LEFFE BLONDE
InBev
Belgium, 6.6% ABV
I often have a glass of Leffe Blonde with a meal instead of wine, not least because it has its own attractive goblet glass, which is a must, although it’s probably not for lager heads. As the name suggests, this is a light-coloured, almost amber beer, yet it has a wonderful deep, rich, caramelly flavour and has a great aftertaste, which is pretty rare in many of the beers I’ve experienced. I’ve noticed that almost everyone seems to have a different take on the flavours of Leffe Blonde – fruity or nutty or caramelly or whatever. This demonstrates that, like a great book, different people get different good things from a good beer. Watch out though – it’s high in alcohol content, which may be a plus or a minus depending on where and when you’re drinking it. It was originally brewed by monks in Belgium (hence it is known as an Abbey beer) and is still brewed to the same recipe in the town of Leuven, albeit now by the multinational corporation InBev. So it’s one of a minority of brands owned by big corporations that hasn’t been watered down for UK drinkers – yet. Dare I say this beer is good to cook with? That’s both in the glass and in the recipe; it adds a sweet dimension to any meal. Admittedly, Belgium does produce better-tasting beers, but they are harder to find, especially outside of their native country. A final point – try not to mispronounce it – Leff, not Leffy! HC
