Bottleworks Bangelijk Blonde

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 6

As I pour this beer an earthy, herbal note reminiscent of coriander is quite apparent. The beer pours with a four-finger thick, light tan colored head that sits atop a lightly hazy, pale-orange tinged, gold colored brew. The aroma is really dominated by that earthy spice note (coriander, clove, and something a bit more savory), but underneath it is a touch of bergamot a touch of Macintosh, pear and wild flower honey. Touches of dusty malt, soda crackers and sweet grain, especially the first two in the finish. In the time I have spent exploring the aroma, the head has slowly capsized leaving lots of thick lace on the sides of my glass as well as forming an interesting, varied, rockied surface of collapsed foam.

Lightly tart, yet with some honey malt derived notes, quite grassy too with a definite earthy spice quality to it. The earthy spice character seems like a phenolic yeast signature. The finish has touches of bergamot, grassy coriander, dusty malt and a bit of soda cracker grain flavors to it as well as a light bitterness and a slight astringency. This has a certain, palate clinging, fullness to it despite being somewhat light. In all truthfulness though this is a bit heavy for its alcohol content (at least to me as I like most of my Belgian beers to be light feeling for a given alcohol percentage compared to a standard ale). This actually quite dry tasting for its heft though; I think the light tartness might offset the malt sweetness & something seems to be contributing a bit of viscousness here (though I certainly don't think this has anything but a Belgian yeast strain in it).

An interesting beer, I have to say that I can't quite get past the earthy spice notes and phenolics; it seems a bit like a dirty Chimay yeast strain was used here.

Purchased: Hi-Times, Costa Mesa CA

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

This Belgian Ale pours a straw gold color from a 750ml cork finished bottle. Large sized white foamy long lasting head, with strong lacing. Aroma is orange, coriander, sweet, perfumy and peppery. A medium bodied Belgian Ale. Malts are fruity and sweet, apricots and peaches with a bunch of peppery species. Nice lively carbonation. Very smooth taste. Nice residual sweetness. Nice bright yeast. Touch of citrus. Very smooth tasting. Nice beer. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly sweet.