Slightly hazed, orange-golden body with a light and wispy head. Lovely sticky lace remains, small collar of foam and film presists.

Sweet grains on the nose and the same form the initial tastes. Theres a light touch to this beer that belies the 8%. Some report Tripel elements, but the beer much drier than that to me, and even though the alcohol is up there, it never quite punches its weight. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, because this beer is not a Tripel, so there really is no reason for it to be getting aggressive.

There’s a delightful bitter note in the far palate that gets dispersed quickly to leave a pleasingly dry aftertaste. This dryness is at odds (or perhaps complements) a little fruity sweetness earlier in the beer. This is pretty delicate to be honest, but also has a presence.

It’s crafted nicely (unsurprisingly), and hits several highs, with simplicity and balance being the watchwords. The ABV probably forces this up into the BSPA category, but Belgian Blonde might be a better – as in ‘more accurate’ – moniker. Maybe that doesn’t matter at all, but it may be a useful indicator for some.