Oval Beach Blonde Ale - Saugatuck Brewing Company

CortexBomb

Michigan

4.9/5  rDev +41.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I'd never heard of Saugatuck Brewing Company before running into this bottle randomly at Goodrich's. Bomber. Blonde Ale...why not?

Suffice to say, I'm extremely impressed by this offering and I'm going to be looking for more by these folks in the future. Beautiful beer all the way around: straw yellow pour with plenty of carbonation. The beer and the aroma are both smoothly malty with a tang that I think is either paradise seed or lemon (possibly both) and a slight woody sour tang at the finish. Fairly complex but not overly so; enough interesting elements to result in a real winner, particularly for the style (which I always keep in mind when I'm rating).

For the style of beer this is about tops of my list. It has enough character to draw you in, but is still smooth drinking, and I could easily see throwing back a few of these sitting on the beach in June.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2010 18:54:06 | More by CortexBomb

SeanSweeney

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +8.1%

05-19-2013 17:53:08 | More by SeanSweeney

rkf1976

Michigan

2/5  rDev -42.4%

04-21-2013 00:43:41 | More by rkf1976

HardyA

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -6.3%

04-20-2013 18:07:11 | More by HardyA

Kerrie

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -6.3%

04-08-2013 16:42:32 | More by Kerrie

Dyerseve

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -6.3%

03-09-2013 21:58:10 | More by Dyerseve

Bubba569

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +8.1%

03-02-2013 21:47:50 | More by Bubba569

DragonzBreath

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%

02-23-2013 13:28:45 | More by DragonzBreath

ROBSTARR

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +8.1%

02-15-2013 14:36:08 | More by ROBSTARR

NSK79

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -6.3%

02-10-2013 07:30:52 | More by NSK79

Zuidman

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%

02-03-2013 04:15:36 | More by Zuidman

Smextongo

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev +8.1%

01-25-2013 03:43:56 | More by Smextongo

vader06

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +8.1%

12-30-2012 22:26:31 | More by vader06

scruffwhor

Illinois

2.98/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Color is a hazey banana peel and unmalted barley grain. Vibrant bubbling beneath a three finger head that recedes to a three-quarter moon after a few sips. Looks pretty tasty to me.

Very clean almost unmalted grain aroma with light earthy and grassy hops aromas. Smells light and refreshing.

A little bland. Unmalted and faintly toasted malts. A little lemony and grassy citrus from the hops. The carbonation is great and enhances the light, dry palate.

This beer lacks in flavor, but still an easy, refreshing beer to drink.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 00:52:44 | More by scruffwhor

enelson

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +8.1%

11-24-2012 17:23:16 | More by enelson

dmorgan310

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%

11-23-2012 01:53:30 | More by dmorgan310

TMoney2591

Illinois

2.8/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

An oval-shaped parking lot? Doesn't sound all that appetizing to me... Anyway, this stuff pours a clear golden-straw topped by a finger of lightly off-white foam. The nose comprises mild lemon peel, very light grass, and a hint of light wheat. The taste holds notes of lightly funky wheat, lemon rind, old pine needles, and a pinch of coriander. Things don't really jive all that well on my tongue, mates. The body is a hefty light, with a moderate carbonation and a generally fluid feel. Overall, a decent blonde at best, one that really doesn't taste very good to me, and one that doesn't have many qualities to help redeem it.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 01:31:57 | More by TMoney2591

Mick-e-d

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%

11-18-2012 04:02:08 | More by Mick-e-d

emerge077

Illinois

3.33/5  rDev -4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Label is printed "130115 693" in the upper right corner, possibly a best by date of "01-15-13".

Pours a hazed bright orange that reflects a good amount of light. Initial head of a fingers width or so, that rises and falls quickly before the first sip. Not much coverage, a bare thread of skim around the edge is all that's left after the first couple sips.

Smell is yeasty and sulfuric at first, becoming sweet and grainy afterward with a light hint of apple.

Flavor is straightforward and simple, crackers from the malt, apples from the yeast, dry floral note from the hop addition. Body is lightly astringent with medium carbonation and a slight slickness to it. Overall a passable beer for a summer bbq, but a rainy November afternoon calls for something different.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 19:15:06 | More by emerge077

cmoody91

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -6.3%

11-04-2012 22:38:44 | More by cmoody91

klipper

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%

10-27-2012 06:21:52 | More by klipper

blazinworm

Michigan

4/5  rDev +15.3%

10-14-2012 02:03:53 | More by blazinworm

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

This is a pretty decent blonde. A bit too metallic and earthy on the backside for me. And the carbonation bites way too much. Those things aside, it's still an easy drinker and not too bad to drink. I am sure it would be nice on a hot day. But really, the carbonation needs to get toned down.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 01:14:25 | More by RblWthACoz

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

3.15/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Light, slightly hazy gold body with a soda pop type fizz/head that just dissipates.

The smell is just kind of there. Mostly sweet corn, light grains, and nothing more. I dont get any kind of hop bitterness. Maybe a bit of earthy hops, but thats a stretch. just the faintest hint of lemon very late.

Theres some kind of nice sweet malt that reminds me of light sweet corn, but I know its all grain. Upfront bite that hides a sweet earthy characteristic.

I mean its not terrible, but not all that great either.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 15:21:08 | More by VncentLIFE

GR_Rick

Michigan

3/5  rDev -13.5%

07-25-2012 02:49:25 | More by GR_Rick