Blonde - Goose Island Beer Co.

Lexx

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Ordered this at the clybourn brewpub.
Light, slightly cloudy lemony gold color with thin, whitish head.
The scent is mildly fruity, with very slight plum, grape and peach.
The taste is basically a slight, slight hoppiness with a little bit of fruitiness (same as in the scent), with a nice little sweetness in the finish.
Not my favorite, but was quite nice on a very hot day, and was very, very drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

05-29-2007 19:48:14 | More by Lexx

NJB145

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev 0%

05-19-2013 01:46:16 | More by NJB145

muskiesman

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev 0%

03-08-2013 23:05:29 | More by muskiesman

spycow

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -7.1%

01-17-2013 16:56:11 | More by spycow

Antnyd82

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev 0%

01-07-2013 02:33:58 | More by Antnyd82

BRD14

Illinois

3/5  rDev -14.3%

12-16-2012 17:39:23 | More by BRD14

NateMac13

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev 0%

08-17-2012 14:09:38 | More by NateMac13

kylehay2004

Florida

3.5/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed at the Clybourn location.

A: thin head on a cloudy blond body and nice lacing.

S: orange peel and sweet lemon custard with some pale malts and breads.

T: the flavor had mor of and orange peel and pineapple citrus flavor differing a little from the aroma. Breads and biscuit with a grainy base.

M: light body and moderate carbonation. Definitley drier than I like.

Overall: true to the style but I think this one would be more enjoyable if it wasnt as dry.

Serving type: on-tap

08-11-2012 18:21:41 | More by kylehay2004

shade13

3.25/5  rDev -7.1%

07-25-2012 20:49:18 | More by shade13

JohneHoodlum

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev 0%

07-19-2012 20:25:28 | More by JohneHoodlum

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a shaker pint glass at the Clybourn brewpub.

Gotta start out the drinking day somehow, so why not a GI Blonde, right? It pours a clear pale straw topped by a finger-and-a-half of white froth. The nose comprises light mandarin orange, lemon rind, and some light wheat. The taste brings in more of the same, along with a touch of tangerine. The body is fairly light, with a very light moderate carbonation and a slick, smooth, easygoing feel. Overall, a nice, mostly inoffensive bit o' summery goodness. Good start...

Serving type: on-tap

06-07-2012 00:03:59 | More by TMoney2591

macrosmatic

Florida

3/5  rDev -14.3%

04-10-2012 04:51:53 | More by macrosmatic

cdwil

Texas

3.5/5  rDev 0%

12-25-2011 20:06:32 | More by cdwil

Stygr

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served in a pint glass at the Clybourn brewpub.

A: Deep yellow color with a thin head

Smell: Hops apparent, but not pronounced, slight fruit

Taste: Not sure, ale, lager, altbier? bitterness is light, and malt is more prevalent

Mouthfeel: Like an Old Style draft. finish is crisp and dry.

Drinkability: Very drinkable, especially when chowing some bratwurst. and sauerkraut...mmm.

Serving type: on-tap

Serving type: on-tap

01-05-2009 21:22:05 | More by Stygr

jeonseh

Indiana

3.35/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at the Clybourn Brewpub on 1/8/08

Pale, golden color that was rather cloudy with gold accents streaming throughout it. A rather light and quickly disintegrating white head.

The smell was there but not much. It was pretty fruity and a thought it seemed like a mix of black cherry and a lgiht citrus, especially lemon and orange smell.

At first the mouth and tongue are hit with a light bitter hops taste that slowly fades away into the fruity, cherry citrus mix that I could smell in the nose of this beer. It kinda reminded me of the Honker's ale but had a smaller hop profile and a bit more sweet fruit taste to it than the honkers. That was the main thing that I could keep thinking was that this was a lighter and sweeter Honker's Ale.

The mouthfeel was rather depressing compared to the rest of this beer. There was really nothing at all there and it was all very light bodied. I felt in terms of the mouth feel that there was nothing different from a BMC and this brew.

It was rather drinkable for the sole fact that it was so light. It did go very well with the salmon salad that I drank it with and I do have to commend the bartender for recommending this beer to go with the salad. It was rather smooth and not too challenging of a beer but it was more hoppy than your normal smooth BMC. I could definitely see this being an entry beer for a BA to introduce a BMC drinker to since it was like the normal BMC but a bit hoppier than the normal BMC since it actually had some bitter flavors to it. Could drink a lot of this for the sole fact that it was light and could be happy because complex enough to make me feel like i'm drinking beer without being bored.

Serving type: on-tap

01-08-2008 05:06:08 | More by jeonseh

Redrover

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Sampled on cask at the Wrigley outpost. I was hoping for something a little more adventurous, but was pleasantly surprised by how good this one was.

The beer was a hazy gold with a tight eggshell colored head. Nice lace patterns.

The nose was of malts, a bit of lemon peel and fresh bread.

The taste was surprisingly complex. Sweet malts complimented by an underpinning of citrus hops. I don’t think it was my imagination, but I picked–up a bit of a woody taste in the background. Is this due to the cask, or the beer its self? Regardless, it was a nice subtle addition to the taste.

The mouth as expected was incredibly soft with gentle carbonation. This is a near perfect session beer. It’s complex enough to keep your interest and smooth enough to drink the entire day. I know Goose promotes this beer as a gateway offering, but this one blew away my expectations.

Serving type: cask

04-10-2006 16:01:51 | More by Redrover

styrene

Illinois

3.65/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a pint glass at the Clybourn brewpub.

Appearance: Deep yellow color with a thin head that disappeared after about a minute.

Smell: Very little noticeable smell.

Taste: Hmmm..is this an ale or a lager? Hop bitterness is light to non-existent, while the malt character is quite robust. It's kind of bready, and I can't stop thinking that the term "ale" to describe this beer might be a misnomer.

Mouthfeel: Substantial but not overbearing. The finish is crisp and dry.

Drinkability: While this would make a great session beer, I was slightly disappointed that it wasn't more "ale"-like. This was, however, my first beer in this particular style, and I guess I could say that my curiosity has been piqued.

Serving type: on-tap

03-31-2006 03:55:02 | More by styrene

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.5/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

It's basically a weak pale ale. Looks medium straw, which is better than most Blondes I've had. Frothy white head that stands above over active carbonation, but then fades to a lace. Smells slightly malty, sour, and bitter. Clean to the nose. Light malt, and powdered sugar flavors. Obvious use of cereal grains as adjuncts creates a complex grain flavor, albeit light. Low hopping helps with the crispness, offsetting sweetness, and added flavor. Nice creaminess and viscocity for a Blonde, maybe becase of use of wheat. It's a good clean beer. No errors, but not very exciting either.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2005 13:11:17 | More by BEERchitect

Gaisgeil

Michigan

3.95/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On cask at the Clyborne location.

Now I've not had this bottled or on standard tap, but it was very impressive on cask, very smooth and understated but highly refreshing. Pours a medium golden yellow with a thick and substantial creamy head to match, beautiful. Nose is understated, a bit bready. Taste is very nice indeed, smooth and very well balanced, neither stealing the show. There is a light fruitiness here coupled with a bready quality, very nice.

Slàinte!

Serving type: cask

05-23-2005 14:18:33 | More by Gaisgeil

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle obtained via trade with CRJMellor. Thanks for the opportunity...

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 3/4" bright white head over the sparkly golden brew. Head lasts well, and lacing is very nice. Aroma is lightly of pale malt sweetness, with a slight citrus tinge. Taste shadows the nose, with the hops sedate and more or less overpowered by the malts. Closes crisply, though. Mouthfeel is smooth and clean, and drinkability is great. An easy going down blonde, which is pretty much their purpose in life, I think.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2005 22:37:16 | More by ppoitras

Zorro

California

2.7/5  rDev -22.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Pours a mildly clouded yellow brew, looks sort of like a macro.

Smell is not much faint biscuit malt and a faint whiff of citrus hops.

Taste is mildly sweet with a fairly stiff hop bitterness for the sweetness level. There is a faint biscuit malt flavor to this but it isn't much.

Mouthfeel is thin, like a Bud Light.

Drinkability is like a light beer; it is drinkable like water but not much better than a Budweiser or any other macrobrew. I can't recommend this.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2005 03:23:32 | More by Zorro

mobyfann

Ohio

3.45/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Paid $10.99 for the Pub Pack...

The beer pours a semi-clear golden base with a medium white head, average head rentention and some notes of lacing on the edges. The aromas were a bit faint of malt and some other grain product.

The taste is pretty good, very grainy taste, one-dimensional beer. The mouthfeel is good, it's a smooth beer from start to finish, not too bad on the palette either. The drinkability I must give a 3, I could have another, but probably wouldn't like it so much.

Final Thought: I think this is the weakest link from the Goose Island collection; still, not too shabby of a beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2005 04:17:23 | More by mobyfann

granger10

Wisconsin

3.43/5  rDev -2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Light golden hazy color with a small head. This one seems to be a little lifeless. Smell and taste seem to go hand in hand with a bready sweetness, residual honey flavors, and lightly spiced hops in the finish. The flavors go well and are refreshing, but nothing really excites me here. Definitely a beer to introduce your MBC beer friend. Good for its style. Thanks Craig.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2005 18:41:12 | More by granger10

mynie

Indiana

3.28/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pale straw colored, nicely bubbly with a very nice head.

Smells like an adjunct. Malty grain and corn. It's okay. There's a bit of a hop odor that become more prominent as the beer wears on.

Very sweet grain flavor up front. Uncomplicated, unimpressive. Not bad, though. The complex, slightly floral hops at the back end come in to save the day.

Nice, very foamy mouthfeel. These go down smooth, as well.

Not a bad brew all in all, but I couldn't see myself buying a whole six pack.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2004 01:18:28 | More by mynie

skybluewater

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a pale yellow color. Smells a bit lemony, which is nice. Lemon comes through in the taste as well, which again is nice, but not really what I'm looking for in a beer during a howling winters eve.

Nevertheless, this is an easy drinking brew. Not the best GI offering, but you could do a lot worse than this one.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2004 04:11:11 | More by skybluewater