My Favorite Beer: Blanche de Bruxlles
My Favorite Beer: Blanche de Bruxlles
Welcome to Bruxlles
Baby’s got blanche!
Welcome again to the My Favorite Beer series. In this edition, we’ll bring it back to our most innocent moments as an infant when we all aspired to be the spokesbaby for our local brewing company. In those days, only the cutest ‘Gerber’ quality babies were good enough to grace the bottles (metal didn’t exist back then), and parents all around the globe would proudly affix these brews to their cars in a hope that one day their kid would go viral. The ultimate prize, to have a chance to visit Bruxlles and be christened the Blanche de Bruxlles!
…or so I assume, 1876 was a long time ago.
the other leading theory is that someone messed up the aspect ratios and it just looks like a baby, but it’s actually a 40 year old dude. As you’re mulling over this challenging question, I encourage you to study. I hear at the bottom of each can, there’s a clue to this mystery, and I intend to unlock these secrets. So let’s pour one and find out!
Baby, this white tastes great
Voluminous head!
The first thing you notice is how it looks. A clean blue can with a Roman statue-esque iconic baby who’s doing the ‘content with life’ lean. This baby might not know much about the world, but one thing it knows for sure is that whatever is in this can is fabulous! Pour it into your glass and up wafts something amazing. Despite your extensive training for this exact moment, you’re compelled to skip the standard beer tasting order (look, smell, taste, consider, and repeat) and get your nose right in there! what you find is a slightly tart yeast character with so much more. There’s spices in there (coriander and orange peel are added, clove and banana come from the yeast). The coriander adds a slightly floral layer of complexity that elevates the whole experience!
When you (finally) get ahold of yourself and stop to look at this beer, you notice that the only thing white about this beer is the foam. The wheat lends this beer a moderate cloudiness, helped along by the yeast in suspension (Lefebvr’s website says it’s bottle conditioned, not sure if it’s also can conditioned; it’s certainly not filtered). The pale golden color makes a visual promise; you will be refreshed.
Let me tell you, this is not an empty promise! It’s a light beer (clocks in at 4.5 ABV) and I can totally see myself having this by a pool, sitting on a patio, or while cruising around the Mediterranean in my ultra-yacht. When you take a sip, it’s subtly sweet in a bready, biscuity way. It’s citrus forward (I get more lemon than orange peel) and the hint of acidity adds some zip! There’s layers to this beer, with each subsequent taste (and temperature as it warms) bringing different flavors to the forefront. As I’ve been writing, the tartness has increased and the orange peel is peeking out. It turns out it was just a little bit shy. Another true joy that is only revealed with repeated sips is the intricate lacing that transforms your glass into a masterpiece.
To me, a good witbier is all about balance and restraint. As someone who loves to put a hat on a hat (metaphorically, and sometimes literally), it’s fun to appreciate the skill it takes to add just the right amount and not a drop more. As a witbier, this beer delivers from the moment you look at it’s bold, but classic look; it continues with its amazing aroma, fabulous flavor, and luxurious lacing.
Blanche, my hat (and my hat’s hat) is off to you!
Cheers 🍻