10...
Maredsous 6 Blond
Maredsous Dubbel, or '8', was a slightly underwhelming but positive experience, that in turn perhaps lowered my expectations before trying their Blond, or the '6' (which refers to the alcohol content). Belgian blondes are a bit of a difficult genre for me, as they are often these really light, sharp, summery beers that in most cases pack a Manny Pacquiao wallop, that while welcome in some circumstances are often not when shrouded by such a light surrounding.
This 'Blond' however is barely a blonde at all... strawberry blonde perhaps? It pours more of an orange/golden pale ale colour, with a moderately dense body and fluffy head. Looks great, better than most in the genre. The taste is very big at first, packed with yeast and malts but enough sweetness to balance the equation. The finish is lightly hopped, and is more spicy than bitter. The carbonation is sharp as expected, but given the elevated flavour of this blond it does cheapen the experience just a touch.
Something of a hybrid then... a little bit of golden ale and a bit of pale ale, all done with a Belgian bravado. There is something in the tail that feels a bit tacky, which keeps it from hitting an 8, but apart from that it's a very solid beer. This is my idea of a hybrid. Not some plastic piece of shit Toyota.
7.5/10
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