Fernie Brewing Company Single Speed Belgian-Style Blonde Belgian Blond Ale at 4.8% ABV | 19 IBU (C$6.89 at Okotoks Co-Op, 650 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 5-Oct-2019, reviewed 6-Oct-2019)
Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with two fat fingers of rocky white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: spice and Belgian phenols, wheat malt, citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate spice, moderate-low bitter, light tart. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, crisp lingering spicy finish. (3/5)
On the front end, the “small” addition of cardamom blends well with the Belgian-style phenols from the yeast. In the finish, however, that spice becomes dominant. And if you had to pick two hops who in my experience never seem to live up to their names, it’s the two this is dry-hopped with: Lemondrop and Mandarina Bavaria. What little citrus they bring is weak and greatly outweighed by the spice and wheat malt. Not bad overall, but not even close to what I was hoping for. (14/20)
7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
