Dirty Blonde Ale - Atwater Block Brewery

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

2.73/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

"I made myself platinum, but I was born a dirty blonde."

--Mae West

Ripe lemon rind with lemonade colored borders and plenty of uprushing carbonation. The two finger crown is dirty ivory in color and is a little crackly from an auditory standpoint. That usually means featureless foam and almost no lace... which is exactly the case.

As far as I can tell, any beer that uses coriander and orange peel is a wit, not an APWA. That said, DB smells like a slightly more citrusy pale wheat. It is sort of orange-like (and lemon-like), but there's no spiciness of any kind. It's also grainy-husky and thoroughly uninteresting.

Atwater Block has done it again. Or not done it again, depending on your point of view. Dirty Blonde is not recognizable as a member of any one particular style and is not good beer in a general sense. APWA is probably closest to the mark, so maybe I should take back my 'it's a witbier' change request.

Very little malt is appreciated, either in terms of flavor or sweetness. The unmalted wheat does add a certain tart tanginess, however. Orange peel is noted only because I know it's there, and coriander is still nowhere to be found. No flavor hook is a negative. No overt nastiness is a positive... of sorts.

The body/mouthfeel is too light, even for the ABV, and is lacklusterly bubbled. It starts out very near watery and gets there long before the finish.

The only positive thing that I can say about Dirty Blonde Ale is that it isn't as horrendous as most of what Atwater Block brews. Instantly forgettable beer is preferable sometimes because the truly wretched ones tend to stick with me longer than I'd like.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2009 12:19:27 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.35/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Hmm, this one was kind of an enigma for me, changing as I went through the glass, served cold and poured into a pint glass, this one was consumed on 01/29/2010.

The pour was decent, light golden in color with a decent bit of cloudiness to it that never really did settle out much. Small puff of white on top of the glass faded out quite quickly leaving behind only some light lacing. Aroma is loaded with coriander and lemon zest but is rather one sided to be honest. Still decent with a clean, smooth feel to it, not as crisp as I would have thought but it still worked for it overall. Small dosed of coriander and lemon zest, hints of grass and light grians. Long, bright and lemon filled finish was long on the tongue after the sip was gone.

Overall a decent offering and better then I thought it would be although still nothing special.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2010 01:40:51 | More by mikesgroove

TMoney2591

Illinois

2.94/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

You know she's dirty 'cause o' the tramp stamp. And the fact she's a Tigers fan. Anyway, this stuff pours a clear straw topped by a finger of lightly cream-white foam. The nose comprises soapy orange peel, light wheat, and a touch of white bread. The taste takes this formula and adds a healthy amount of random funk, for lack of a better word, as well as a hint of lemon zest for the sake of it. The body is a rather light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a wet feel. Overall, a meek little beer, one that just plain didn't do it for me.

Serving type: can

07-14-2012 02:17:00 | More by TMoney2591

WesWes

New York

3.58/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a hazy gold color with a thick frothy white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is decent. It has a light pale wheat scent along with a bit of coriander and orange peel. It's refreshing with a citrus edge. The taste is decent as well. It has a dry wheat malt flavor that's light and easy drinking. It's quite citrusy with just a hint of coriander. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a medium bodied beer with good carbonation. This is a pretty good drinker. It's on par with Coors' Blue Moon.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2008 21:49:13 | More by WesWes

zeff80

Missouri

3.15/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - Poured out a cloudy, pale, straw yellow color with a small, white, bubbly head of foam. It was very fizzy and left a little to no lace.

S - It smelled of citrus, lemon, wheat and some clove.

T - This has a powerful lemon flavor with a mild wheat taste. There was a hint of yeast.

M - It was crisp and sharp with a snappy, fizzy mouthfeel. A very light bodied brew.

D - This is an okay wheat beer. Just too much lemon for it to be a regular in my fridge.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2009 02:09:18 | More by zeff80

jwc215

New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev +28.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours cloudy yellow with white head that fizzles down to a thin cover.

The smell is of orange, tart lemon, coriander/black pepper, some apricot/peach, with some lightly toasted bready.

The taste is of tart lemon/orange. A malty backbone gives a touch of sweetness with a bready, spicy dry finish.

The body is light. Carbonation is on the border of prickly and effervescent (despite not seeing much bubbles).

The other beers I've had from this brewery have had a tart/sour undertone. Maybe because of the style, it works well here. It's an American Pale Wheat with wit spicing, that works well here. A refreshing summer-time brew!

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2009 03:27:16 | More by jwc215

tempest

Pennsylvania

2.93/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

On-tap at Liberty St. Tavern in Allentown, PA. Appears hazy dark blonde. There's nothing very remarkable about this beer. It was a slightly sweet wheat malt flavor so it kind of just tastes like sugary liquid bread. No hops to speak of and while it's easy-drinking and balanced, it's not really a pleasure to drink. It just does nothing for me.

Serving type: on-tap

07-29-2009 02:28:03 | More by tempest

WVbeergeek

Ohio

2.94/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

Slightly hazed body, eggshell white head forms a cloudy three fingers worth with fine even lacing. Aroma has a nice sharp wheat and citrus combo with very mild spice additions, limited coriander which is usually a good thing for my palate. Flavor wise there's some biscuit bread dough layers with a very chalky yeast in the finish, slight hint of citrus peel and coriander with a relatively lackluster overall flavor. Carbonation is light, not much on the palate as far as textures go but still not a horrible beer, under 4.5% it's light and refreshing and keeps you wanting to experience the next sip. It has a trademark Atwater characteristic it misses the mark on the style and ends in a generic watered down version of a witbier, I appreciate it for what it is but can't really look at this as a beer I want to keep buying.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 16:23:54 | More by WVbeergeek

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.23/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Golden color, lightly cloudy (more than chill haze). Moderate head that doesn't leave any lace.

I smell olives, not sure why. Mild aroma of light colored malts. Not unpleasant.

It has some soured cream flavor on the initial sip...distracting but not awful. Very little wheat flavor. In fact, this tastes more like a cream ale. Good body with a high level of carbonation. Some lactose in the aftertaste but I can't detect any hop.

This is a reasonable beer to drink, but not to impress.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2008 18:19:53 | More by smcolw

Billolick

New York

3.08/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12 ounce can, without freshness/canning date info.

The poor is hazed medium tangerine, fine bubble off white head, leaves some fine lacing on the glass.

Sniff reveals just some faint wheat malts, and a very faint fruitiness.

Slight drying in the finish. Forgettable little brew, would be decent on a very hot summer day with a light lunch. Besides that situation not much chance I would go for this one again

Serving type: can

09-03-2012 22:42:42 | More by Billolick

Bighuge

Minnesota

2.95/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Cloudy and muddled light orange body. Creamy one finger white head. Lace comes in droopy rings. Strong aroma of coriander and orange peel. It's nice though. I like it. Plus some faint lemon zest and biscuity malt aromas. The flavor is a little too high on the artificial "orange" notes. There's some tangy wheat tones as well. A little too tangy and sour. Mouthfeel is a little flaccid and lifeless. This one is average at best.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2008 02:10:27 | More by Bighuge

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

First had: bottle from Pinocchio's beer garden, Media, PA

Poured a slightly cloudy light golden-yellow with a fizzy white head that didn't retain much at all. Grainy, bready aroma, lightly toasted, with hints of citrus zest. Similar taste, biscuity, grainy, a yeasty sensation, mild wheat profile, crisp citrus an a touch of spice. Pretty good blonde ale, but not really my style. Light body, and fairly drinkable for a hot summer day I suppose.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2011 18:44:34 | More by Rifugium

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.48/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured a pale staw/blonde, fairly translucent with a 1 finger, fizzy bone white head that quickly settled within the first minute to a patchy covering. Light and lazy carbonation makes its way upward while no visible lacing was left.

S: fresh orange peels and a dominant pale wheat aroma, which was limited in strength and complexity. Soft, mundane at times, was only slightly better then average per style. I failed to detect any coriander.

T: The flavor starts off with lightly tart tangerines and a pale wheat malting making for a good start. Light hints of lemon peels, lime add quenching citrus tones. Overall a nice wheat base, that delivers a subtle dryness to the overall palate is nicely offset with some thirsty wet citrus and lime notes balancing things out.

M: delivers a good tingle of carbonation, fizzy with a medium full body. Playful and edgy feel, perhaps a bit to much so per style, but does livens things up.

D: Overall better the average showing here. A nice dry pale wheat backing with wet citrus and lime notes blend together making for a decent summer time blonde. Goes down easily enough, would beat the heat with just the right amount of abv at 4.5% making for a good lawnmower beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2009 23:10:59 | More by beerthulhu

plaid75

New York

3.6/5  rDev +18%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at the Waterfornt Ale House, Brooklyn, New York.

Poured a hazy dark straw hue with a one finger foamy white head. There was decent retention and good lacing.

The smell featured light coriander, orange and wheat zest.

The taste consisted of a soft wheat malt, some yeast esters and a subtle coriander spice.

The mouthfeel was toward the thinner side of the style and a touch more carbonated.

Overall a decent wit. What it lacks on complexity it makes up for in drinkability.

Serving type: on-tap

07-13-2009 15:55:44 | More by plaid75

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

2.9/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

CAN you believe it?!? Once again, I feel CANpelled to open my review with a disclaimer. Yes, the serving type really was a CAN, again courtesy of Friday's visit to Pinocchio's. It would be extremely poor form to attribute a non-CANned beer to The CANQuest (TM) and I have never knowingly done so.

From the CAN: "Beer is good."; "Enjoy Everyday!"

Oooh, so you're a Dirty Blonde, eh, baby? Just remember, it's only kinky the first time. After that, it's de rigeur. Plus, who is to decide what is "dirty" and what is not? Huh, the "Dirty Blonde" distinction refers to your natural hair color? Well, why didn't anybody tell me until now? Just as Emily Litella often said, "Never mind."

The Crack revealed another brimful CAN and the excitement led to an inverted Glug, it turn leading to a fizzy finger of bone-white head that quickly reduced to wisps. Color was a hazy lemon-yellow. Nose smelled more like a Wit (note from the CAN: "Ale Brewed with Orange Peel and Coriander."), thanks to the adjuncts. I definitely caught the orange peel initially, followed by the inherent spiciness of the coriander on the nose. Mouthfeel was medium and the taste was much more like a Wit than an APWA. I would submit a correction, but the BFG program has been disestablished, so apparently the program will somehow pick up this discrepancy at some point. In the meantime, I will CANsider it as an APWA. It had a nice orange citrusiness on the tongue, followed by the peppery spiciness of the coriander. Finish was quite dry, very nice for summer. I'd take a Dirty Blonde to the beach with me.

Serving type: can

08-05-2012 20:48:44 | More by woodychandler

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.7/5  rDev +21.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This ale comes out of the tap a hazy light golden yellow with a decent white head. Aroma is not strong but fairly wheaty and appealing. Flavor is firm and wheaty with a good citrusy, mainly lemony, undertone. Texture is fairly smooth and quite fizzy.

Serving type: on-tap

07-08-2010 00:48:06 | More by Cyberkedi

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

2.8/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12oz bottle served in a standard pint glass.

Clear yellow color with a white head that thinned to a layer and left a few spots of lacing.
The smell is sour citrus.
The taste is rather sour as well, sour white grapes with a bit of malted wheat thrown in.
Light bodied with good carbonation for the style.
It's got low abv and it goes down easy, it's just a little too sour/acidic for my liking.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2009 16:50:04 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

Jwale73

Rhode Island

2.38/5  rDev -22%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Served in a tumbler. Poured a pale, translucent straw color with lots of tiny effervescent bubbles and some tiny yeast floaties. Two inch, rocky white head began to collapse within seconds before settling into a thin foamy cap. Some lacing, but poor adhesion. Scent was clean, pale wheat, some citrus and a light hoppiness. Taste was weak and watery; a pale comparison of the nose (no pun intended), with a great deal of citric acid coming forth. Mouthfeel was bitingly astringent and light-bodied. Carbonation was also a little high. Considering this brew would and should qualify for a session beer based on style and character, I was dissapointed at how it all came together and how unrefreshing it was.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2008 19:42:56 | More by Jwale73

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +25.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a brown 22 oz. bottle. Has a golden color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of malts, a touch of wheat and oranges. Taste is good, orange, coriander, very refreshing. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall this is a highly enjoyable summer time beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2011 14:29:50 | More by tone77

NJpadreFan

New Jersey

2.88/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Atwater- Dirty Blonde

A- Light pale yellow with a small filmy head. No lacing.
S- Faint lemon and orange. Touch of honey and grass.
T-Light sweet honey and orange tainted wheat. Light grainy malt body.
M- Very light and watery. Sweet honey throughout. Finishes off malty.

Overall- Weak and watery but easy to drink and slightly refreshing on a hot day.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2009 19:51:52 | More by NJpadreFan

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

2.68/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a bottle into a tumbler pint, the beer is a bright, pale, hazy, yellow-gold with a half inch, bright white, foamy head that settles rapidly into a thin film. Roasted malt nose, with a slight highlight of orange citrus and some spicing, but too faint to pick out specifics. The beer is watery, with a cereal roast initial flavor that stands over all other taste profiles. There is a tangy malt sweet highlight, and a splash of citrus, but all the flavors seem watered down, overall. The aftertaste is a very, very, very slight citrus tart, and the finish is blink of an eye quick. Not even long enough to think too much about the flavors that aren't there.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2011 01:33:09 | More by GarthDanielson

ClockworkOrange

Pennsylvania

2.58/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A 12 ounce bottle poured into my standard shaker glass. The ale appears a hazed deep yellow color with barely a finger of quickly fading off white head. Nose and flavor are of lightly toasted grains, sweet dinner rolls, very mild notes of citrus and spices. A tad thin in body with ample carbonation. As with most beers from this brewery, simply not worth your time or calories.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2009 17:24:59 | More by ClockworkOrange

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Trying the Dirty Blonde...that's how I like my blondes!!! Anyway...the beer pours a cloudy yellow with thin white head that is not lacing. The smell includes orange zest and floralness. The taste carries much the same as the smell but has a nice wheat base to it. The mouthfeel is lighter in body with decent carbonation. Overall it isnt a bad beer.

Serving type: can

11-03-2012 22:55:59 | More by WoodBrew

david131

Michigan

2.33/5  rDev -23.6%
look: 1.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A- This is kind of gross looking. I would describe it as a cloudy gray yellow beer. The head is white with some retention. I just cannot get over the color of this.

S- Lots of orange peel and corriander. A little bready. Kind of reminds me of a subdued Blue Moon.

T- This tastes like sour fruity pebbles. Bready and watery with a splash of fruit.

M- A little watery. Kind of reminds me of a flat soda.

D- I am glad I only got a single of this. I guess it would be fine on a really hot day, but really, what's the point? The best part about this is the label

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2008 23:42:06 | More by david131

number1bum

Pennsylvania

2.38/5  rDev -22%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Part of NEPA BC split #16.

The bottle features a skanky looking blonde with the Detroit Tigers logo tattooed on her back. Interesting way to show the brewers Tiger pride.

Pours a somewhat hazy pale golden color with a fizzy inch or so of nearly white head. Head recedes to a thin but pretty full but doesn't leave any stick.

Smell has some tart lemon as well as some fruit juice like sweetness, and some wheat and a bit of spice. Not that bad, but there is soemthing about it that is a bit off.

Taste is immediately acidic and off-putting. Has a harsh, sharp metallic and lemon flavor that's just not pleasant. Bit of wheat flavor and some spicing, too, but the harsh acidic flavor just kills it.

Mouthfeel is pretty thin, and luckily the carbonation is enough to not allow you to hold it long in the mouth anyway.

This is pretty lousy. Not very pleasant to drink at all. I won't be back.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2008 19:31:57 | More by number1bum