Even the big boys have to create and innovate in this fast-moving beer market now, and Leffe Royale is the recent attempt by AB-InBev to change things up with its iconic Leffe label.
The original Leffe Royale was a bigger, tastier version of the Leffe Blond. It later was highlighted as part of a single hop series, and this beer is the second in that series.
Cascade IPA is very much a traditional style Belgian IPA. Heavy on the malt body, with restrained use of hops. We could be slightly disingenuous and suggest that the relatively low-level of hops is the result of commercial financial decisions, but it really seems to be aimed at a specific market.
It has a sweet caramel malt body, with a fruity hint and the Leffe house yeast character. The hopping and dry-hopping with Cascade lends a fresh and light citrus bite.
Put any ‘mega-brew’ bias aside, and enjoy this for what it is – not a punchy hop-bomb, but an interesting variant on a classic Belgian beer.