19th June 2023, Shrewsbury Monthly Beer Swap in Chez Sophie. Five guys enjoying life taking bollox. Cheers Mat for the 33cl bottle of this: BB December 2023. Sticky black body, tanned top. Sweet malty molasses rule this brew, toffee and chocolate aroms and flavours.

Bottle from Auchan Dieppe. Murky red with a tiny and quickly collapsing white head. Fruity nose. Light-bodied, tart and spring sourish with berries. Very refreshing.

Blonde ale hopped with 'Flemish' (grown in Poperinge, I presume, which does not say much) and American hops, available in 33 cl steinie bottles and 75 cl bottles; commissioned by C.B.E., a home brewery, from Pays Flamand, perhaps best known for their Anosteké series. Thanks to Christophe and Marie for the bottle! Initially towering high, off-white, moussy, quite regular head, quickly collapsing and opening but retaining well as a medium sized moussy ring and thick plaster-like lacing; lightly hazed, orange-tinged peach blonde robe with fine strings of sparkling in the middle. Aroma of bergamot, orange zest, ripe tamarillo, peanuts (rather than coconut as suggested by the commissioner), pear, brioche bread, very vague caramel even, hints of cooked cherry tomatoes, minerals, freshly cut grass, bread crust, red apple slices, iron pipes and indeed rusty iron (oxidation). Fruity onset, sweetish with impressions of red apple, pear and light banana, vague sourish undertone, fizzy carbonation but not too coarse - yet adding minerality; rounded, slick mouthfeel, with clear metallic edges (iron pipes again - but also this 'iron-like' oxidation). Smooth rusk-like maltiness with drier cereally core and very light caramelly accent, moving towards a more aromatic finish where the American part of the hops are given a restrainedly citrusy display (orange peel) but where eventually the more 'earthy' and floral 'Belgian' hops (whatever they are) get the upper hand. Mildly bittering, seeking balance with continuing sweetish fruitiness and lightly bready maltiness, as well as a powdery 'dead yeast feel' from ageing. Still a fairly clean, smooth, straightforward blonde, adding a pinch of the New World hoppiness that has given us so many fine beers - but a very small pinch only. Why not go all the way and veer this recipe into APA or IPA territory? There is a certain APA-like aspect to it for sure, but in its very DNA, this beer remains altogether connected to Belgian ale traditions (not that this is a bad thing per se). Balanced, quite elegant and easygoing without heavy off-flavours - but the metallic side aspect will probably bother some of the more discerning tasters.

Sample (thanks omhper!). Golden colour, small white head. Aroma is floral, fruity, some sweet malts some toffeeish and mild earthy tones. Flavour is fresh fruits, floral, some oats, mild alcohol and some sweet mlty tones.