt. Round is such a poor descriptor - code, really. It's just the flavour of sweet malt but we are so rarely presented with it in such a simple form: a light creamy graininess that displays then resolves it self for the most part. Think "wow" but in taste. The hopping is subdued Riesling metallic and the fruitiness of the malt is somewhere between pear and jicama. Soft water moreish with a little mustiness thrown in. The loose carbonation at the outset relaxes mid-mouth for a very watery finish where a hint of lavender pops up.
Lighter than its siblings at 6.5%, it has attracted strong BAer support.
Comments
Ethan - February 27, 2008 12:11 AM
Just curious: why did you start to include BA subjectivity?
I'm a member there, (though I've never submitted a review) and I am generally positively-disposed (I subscribe, e.g.); but why do you care (if your readers discover that BA and you agree/disagree)?
Alan - February 27, 2008 8:45 AM
I write these reviews as much as my own notes as anything but there is that desire to be somewhat objective so, especially for newbies, I like to point out that there is a whole world of others out there. I picked the BAers over ratebeer for really unimportant reasons a long time ago - like I like the design better than other rating forums. But mainly it's a habit. I also never post on an even numbered minute.
Ethan - February 28, 2008 3:08 AM
fair enough.
except for the number thing :)