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Lefebvre Blanche De Bruxelles

Blanche de BruxellesBlanche De Bruxelles is brewed by Brasserie Lefebvre, which is located just outside Brussels.  The bottle features the famous statue of the little boy pissing called the Manneken Pis.  Whether you find the statue to be cheeky and humorous or mildly offensive and annoying, there’s no denying its fame and place in the hearts of many.  Dignitaries from around the world bring costume for the statue which the city rotates in and out of use seasonally.

On the beer side, Blanche De Bruxelles is a Belgian wit or white ale (blanche in French).  It’s a wheat ale brewed, in this case, with 40% wheat to 60% barley.  Unlike German wheat ales, the Belgians typically don’t use malted wheat in their white ales.  Another key feature of this style is the use of spices in addition to a minimal amount of hops.  Spices became popular in Belgian brewing when Belgium was a part of the Dutch  was heavily involved in the spice trade.  Spicing the beer had the benefit of adding a luxurious taste while covering up more noticeable flaws that existed prior to more modern brewing techniques.  The two most popular spices used in white ales, including Blanche De Bruxelles, are coriander and Curaçao orange peels.  The beer’s name, “white ale”, is derived from its unfiltered nature and extremely pale color.  The proteins and yeast suspended in the pale liquid give the beer a very white hue as light passes through it.  Additionally, the head is very bright white.

Appearance: Pale blonde with white highlights. White head with good retention.

Aroma: Light citrus notes with delicate wheat. Touches of coriander.

Taste: Spritzy citrus notes with nice wheat lightness. Slightly higher than normal carbonation leads to a very lacy mouth-feel.

Overall Impression: There is a nice level of balance between the sweetness and dryness. The higher carbonation level and the nice balance make this is a very pleasurable beer to drink. It’s lightly favorful and an ideal summer drinker.

Availability: Nationally in better beer stores, imported by Belukus Marketing.

4.5% ABV