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Into The 'Wood Chardonnay Barrel-Aged Belgian Blonde

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Part of the brewery's barrel programme. A Belgian blonde rested in chardonnay barrels, which lay oak and a light white-wine acidity over the beer's own fruity yeast spice: pear, clove and a touch of honeyed malt sweetness. The body is silky, the colour golden, and the finish crisp and dry rather than heavy. Bottled at 7.2 per cent.

ABV
7.2%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
golden5
PaceTwo or Three

AWARDS

Bronze · 2026
Australian International Beer Awards
★Bronze — Australian International Beer Awards
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
clovefruityoak
clove
fruity
oak
honey
spicy
malty
Aroma
The nose opens with orchard fruit—pear is most prominent—layered with gentle clove spice from the Belgian yeast.
not found:hoppy,caramel,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Into The 'Wood Chardonnay Barrel-Aged Belgian Blonde

◎ Appearance

A bright golden hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent head that leaves delicate lacing on the glass. The carbonation is visible and lively, supporting a silky mouthfeel despite the beer's moderate strength.

golden, brightclean, clearfine head retentionwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with orchard fruit—pear is most prominent—layered with gentle clove spice from the Belgian yeast. The chardonnay barrel brings a subtle white-wine acidity and woody oak undertone, while honeyed malt sweetness rounds out the bouquet without dominating.

pear, stone fruitclove, spiceoak, toasted woodhoney, light malt

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and fruity, with pear and clove sitting atop a silky body. The palate develops complexity from barrel contact—a drying white-wine acidity and oak structure emerge mid-palate, balanced against the beer's inherent honeyed malt foundation. Bitterness remains restrained, allowing wood and fruit spice to define the flavour.

smooth, silky bodydry, crisp acidityspiced, clove-forwardoak-layered, balanced

◑ Finish

The finish is notably crisp and dry rather than heavy, with lingering clove spice and a whisper of oak fading into a clean, refreshing aftertaste. The white-wine character from the barrel ensures a persistent dryness without harshness.

dry, cleanspice lingerscrisp fade
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
85
Finish
80
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 Into The 'Wood Chardonnay Barrel-Aged Belgian Blonde

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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 dry, crisp, clove character as Into The 'Wood Chardonnay Barrel-Aged Belgian Blonde will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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