Blonde - Goose Island Beer Co.

Hobbz

Rhode Island

3.7/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured a golden-yellow color with natural cloudiness providing its blonde nature. Aroma was an initial hoppy edge which lessened a bit with a malty nose. Its taste followed the "rule of opposites" to its smell in that its maltiness lingered first on the tongue and was followed by the perception of the bitterness hops. Nice carbonation and balance; this is a drinkable American blonde ale and a nice offering from Goose Island (my friend has brought back a couple other styles I am keen to sample).

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2003 19:54:59 | More by Hobbz

RBorsato

Virginia

4.43/5  rDev +26.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Hazy pale yellow with a low white head. Light fruity aroma and taste. Nice malt graininess with a light hop character. Medium bodied (leans light) and smooth.

One of my favorite beers of this past summer.

Best by: 05/14/02 Tasted: 12/28/02

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2002 07:35:55 | More by RBorsato

Kwak

New Jersey

3.68/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This sharp fruity crisp beer has toasted malt flavor and spicy hop aroma. Clearly refreshing and clensing to My palate. Greate with spicy food or salty snack. Goose Island makes greate beers and this is tops on my list!

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2002 23:33:58 | More by Kwak

Winter

Wisconsin

2.15/5  rDev -38.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Goose Island "Blande" Ale? Clear yellow color with a thin white head. Aroma is somewhat boring with hints of corn or grain. Taste was very crisp and clean, but nothing really stood out in the flavor or body of the beer. Very refreshing to drink when cold, not a lot going on here.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2002 19:00:59 | More by Winter

Bighuge

Minnesota

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

The beer pours a hazy light straw with a thin white head that has some retention. A nice lemon tanginess in the aroma and a bit of spicy hops on the nose as well. Light bodied and easy drinking. Has some refined maltiness and a very small hop character. Very little aftertaste. No bad off flavors. For a blonde ale, this isn't all bad, although I've had better.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2002 20:22:50 | More by Bighuge

Jordan

California

3/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Presentation is clear, pale straw yellow hue, with a quick to dissipate head. The look, flavor, and feel of this brew is very mediocre. It is as if it's saying "I was rushed, mass produced, and was crafted without quality ingrediants or attention." The flavors seem chaotic and random. There is no foundation from which other characteristics would present themselves.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2002 20:04:35 | More by Jordan

budgood1

Minnesota

3.88/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

dark gold in color, thin and wispy head. light crisp lemony aroma. clean crisp light malty taste with some hops to provide balance and slight bitterness. definite lager characteristics with enough ale body to make this really tasty. solid summer or any time brew.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2002 17:32:37 | More by budgood1

garymuchow

Minnesota

4.3/5  rDev +22.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I really like this blond ale. A nice fruity quality to the aroma surrounded by the maltiness. Pretty golden color. Small and quick head. Light overall taste, as might be expected. Nice soft quality overall. Good mix of malt and hops with a noticable dryness that is probably more than most for style. Has almost a lager quenching quality to it, yet the smoothness of the ales. Rather full mouthfeel, a combination of carbonation and body.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2002 18:47:37 | More by garymuchow

Brent

Kentucky

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

Moderate body and hops bittering with a faintly floral character. The hops struck me as a toned-down version of this brewery's IPA. Bittering was a tad heavy at the finish, but overall a very solid and enjoyable ale.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2001 14:16:47 | More by Brent

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

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

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

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

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

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

jahred

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +10%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Just had this on tap for the first time - much better than the bottled version. Looks like a typical light-colored ale. Initial taste is fairly sweet and peachy with a hint of apples. Not necessarily a bad thing - just unexpected. A bit of a wheaty taste for a golden ale. Lingering hoppy aftertaste.

I don't think I can drink the bottled version anymore after the much better tap version.

Serving type: on-tap

08-28-2003 22:36:15 | More by jahred

kaszeta

New Hampshire

3.63/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours, well, blonde---dark gold body with a thin wisp of a head.
It's got a nice floral hops aroma with some light fruitiness to it. More of a malty taste than most ales, but enough hops to give it a well-rounded flavor. Nice light and wet mouthfeel, perfect for a warm day after a game at Wrigley.

Serving type: on-tap

06-02-2003 12:08:55 | More by kaszeta

EagleTalon

Arkansas

3.9/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A good choice. Clingy tight head, clear golden color. nice dry bitterness, refreshing light ale aroma. Leaves a pleasant bitterness on the tongue. Not a typical "fizzy yellow beer" in my opinion. If you find yourself in Goose Island territory and you either want a nice blonde ale or want to introduce your macro-swill drinking friends to a better beer, try this one.

Serving type: on-tap

04-13-2003 00:59:54 | More by EagleTalon