Belgian Blonde Ale

Flemish etiquette implores you to wait and see if your host offers a toast before sipping your drink. Where Belgian Blonde Ale is concerned, pFriem sees things differently. Waiting to taste a perfect harmony of strength and elegance, while sniffing its pear and clove bouquet is like torture. Clean maltiness, invigorating effervescence and just enough bitterness wait for no one.

ABV 7.5%

IBU 30

FLAVOR PROFILE

Pear, Clove, Elegant

AVAILABILITY

Annual

INGREDIENTS

MALT

Gambrinus Canadian Pilsner, Carafoam, Acidulated

HOPS

Tettnang, Perle, Styrian Golding Celeia, Czech Saaz

YEAST

Belgian Ale

Special Ingredients

Candi Sugar

History

Living in the Abbey brewing tradition, lies a sect of beer known as the Belgian Blondes and Strong Golden Ales. These beers are seductive, powerful, and deceptive. Known for being bright and snappy like a Pilsner, but complex like a Tripel, the Strong Blondes live in the 6.5%-7.5% range, while the Strong Goldens makes its way up to 8.5%. These beers are dry, slightly fruity, spicy, and have a soft pear flavor. When bottle conditioned they are bright and sparkly like Champagne and the foam bursts in your mouth as you sip.

Tasting Notes

Bright blonde topped with pillowy white foam. Aromas of light clove, pear, and apricot. Flavors of sweet and spice melding, with a touch of tangerine. Finishes with an assertive bitterness, prickly carbonation, while leaving the mouth dry and clean.

Food Pairings

Great with salty and fatty hors d’oeuvres such as prosciutto, jamon serrano and gravlax. Excellent with pastas such as capellini alla cecca, spaghetti agli e olio, and gnocchi con pesto di Levanto. Delicate fish with a squeeze of lemon or simply prepared fattier fish: sardines, fresh anchovies and Spanish mackerel. Bitter and hearty greens such as Belgian endives, terviso, and radicchio. Raw oysters, steamed clams, and of course mussels and frites.

Awards

2019 - 95 Points - The Beer Connoisseur 

2018 - Bronze - North American Beer Awards

2017 - 90 Points - Ratebeer.com

2017 - Gold & Cellar Selection, 92 Points - Tastings.com 

2015 - #15 - OregonLive, Top 50 Oregon Beers

2015 - Portland Monthly, Top 25 Beers We're Crushing on Right Now