Can from De Bierkoning, Amsterdam. Aroma is floral and peppery with spicy farmhouse-ish yeast, pale malt, grassy bittering hops, coriander, some black pepper. Flavour is mild sweet with a moderate bitterness. Medium body. Nice bitter take on a classic Belgian Blond.

‘Belgian bitter blonde’ by one of Holland’s top craft breweries, named after the common whelk, a sea snail offered for consumption especially at the seaside (long time since I had it, now that I come to think of it). Cheers Hinke! Egg-white, medium thick, breaking head on a misty yellow blonde robe. Aroma of dried apple peel, moist white pepper, white bread crust, unripe banana, freshly cut grass, hints of peach and matcha tea. Dryish onset, apple peel and unripe banana, some green pear, softishly carbonated; smooth body, white-bready and cereally with a vague sourish undertone and grassy hoppy finish, a bit peppery as well; the estery fruitiness remains clean but some unripe banana lingers on, while the bitterness does not really develop to the fullest. Solid, but clean and straightforward; a true great ‘Belgian’ style ale needs more yeasty fruitiness and spiciness, while a ‘bitter blond’ needs a lot more earthy, noble, leafy bitterness. See e.g. XX Bitter, Vandewalle’s Bitter Blond or even the more ‘classic’ Bink Blond by Kerkom for inspiration, each one bursting with personality – this one in comparison is rather dull and forgettable at best. I was expecting more from this brewery.

23/VII/24 - 33cl can @ Alengrin’s place, BB: II/2025, canned: 3/I/24, KH2311085 (2024-586) Thanks to Hinke for sharing the can!

Clear gold to light blond beer, big creamy white head, stable, adhesive, leaving a nice lacing in the glass. Aroma: very floral, soapy, malty, grains, hay, coriander, cow fodder, banana. MF: soft carbon, medium to light body. Taste: soft acidity, grains, soapy, pretty bitter, more soapy. Aftertaste: floral, a hint of coriander, dry, soapy, very dry finish.

33cl Blik van De Bierkoning. Licht mistig gouden kleur, witte kraag. Moutig, witbrood, hint van citrus, licht fruitig, heel licht kruidig, flink bitter, droog. Lichte body.

Can. Clear golden. Indeed bready malts, it has a bit of a good pils backbone. Spicy yeast, and lots of spicy bitter hops with soft resin and unripe fruits. Quite bitter and medium sweet. Medium bodied, a bit dry. I guess this is more a De Ranke tribute than anything else. Well done!

Tap at Arendsnest, Amsterdam, 20th April 2023. Pours a light haze and straw in colour. Aroma is yeast, fruity. Taste is bitter, refreshing, yeast, some spice. Not bad

Blik 33cl thuis. Droog, bitter, yeasty, bloemig, witte peper, hop (Cascade, East Well Goldings), farmhouse invloeden, hout. (4-3-2022).

Ff Afpilsen thuis. Dom idee maar kan t niet laten. Wazig goud, wit schuim. Zoete mout, gist, kruidig. Zacht en vol mondgevoel. Je mag ‘t tegewoâhdag nie meâh zeggûh maâh èch ‘n téring lekkâh blondjûh. Dikke pik omhaug âhwe! Lekkâh kruidâg! 😛