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Bière Barriquée

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La Brasserie du Mont Salève ferments this blond ale with wine yeasts — indigenous, funky, alive — then ages it in oak barrels. The result is neither quite beer nor quite wine: honey and vanilla from the wood, floral and herbal notes from the yeast, a smooth full body that feels richer than 7.5% should allow. A genuinely Alpine adventure.

ABV
7.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
golden5
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
oakyeastyhoney
oak
yeasty
honey
vanilla
funky
floral
Aroma
The nose opens with pronounced oak—vanilla and honey notes drift forward, layered beneath floral and herbal impressions from the wine yeast.
also:herbal,bready
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Bière Barriquée

◎ Appearance

A pale golden hue with bright clarity and fine carbonation. The head builds quickly with stable retention, leaving delicate lacing that traces the glass with each sip. The visual presentation is refined and inviting, suggesting both refinement and liveliness.

pale goldenclearfine carbonationpersistent lace

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced oak—vanilla and honey notes drift forward, layered beneath floral and herbal impressions from the wine yeast. There is an underlying funkiness that suggests wild fermentation and barrel age, creating an intriguing tension between wine-like complexity and beer's traditional character.

oak-forwardhoney and vanillafunky yeastfloral herbs

◐ Taste

The palate is smooth and full, carrying honey and vanilla from the barrel through the mid-palate without heaviness despite the 7.5% ABV. Bready malt notes provide grounding, while the wine yeast contributes a subtle herbal-funky edge that prevents sweetness from dominating. Bitterness remains restrained at 22 IBU, allowing the interplay of wood and fermentation character to define the flavor arc.

smooth, full bodyoak-aged sweetnessherbal complexitylow bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately dry, with lingering vanilla and a whisper of funk fading gracefully. The alcohol presence is felt as warmth rather than harshness, leaving a pleasant, slightly boozy aftertaste.

dry finishlingering vanillawarm alcohol
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
84
Appearance
80
Finish
78
Serve at 7–10°C

Serve at 7–10°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Goblet

The wide mouth and heavy base promote head formation and channel rich aromatics toward the nose. Traditional for Belgian strong ales.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Bière Barriquée

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About Belgian Blonde Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Belgian Blonde Ale?

Belgian Blonde Ale is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Belgian Blonde Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same oak, yeasty, honey character as Bière Barriquée will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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