Belgian Style Blonde Ale

With its bright, fruity esters but restrained phenolic spice, the Ardennes ale strain is the perfect yeast for this sneaky-strong Belgian-style blonde ale.

This blonde ale is fresh and clean, using the “Belgian” character as an accent but not the headline. Brew it for your next party and bust out the chalices—and when it kicks, you’ll know that it lived its short, happy life to the fullest.

This recipe takes inspiration from the lighter, easier-drinking blonde ales that the Belgian Trappist monks brew largely for themselves—but you can have some, too.

Much of the attention often goes to bigger beers—such as the famed dubbels and tripels from Belgium’s monastery breweries—but don’t let that keep you from appreciating the smaller ales in life.