I firmly believe that drinking different interpretations of a style – while taking notes on each one – is a solid method to learn about a certain beer style. Don’t get me wrong: I enjoy sipping beer in bars and pubs with friends, which is why I first became interested in beer a few years ago. However, the ideal approach to fix a style in your mind is to taste it in a calm and quiet environment, while keeping a notebook by your side.

I have been doing just that with Belgian Blond beers over the past few weeks. According to the BJCP 2021 Guidelines, this style has a somewhat broad description and includes classic examples that may differ significantly from one another.

Strict guidelines and style standards annoy Belgian brewers. Particularly when it comes to the brews that each brewery offers as the golden, lower-ABV variations of their main lineup. Because of this, it is challenging to categorize Belgian Blonds under rigid general-purpose style guidelines.

Belgian Bonds are sometimes confused with Patersbier (aka Enkel), which the BJCP guidelines refer to as Belgian Singles. In fact, some breweries call their Patersbier “Blonde” because, well, they are blonde. But they are quite different. Compared to Belgian Blonds, Belgian Singles are often drier, more bitter, and less alcoholic. They also often feature more of a hop and yeast character as well.

This is a summary of the Blondes I’ve recently tried (with some intruders, as you may’ve already guessed). At first, it began as an intimate journey, but I think it’s worth sharing. Please consider these as my personal opinions and take the adherence to style and enjoyability with a grain of salt. I’m still periodically adding to this list, so feel free to come back and check for any updates.

For a quick reference to the key styles of Belgium, please check out my infographic on Belgian styles.

 Beers index 

Witkap Pater / Stimulo

A highly hop-forward modern Belgian ale. Strong hops with a herbal/grassy and spicy flavor. Phenols reminiscent of white pepper, moderate. Easy to drink and dry. Medium fruitiness. Refreshing and pleasant, it tastes more like a Patersbier or De La Senne Taras Boulba than a Belgian Blond Ale.


Grimbergen / Blonde

One of the classic examples of the style in the BJCP 2021 Guidelines. Pleasant aroma, a bit muted but without any flaw. Mid-low citrusy esters like the style requires, and very low white pepper phenols. Palate is less interesting with a mid body and a lingering sweetness that becomes a bit tiring after a few sips.


Val-Dieu / Blonde

Another one of the classic examples of the style cited in the BJCP 2021 Guidelines. Much different from the Grimbergen Blonde. The yeast is quite characterful, with a bold citrusy profile and quite intense peppery notes reminiscent of white pepper. No cloves. Light herbal aroma in the background. The body is mid-low and finishes quite thin, with a spritzy carbonic bite and a mid bitterness. Deep yellow in colour with a big, billowy, and persistant white head. The malt flavour and aroma are low, supportive, with light bready and crackery undertones. No alcoholic warmth, despite the ABV. It feels somewhat closer to a Belgian Single. It drinks really well, with a lot of taste.


Vander Ghinste / Omer

Light golden in colour, brilliantly clear. Massive, rocky, and persistent foam with belgian laces. Prominent citrusy aroma with hints of lemon zest and pome fruit such as pear and Golden Delicious apple. Light phenols, rustic-like, reminiscent of white pepper. Light herbal and spicy hopping, not distracting. Dry and sparkling in the mouth. Grainy and slightly bready, the malt flavor is subtle but noticeable. It maintains the primary qualities of a Belgian Blonde ale while bordering on Tripel territory. Despite the ABV, it’s easy to drink.

De Halve Maan / Brugse Zot 

Deep golden colour, edging on light amber. Quite clear. Huge, rocky white head, thick and long lasting. Slighlty fruity nose, with notes of golden delicious apple, pear, and a complementary dash of banana. Very low spiciness, peppery. The malty backbone has a nice honey touch that supports the fruitiness throughout the sip. Medium bitterness, dry but still malty into the finish. Lively carbonation. Perfect example of the style.

Van Den Bossche / Pater Lieven Blonde

The aroma hits all the main style’s parameters. Light grainy/bready malt base, mid-low esters reminscent of citrus (a bit on the sweet side, like citrus pulp) and orange with a secondary touch of pear. Light phenols, peppery. The palate is a bit off, with a lingering sweetness that coats the mouth after swallowing and a sugar-candy aftertaste, bordering on sweet honey. Low bitterness. The carbonation is a bit on the low side. All things considered, it falls within the style parameters; yet, the sweetness is a little overwhelming and somewhat takes away from the overall drinking experience.


St. Feuillien / Blonde

Rich golden in hue, it pours with a substantial white head. Prominent, bright, and powerful citrusy aroma. It feels like coriander spice was used (or something like that), although the label doesn’t say so. Phenols are medium-intensity and spicy (white pepper). The aroma is dominated by lemon zest. A hint of toasted bread is detected in the mid-dry finish, supported by a medium bitterness. Overall pleasant and fresh, a bit too strong on the citrus in the long run.


Viven / Original Blond

Vibrant citrus zest with a gentle, warm pome fruit undertone reminiscent of golden apples and pears. Herbal, spicy, light, and fresh hops. Moderately rustic white pepper phenols. A crisp sharpness gives way to a malty, crackery aftertaste. The middle of the sip has medium herbal hops. Pretty dry in the finish. No significant alcoholic warmth. Light and crisp, perhaps too dry and bitter for the style but overall tasteful and refreshing. To my personal taste, one of my favorites.


La Chouffe / Blond

Large, fluffy white head with good retention. The beer has a deep gold color edging on light amber. The aroma is intense, with strong peppery phenols (black pepper) that border on clove. Mild esters with a subtle citrus aroma and no banana overtones. Peach and candied orange are more prominent in the flavour, while the phenols are subdued and leave a medium peppery aftertaste. Mid-low malt flavour, with hints of toasted bread and a slight aftertaste of sugar cookies. Lively carbonation. Mid bitterness, boosted by a slight phenolic bite. Rather dry finish, with a mild malty aftertaste reminiscent of cereal and subtle candy notes. Very light herbal aroma and flavor from the hops. A little too phenolic for the style, but overall quite tasty and flavorful. The intensity is a little excessive, probably because of the mid-high ABV that goes a little beyond the style’s range.


Ter Dolen / Blond

It pours with a finely beaded, rocky, moussy foam. Great retention. Rich golden color, clear. It smells clean but subdued. Vibrant, somewhat sweet, and ripe citrus notes (lemon pulp) are counterbalanced by spicy, white-peppery phenols. As it warms up, the esters take on a lemon blossom character, pleasant. No overt hop aroma. Lively carbonation. It finishes dry with a honey aftertaste. The bitterness is on the low side. Balance is slightly sweet, but not overly so. Perfect to style and fresh. An easy-drinking Belgian pint. Tasty.


La Trappe / Blond

It pours with a medium white foam that swiftly vanishes. Deep golden color. Clear. Mid-high aroma, lots of citrus zest and spicy ginger set against a backdrop of candied orange. A subtle, mid-ripe banana flavor seeps into the bouquet as it warms. Medium-low phenol content, slightly clove-like, and suggestive of black pepper. Finishes mid-sweet but not cloying with a low bitterness and a lively carbonation that helps cleansing the palate. A malty finish accompanied by hints of light biscuit and toasted breadcrumbs. Banana and soft pear in the aftertaste. Nicely balanced, and perfect to style—the minimal foam retention being an exception. In my opinion, the aroma could have used a little less banana.


Brouwerij Van Steenberge / Augustijn Blond

It pours with a big white foam. Excellent retention. The beer is amber with a good clarity (if poured leaving the yeast sediment in the bottle). Quite intense aroma with citrus overtones dominating, reminiscent of lemon and cedar. Low, pleasant pear esters in the background. Medium hop aroma, a bit too high for style, with herbal undertones and a slight spicy character, backed by a light floral (daisies) background. Low malt grainy flavour, light bread crust, and a touch of honey. On the palate is quite effervescent. The aftertaste has subtle notes of cotton candy, lemon zest, and faint vanilla with a very dry finish. Medium herbal bitterness. It is really pleasant to drink, although it feels more like a Trappist Single than a Blonde Ale.

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