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Gruut Blond

Gentse Gruut Stadsbrouwerij
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🌍 Belgium · Belgian Blonde Ale · One of 23 Belgian Blonde Ales in hopIQ

Gruut's core flagship — a smooth, unfiltered blonde brewed without any hops. The medieval herb blend creates a gentle bitter finish with citrusy, slightly sweet character. Deceptively drinkable and endlessly surprising for first-time tasters who expect hops and find something entirely different.

ABV
5.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden5
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Very crisp mouthfeel.

The texture leads here, with everything else held in gentle reserve.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Belgian Blonde Ale.
Hop character
herbal
Malt character
wheat
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Distinctive notes
citrusy
spicy
Compare with another beer →

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Gruut Blond

Appearance

Pale golden hue with bright, crystalline clarity and an unfiltered character that catches light cleanly. The head forms quickly and clings to the glass with fine, persistent lacing. Carbonation is moderate and even, creating a gentle, sustained stream of fine bubbles.

pale goldenunfiltered, brightfine lacingmoderate carbonation

Aroma

The nose opens with soft herbal complexity—dried citrus peel, gentle sage, and subtle spice notes emerge before any sweetness. Medieval herb blend dominates over malt, creating an aromatic profile that feels distinctly old-world and botanical rather than conventionally hoppy. Delicate white pepper and faint grain undertones provide grounding depth.

herbal blendcitrus peelsage, spiceclean grain

Taste

Entry is smooth and clean, with gentle herbal bitterness and a balanced sweetness that sits just off-center. Mid-palate reveals layered complexity: subtle wheat character, light citrus notes, and a dry herbal finish that builds without aggression. The herb blend delivers a refined, almost medicinal bitterness that lingers pleasantly rather than dominates.

smooth herbalbalanced sweetnessrefined bitternesswheat undertone

Finish

Medium-length finish with a dry, herbal aftertaste that fades gracefully. The mouth remains clean and slightly refreshed, with no harsh edges or cloying residue.

dry herbalclean fade
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
Appearance
82
Finish
74
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Gruut Blond

Serve at 7–10°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

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

Goblet
Recommended for this style

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

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Gruut Blond

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 herbal, smooth, sweet character as Gruut Blond will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Belgian Blonde Ales in hopIQ

WHERE TO BUY

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