Scuttlebutt Homeport Blonde

Haven’t had a blonde in a while… bad dum dum… especially of the brew type… so Scuttlebutt Homeport Blonde didn’t have a lot of comparison… but I know what I like and so we will go from there… and they are NW natives out of Everett, so they can’t be too far off…

Pours a very light yellow, almost pilsner or american lager in color. Small head. Nose is sweet and smells a bit of honey. Taste is sweet and malty… with very light hop additions, I am guessing. Finish is meh… just kind of dies on you. Overall not bad… not great and so there you go.  This blonde can keep out of my fridge…

JBB6 Rating: Middle of the Road

Metolius Damsel Blonde Ale

Metolius Damsel Blonde Ale is the second of two Metolius beers I had the other night.  While the Metolius Golden Stone Amber Ale (the first) was on the high end of Middle of the Road, this one is definitely at the bottom.  It shared the same sweetness as the amber but didn’t have any of the other complexity to make this a beer worth drinking.  Very blah and I honestly would take Olympia over this one if given the choice. 

My overall recommendation on Metolius is to stay away, regardless of the price.  There are plenty of other good beers out there that you can still get on the cheap.

JBB6 Rating: Middle of the Road

Beach Bum Blonde Ale

I just happened to see this beer at Albertson’s today while picking up some teriyaki for dinner and decided I needed to give it a try – Beach Bum Blonde Ale.  I am always intigued by the big American breweries and their dabbling in smaller runs and specialty beers.  I figured this one would go the same way Wild Blue did and go straight to the bottom of the list…

I was actually quite wrong this time around and very happy about that.  It went quite well with the teriyaki, first of all (they should put *that* on their fact sheet).  Second, though, you really couldn’t taste any of the undertones they did mention on the fact sheet.

This is a solid mild beer that won’t have you begging for more but will have you ready to have another.  The initial pour was great, high head and stayed with me for a while.  The color is a deep orange gold… very appealing.  The nose is mild and unassuming.  The taste is smooth and mellow, kind of like drinking a warm cream soda but without the sweet and with 5.4% ABV.  Very simple finish but not bad by any means.

Overall, this isn’t the beer to end all beers or anything, but it is a good solid beer that doesn’t taste like piss and keeps it real enough to leave me wishing I had purchased a 6 pack instead of one bottle.

JBB6 Rating: Will Buy Again

New Belgium Springboard Ale

With a Hokusai-inspired label and New Belgium’s reputation for inspired brewing, I was looking forward to an intriguing beer when I picked this up in QFC over the weekend. Promising a combination of “oats, ancient Chinese herbs, and Mt. Hood hops to maintain a balanced equilibirum” this blonde ale certainly hits the spot.

Like the label claims, this is a pretty refreshing brew – unfiltered, so there’s a certain creamy cloudiness to the pour that charms the eye. There’s a definete herbal bent to it, too. Not as far along the weird white wheat spectrum as a Hoegaarden, but a definite tang that adds to the complexity of the flavour. Peaches and coriander are what it reminds me of, though they’re not on the ingredients list.

Not overly hoppy, this beer found me in a relaxed and generous mood as I watched the kids bounce on the trampoline with the sun going down in the background. This was a decent ale to round off the late afternoon and get the evening started… definitely recommended for the summer drinking season.

JBB6 Rating: Will Buy Again

Redhook Blonde Ale

The beer fridge is officially on line and in production.  That being the case, I had to stop by the store and get some filler beer to make sure I had something for folks to drink if they came over.  I have designated a shelf for my tasting and the rest of the fridge will be for general consumption.  Seems to be working so far, although I am going to make a sign just to be double sure.

One of the beers I purchased tonight was Redhook Blonde Ale.  I love Redhook and I have been a fan of their ESB ever since I had it, but I haven’t ventured out into the other ales much.  So this and their IPA were sitting at the gas station and I thought that would be a good start to the fridge.

A job well done, if I must say so myself.  Redhook’s Blonde Ale is a solid blonde with plenty of mild flavored goodness for a chilly spring day.  I enjoyed it while the kids played in the cul-de-sac, sipping back 2 or three and giving neighbors some of my other beer stock.  All in all, the mild flavor and gentle kick of hops and malt brought this one home for me and made it hit the spot.

JBB6 Rating: Will Buy Again

FireStation5 Golden Brigade Blonde Ale

Likely the last beer post for about 1.5 weeks as we take the brood to Utah and Idaho to visit some family.  If I get the chance, I will get some local flavors up here, but not sure if they have the internet in either of those states yet, so we will see.

FireStation5 Golden Brigade Blonde Ale comes from another brewery that doesn’t know what the internets are used for.  Ah well, here is the goods…  Label: “You’re assured of great taste!” and “Blonde is light in color and body with a rich flavor.”  Looks like they are out of Ukiah, CA.

The beer pours nice and light, looking like it is going to be an ale, but the flavor comes through pretty true.  Not much of a head, although I tried.  The taste is light but has some kick.  The kick almost verges on the realms of bitter, though, which pulls this one back from being anything but Middle of the Road.  An average beer (sorry Dave!)

JBB6 Rating: Middle of the Road

New Belgium Springboard Ale

New Belgium Springboard Ale… I like this brewery.  I don’t think I have met a beer that I didn’t like that was brewed at the New Belgium Brewery (I particularly like their Skinny Dip in the summer time).  So that brings us to their Springboard Ale.  The first of two new beers from them in my fridge. 

So, how did it go?  Well, as good as I would expect from these folks… it didn’t disappoint at all.  Very light and refreshing, this blonde ale brings home a lightness and full flavor that I honestly wasn’t expecting.  It had just enough kick to keep it interesting and little enough of the bad beer side effects (bitterness and tart aftertaste) that I didn’t even understand how I had drained my mug so quickly.  A good head and beautiful light yellow color made it just as easy to look at as drink.  Highly recommended.

As a side note, their story is one that strikes optimism into the hearts of every serious beer drinker out there… read it here and tell me you don’t want to start brewing your own… especially if you happen to have an artist next door.

JBB6 Rating: For the Win