Blond Beers - Why are they loved so much?

Blond beers are also known as gold ales and the color they have varies greatly. There are some whose color is a very pale straw like color and others it is golden blond. What you will notice with them all is that they are clear, crisp and dry, with a slightly bitter taste. Also although they do have some fruitiness to them this is not something that detracts from the beers aroma or taste.

These kinds of Belgian beers have a very high alcohol content compared to that of the more traditional kinds of pilsners being brewed in Belgium. Plus the ones we mention in this article have only been brewed since the 20th Century and yet are one of the most popular of all the Belgium beers one can now drink.

Of all the varieties of Blond beer available today the most well known of these is that called Duvel, which when translated into English means "Devil". This particular one is produced by the Duvel Moortgat Brewery which was founded in 1871.

At the end of the First World War in 1918 the brewery produced this beer to commemorate the war finally being over and was originally called the Victory Ale. However, one of its avid drinkers in the 1920's was believed to refer to as being a "real devil" because of the high alcohol content (8.5%) and it was this that resulted in its name being changed to what it is today.

This is considered to be the definitive version of what a Blond beer should be and is brewed by the Duvel Moortgat Brewery using pilsner malt, white sugar and Saaz and Styrian Goldings hops. It is all of these ingredients which give this particular beer is very full and distinctive taste.

Another one of these beers which is very popular not just in Belgium but France also is that known as Leffe Blonde. This again has its own very distinctive flavor which is a slight almond one. Originally it was produced by Monk?s at the Leffe Monastery for their own consumption but after being forced to leave during the French Revolution and the brewery destroyed.

The Canons finally returned to Leffe Abbey in 1902 however production of this beer did not commence again until 1952. This time it was to be done on a commercial basis as the Abbey went into partnership with the Flemish brewery of Lootvoet based in Overijse. Although the beer is no longer produced by this brewery but by the Stella Artois one in Leuven the agreement originally set up in 1952 is still in place and the Abbey continues to receive royalties from the sales of this beer.

The major difference one will notice between Blond beers and more traditional types of ales and beers is the alcohol content. Certainly most pilsners that one can now drink today have an average alcohol content of around 4.5%, but Blond beers certainly exceed this.