Review based on the BJCP2008 guidelines (style 18E). Bottle 33 cl - Batch 49 02:38. AROMA: sweet malty notes with some background notes of dried grapes. mild spicy alcohol notes. no hop aromas. APPEARANCE: amber color and translucent. average ivory and moussy head with low retention. low lacing. TASTE: sweet malty background with low esters and phenols. some spicy alcohol character. medium-low bitterness. finishes medium-dry. PALATE: medium-low body with medium-low carbonation. OVERALL: a not so complex belgian strong ale. average at most.

One of the more ’classic’ Leffes, since 1973. Thick, crackling, cream white head sticking to the edge of the glass, colour a deep and warm orangey copper with steady sparkling, clearly filtered, cristal clear. Pasteurization is evident in the nose as with all Leffes (except for the Tripel which is brewed elsewhere than the rest); otherwise a sweetish and spicy aroma, but in an ’industrial’ kind of way and on the weak side. Apart from the cooked pasteurized smell, I primarily get caramel and caramel candy, candied figs, toasted bread, some pepper, some tomato, some lavender, some bourbon. The taste starts sweetish, dried apricots and raisins, light sourish touch, light and slick, with soft carbonation. Caramelly malts take over in the middle but are too light to withstand the somewhat astringent, long-lasting, drying and bittering, bourbon-like alcohol effect in the finish, which otherwise reveals some spicy hoppiness too, but again in a way too light for it to become truly ’big’. Body is light and straightforward for a beer this strength. Somewhat simple, with the badly disguised alcohol and the typical ’cooked-to-death’ Leffe flavour bothering me a bit; overall a very artificial and industrial character as was to be expected, but if I’m honest, I’ll admit that I like this one (a lot) better than the Brune or even (a bit) better than the newer big ones (9° and Royale).

330ml bottle from Vanuxeem. Pours a deep amber with good white head. Aroma is fairly malty and fruity. Taste is vibrant dried dark fruits, smooth malts, hops and even a touch of oak. Sweet, flavoursome, strong blend but definitely not the best Leffe out there.

Botella de 33 cl de el c. Ingles, tomada en junio de 2002. fecha cons pref para antes 03-2003. lote DKLB. Cuerpo medio de 8.2 vol y buena sensación alcohólica. Color cobrizo y aromas y sabores ligeramente afrutados, acabando con un ligero amargor algo seco. Bastante buena.

Pours nice amber colour. Best described as a malt sandwich. Full bodied, with a sort of tart finish

Bottle at Donald's Pub in Angers, pours a hazy amber with a small beige head. Nose brings out notes of banana, Belgian yeast, and clove - fairly complex aromatics. Flavour matches accordingly, with some Belgian spices, clove, a little banana, some other fruity esters, and Belgian yeast. Very well-balanced - definitely the best Leffe product. Very good stuff.

Trübes rötlichbraunes Bier mit schöner Schaumkrone. Geruch malzig süß, überreife Früchte, hefig, würzig. Geschmack malzig fruchtig, reife Früchte, leicht alkoholisch, würzig.

Typical Belgian strong ale with fruity notes here and there. Reddish color. Sweet taste, lively carbonation.

Yeasty amber beer, with some caramelised malt and a slight metallic taste. Decent.