Serve in a goblet at 6-9 °C
What it tastes like
The Belgian blonde is the abbey brewers' crowd-pleaser. It is golden, soft and a little sweet, with the fruity and spicy notes that Belgian yeast strains produce: pear, a touch of banana, a hint of clove or pepper. The malt is mostly pale pilsner malt, sometimes with a little sugar added to the boil so the beer finishes drier and lighter than its strength suggests.
The style became popular in the twentieth century as abbey breweries added a pale beer to sit beside their darker dubbels. It is less spicy and less dry than a tripel and noticeably less hoppy, with a softer, rounder middle. The alcohol is real, usually between six and eight per cent, but it should be smooth rather than hot. What you are tasting is mostly the yeast. Fermented a little warm, Belgian yeast throws esters and phenols that make the beer taste far more complex than its short ingredient list.
Style profile
- Look
- Deep gold, mostly clear, with a tall, dense white head that clings to the glass.
- Aroma and flavour
- Pale malt sweetness with pear, light banana and a soft peppery or clove spice from the yeast, hops kept in the background.
- Mouthfeel
- Medium body, high and lively carbonation, a smooth warming finish that stays fairly dry.
- Ingredients
- Pilsner malt, a little aromatic or wheat malt, candi or plain sugar, low-alpha European hops, a Belgian abbey yeast strain.
In India
Belgian blonde suits Indian drinkers who like fruit and sweetness but find wit too light. It is strong, so treat it as a slow, celebratory beer rather than a summer thirst-quencher. At least one Delhi brewpub has poured one as a house beer, and imported abbey blondes sit on many premium shelves. Yeast-driven flavours hold up well, but heat makes the alcohol taste harsh, so keep bottles cool. It is a fine choice for a wedding toast.
At the Indian table
Food pairings contributed by Anuradha Rao
- Butter chickenThe beer's soft sweetness meets the creamy tomato gravy, and the high carbonation lifts the butter.
- Malai koftaFruity esters and lively bubbles cut through the cream and cheese in this rich vegetarian main.
- Chingri malai curryPear-like fruit and gentle spice flatter the sweet Bengali prawn and coconut sauce.
- RasmalaiThe beer's light sweetness and spice match the cardamom milk without overpowering it.
Brewed in India
- Belgian Blonde Beer, Ministry of Beer, Connaught Place, Delhi source