Topic Archives: Blonde Ales
Mosaic hops, clean water, & new Shiner Golden Ale
The latest from Spoetzl Brewery – Shiner Golden Ale.
This is another great example of what the brewery does best. Easy drinking, approachable beers. Well water from underneath the brewery and Mosaic hops highlight Shiner Golden Ale. The beer is crisp, clean and refreshing.
That description may sound a bit derived, but let’s put it in the context of Spoetzl. Premium, Homespun Cream Ale, Black Lager – all lighter styles the brewery does quite well. Golden Ale in all it’s Mosaic goodness is a great right along side them all. Perfect for rocking chair on a porch on a hot day.
Look for Shiner Golden Ale year-round starting this month in 12 ounce bottles, and draft.
Style: Blonde Ale
Hops: Mosaic
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft.
Debut: March, 2017
4.6% ABV, 22 IBUs
Wicked Weed Lunatic Blonde is available in cans for the first time
Wicked Weed Lunatic Blonde, a Belgian-style blonde ale is now available in cans.
The Belgian-styles that have come out of the Asheville, North Carolina based brewery have started with Wicked Weed Lunatic Blonde. Visitors to the original brewpub have seen this beer open fermenting behind the glass in the basement brewhouse. That recipe the was finally perfected and given year-round availability as of January, 2016.
RELATED: Wicked Weed announces cans
“When we first talked about crafting Belgian beers for our portfolio, open fermentation was really important to us,” explains Walt Dickinson, owner and Head Blender, “We wanted to craft beers that felt like the Old World, but with a New World perspective. Lunatic Blonde has become the base that we build everything else off of because it’s the most straightforward beer and there’s nothing to hide behind. It’s all about yeast character and fermentation.”
Wicked Weed Lunatic Blonde is now available in 12 ounce cans, and draft. Available the week of Valentine’s Day at the brewery, distribution shortly after.
Style: Belgian-style Blonde Ale
Availability: 11.2oz Bottles, Draft. Year-round.
Release (Cans): February, 2017
New & year-round: Funky Buddha Pineapple Beach
A bit of bottled tropical for the colder months, that will be around for the warmer months as well. Funky Buddha Pineapple Beach is headed to shelves.
As the name suggests, pineapple is the star of Pineapple Beach. The blonde ale base features pilsner malt, a touch of wheat and citrus hops that compliment the tropical fruit headliner.
Funky Buddha Pineapple Beach fills a demand that we’re seeing for sessionable beers that appeal to a broad range of craft consumers. It’s easy-drinking but flavorful, which is exactly what our customers have been asking for.” – KC Sentz, co-owner and general manager of Funky Buddha Brewery
Funky Buddha Pineapple Beach is the first year-round addition to the Boca Raton, Florida based brewery since early 2016. Look for it in 12 ounce bottles and draft starting in February, 2017.
Style: Blonde Ale (w/ Pineapple)
Hops: Citra
Malts: Pilsner, Wheat
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft.
Debut: February, 2017
5% ABV, 20 IBUs
Dogfish Head Beer to Drink Music To 2017 (for Record Store Day)
Dogfish Head Beer to Drink Music To a seasonal that joined the the Delaware based brewery’s lineup earlier this year, has returned again in 2017, with a new style in tow.
The first edition of this seasonal was a Belgian-style tripel, brewed with Sweet Orange Peel, Green Cardamon, Peppercorns, Vanilla.
Dogfish Head Beer to Drink Music To’17 is a “tropical blonde ale” brewed with kiwi juice and hibiscus flowers.
Dogfish Head is no stranger to beer and music collaborations – (see Positive Contact, American Beauty, Beer Thousand, etc.) This time, the beer be will be for whatever you want to listen to. Meet the official beer of Record Store Day – Dogfish Head Beer to Drink Music To.
In case you vinyl isn’t your thing, Record Store Day is in April, celebrating independently owned record stores worldwide.
Dogfish Head Beer to Drink Music To ’17 is a 12 ounce bottle and draft limited seasonal release.
Style: Blonde Ale (w/ Hibiscus Flowers, Kiwi Juice.)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft.
Release: Late January, 2017
6.8% ABV
Hoppy taste explosion. New Belgium Whizbang joins spring seasonals
New Belgium Whizbang joins the Colorado/North Carolina powerhouse brewery’s lineup this month.
In case you missed the trend, New Belgium loves seasonals. So much so that new seasonals on average only stick around for 2 to 3 years. It’s not spring yet, but spring seasonals don’t pay attention to temperatures.
Billed as a “sessionable spring alternative”, New Belgium Whizbang is a hoppy blonde ale brewed with a heavy dose of Mosaic hops.
“Whizbang offers a blast of hops, thus the name, yet it’s still crisp and quaffable, It’s hoppy complexity and balanced drinkability makes it a great go-to beer for the late winter and early spring season.” – Bryan Simpson, media relations director for New Belgium.
New Belgium Whizbang, aka a “full flavored taste explosion”, is a 12 ounce bottle and draft offering from January to March, 2017.
Style: Blonde Ale
Hops: Nugget, Simcoe, UK Admiral, Mosaic, Centennial
Malts: Pale, Caramel 80, and Munich
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. Jan-March
Debut: January, 2017
5.7% ABV
Coffee meets vanilla: Harpoon UFO Winter Blonde Ale
Harpoon UFO Winter Blonde Ale is the newest addition to the Boston, Massachusetts based brewery’s seasonal lineup.
A blonde ale serves as the base for this beer, nuanced with vanilla beans and fresh cold brew coffee. As for the flavor – that is exactly what you get. A ridiculously easy drinking unfiltered blonde ale that doesn’t overwhelm you with vanilla or coffee. The dessert-like beer is soft, smooth, and very easy drinking.
Whether skiing the snowy trails or enjoying a jovial game night, there’s nothing like capping off your winter adventures with this delightfully refreshing winter treat.
Harpoon UFO Winter Blonde Ale is available now through December, 2016 in 12 ounce bottles, cans and draft.
Style: Blonde Ale (Vanilla Bean Cold Brew Coffee.)
Availability: 12oz bottles and cans. Draft. Limited seasonal release.
Release: October, 2016
4.9% ABV
Meet New Belgium Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, the next ice cream inspired beer
New Belgium Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough hits shelves by month’s end. This is the second ice cream inspired beer, and collaboration with the ubiquitous Ben & Jerry’s.
This time last year, New Belgium released the very first Ben & Jerry’s partnership release – Caramel Brownie Brown Ale. The beer was paired with a Ben & Jerry’s special release ice cream by the same name to pair along with it. The beer was good. So was the ice cream, if you could find it. We never did unfortunately.
Things are different in 2016 with New Belgium Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ale. If you didn’t know, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough is B&J’s number one selling ice cream flavor. It is also the most readily available flavor. See where we are going with this? Unless you live on your own island, there is a beer and ice cream pairing in your future.
Now, about this beer. Please never expect a beer to taste exactly like the food that inspired it. Most are flavor interpretations. Go in with that expection, and you’ll have so much more fun with beer. The base for this Cookie Dough is a blonde ale, brewed with cocoa nibs, brown sugar and vanilla beans. The flavor dotes more on the “dough” aspect of the ice cream, rather than the full-on richness of the dessert. Great by itself, and even better if you calorically spluge on the ice cream as well. Go ahead. No judgement here.
A portion of the proceeds from the New Belgium Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ale will be donated to Protect Our Winters, a non-profit organization that raises awareness of climate change.
The brewery’s Folly Packs will see the beer first, followed by 6-packs going into November, 2016.
Style: Blonde Ale (w/ Cocoa Nibs, Vanilla Beans, Brown Sugar.)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. One-Time Release
Debut: Late October, 2016
6% ABV
