Leffe Blonde Original Belgian

The original Belgian-brewed Leffe Blonde — the one worth looking for.
Leffe Blonde is one of those beers that needs little introduction, but there is an important detail worth knowing about this particular bottle: this is the original Belgian-brewed Leffe Blonde. At 6.6% ABV, it is the Belgian version rather than the 6.0% UK-brewed Leffe that has become increasingly common in Ireland and the UK. Brewed at AB InBev’s Leuven brewery in Belgium, this is the version to choose when you want the classic Leffe Blonde as it is traditionally known.

Pour it into a proper glass and it delivers the familiar golden-orange colour and generous white head associated with this iconic Belgian abbey beer. The aroma is rich and malty, with floral and spicy notes alongside distinctive hints of vanilla, clove and gentle fruit. On the palate, a soft sweetness meets restrained bitterness, with the Belgian yeast character giving the beer its rounded, warming personality.

There is a reason Leffe Blonde has become such a familiar name around the world. It sits comfortably between a straightforward lager and a more intensely flavoured Belgian ale: approachable enough for an easy drink, but with plenty of character to reward drinking slowly. And for beer drinkers in Ireland, this Belgian-brewed 33cl bottle is particularly worth highlighting — it brings the authentic continental version to the shelf rather than the locally produced alternative.

Why we love it:
The Belgian-brewed version has the rounded malt, gentle sweetness and classic vanilla-and-clove character that make Leffe Blonde so recognisable. It is familiar without being ordinary, and at 6.6% it has just enough extra warmth and body to make it feel like a proper Belgian abbey beer.