Brewers. Beekeepers. Belgian ambassadors. When they join forces, they make Blonde Behive.
Madocke made the first iteration of this honey blonde in collaboration with the Belgian Embassy in Canberra for World Bee Day in 2022; the proceeds went towards humanitarian project Help On Bee Wings, which supports Ukrainian beekeepers whose livelihood has been demolished during the Russian invasion.
But this beer’s popularity has seen it return again and again, much to the delight of Madocke drinkers. The brewers have been busy – as busy as some kind of hard-working insect – getting this collab going and this beer brewed. Now, proceeds will also support the Gold Coast Regional Beekeepers’ Association as they research how to keep Queensland’s bee populations healthy. I’m no beeologist, but I imagine some kind of tiny health spa is the answer.
Blonde Behive has everything that’s good about Madocke’s trophy-winning blonde ale – soft sweetness, flavoursome banana, a late sprinkle of spice – but adds another layer of aroma, flavour, and mouthfeel, spreading them on like a weighted blanket that comforts you and lets you know everything’s okay. I’m not sure I taste the Yellow Box honey, per se, but I can definitely feel the extra dimension it’s brought with it: boosted aromatics where the hops and yeast esters come together, the sweeter flavour of those squishy banana lollies, and a step up in ABV.
The label description speaks of a “delicate light body”, but I reckon this beer brings a nice heft to the mouth, and settles in like it owns the place. Or, for the more literal-minded among you:* it’s full-bodied in a way that’s helps you slow down and appreciate it.
Blond Behive is bright, comes in a big bottle, and is good for the bees. What more do you want?
Mick Wüst
*I’m sorry for what you have to put up with in my beer write-ups.
Published June 26, 2024 2024-06-26 00:00:00
