Day 14, 1.14.11, Castelain - Blond Bière de Garde

So today was the first (last?) time on this blog that I drank not only a beer I've never had, but also a style I've never had. A French style called Un bière de garde, which means something like "beer to keep" because it was traditionally brewed in the winter or spring and aged until summer. And indeed this beer is a lovely light, easy sipping session beer. I'm told, (by the beer story on the back of the bottle) that bière de garde is France's only indigenous beer style. But, to be fair, it's made right across the border from Belgium. So, there's that.

Castelain Blond Bière de Garde.  It's really quite good. A lot like a classic German pilsner, but with lovely sweet notes that help to balance the sour lager notes.  It's light, fruity, easy drinking.  I drank this beer on my way home on the ferry, sitting out on the aft deck watching the lights of the city recede into the crisp (but really nice) January evening.  Only thing that could have made the whole thing work better would have been about an additional twenty degrees.  It'd be a lovely summer beer.  Although it's certainly a beer driven by malt, there's a bit of hop character too, slightly herbal and botanical.  I really enjoyed this beer, and I looking forward to trying a few more Bières de Garde as the weather becomes more appropriate. 8 out of 10.