Additional Notes 09/11/26 (pictured)

After a long hiatus (as far as I can tell) in the USA, La Goudale recently popped back up at Trader Joe’s. I haven’t seen this beer for years and years.

It was always a bit of an enigma since it never, ever drank like a Bière de Garde – ever – so to see “Blonde Ale” emblazoned on the can in a way that I never remember on the bottles, makes infinitely more sense to me.

The notes from 2008 below still hold largely true, so that’s encouraging and gratifying. I still like this beer, but it still has a certain macro quality/feel about it, and the cans add to that aesthetic.

Original notes 07/26/08

Pretty new arrival to GA, distributed by GA Crown I think. $8.69 for the corked and caged 750 mL bottle from Tower on Piedmont.

Excited to try this, looks promising. Rustic looking label that brings back memories of my scores of happy summers drinking in Gîtes in France & Belgium. Best Before 09.28.09 with a lot #(?) of L11.2.13. French language on the label.

Label has 8% on it rather than the 7.2% in the BA db. I wondered about the best glass for this and was debating between the Duvel tulip and the Tücher Weizen. Eventually I went with the Weizen – not sure why!

Pours with a surprising golden clarity almost a macro lager like effect. HUGE, billowing, magnificently huge, sustained head that leaves amazing lace – looks super!

Smells and drinks more like a high alcohol euro lager – STRANGE! Slightly slick mouthfeel as well that comes with the mild burn. Sweet with a high alcohol feel about the whole thing.

A bit odd! It drinks a bit like a strong lager and almost nothing like a BdeG. It’s not that I don’t like it, it’s just that it wasn’t what I was expecting.