Bombshell Blonde - Southern Star Brewing Company

BeersCriteria

Texas

3.48/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Pours a hazy yellow with a white head.

S- Malty and bready along with a wheaty aroma.

T- The taste was malty and bready, like drinking brioche bread, it sort of reminded me of drinking a Boddingtons, the breadiness quality of it. It was a good blonde ale overall.

Food Pairing- I had this with pizza and it was a great combination.

Serving type: can

11-20-2011 18:05:17 | More by BeersCriteria

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.45/5  rDev -8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A fine Blonde ale with medium sweetness, English-like fruitiness, and a bit of kettle caramelization.

A very delicate and very pleasant floral, ester mix gives the impression of honey suckle and bubble gum. The beer seems to have a part Pilsner, part 2-row malt aroma along with a lot of fruitiness. Pears, apricots, and apples come to the forefront while the sweeter malt components and caramels follow closely behind. Soft herbal hops leave the nose a bit underwhelming.

I like the jab on the back of the can that says, "Clarity is overrated". I do agree but it makes this beer a bit less bright, thus less attractive than Blondes are noted. Caught somewhere between golden and straw, the beer starts with a stark white head that fades to a trace then remains. Slight lacing on the glass is a plus.

Even more fruity and sweet to taste than the nose suggested. An dominant green and red apple flavor makes me think there's some yeast issues going on here. Timid on attenuation, the beer remains sweet and less clean than refreshing. Mild hops struggle to offset the sweetness and offer slight herbal and floral taste.

The beer is a bit bigger than the crisper versions of Blondes that appeal to me. The extra sweetness and fruitiness proves to much in the end. Thanks Exiled!

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2009 13:27:13 | More by BEERchitect

AdamGarcia

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Thanks to JJFoodie for this xtra.

A: Pours a hazy straw color. Certainly better looking than a Budweiser. Head should've taken off it's coat and stayed a while.

S: I struggled to find much in the smell dept while this was cold. As it warms I'm getting a lot of bready aroma.

T: Not terrible. Actually, its ok...especially if I'm rating with style in mind. Lots more flavor than anything from BMC, even a little bit of hop presence.

M: Carbonation alright. Kinda prickly mouthfeel.

D: Could definitely put back a few of these on a sunny day.

I cracked this beer after an indoor soccer game cause I wanted something mild. This would make a nice summer session beer. I would probably pick up some of this if it were available to me because it would be acceptable to my non-craft beer drinking friends. Glad I got to try it.

Serving type: can

03-18-2010 04:47:43 | More by AdamGarcia

JonathanL7890

Texas

3.43/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Dig Pub.

A 2 finger white foamy head and a golden yellow color.

Smell: Malty, floral hops, Some type of noble hops.

Taste: Malty, bready, very little bitterness. About the lowest IBU beer I've ever had for this style.

Mouthfeel: good -- although a little more malt or doing a decoction would make this a much better beer.

Drinkability: Excellent. Great for a Texas summer. I expect this will stake out a permanent tap at the Dig and will compete favorably with Firemans #4.

Overall, a very nice beer. I wish it had a little better mouthfeel.

Serving type: on-tap

03-10-2009 21:15:38 | More by JonathanL7890

jkrich

Indiana

3.43/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. can with no freshness date poured a slightly hazy, golden-orange with a creamy, sustained head.

Very faint, sweet malty aromas.

This is very malty yet extremely refreshing. Nothing cloying even as the ale warms. There is a slightly fruity, bitter hoppiness in the background.

Light bodied with good spritzy carbonation. There is an off-putting bitter flavor that does detract from the mouthfeel.

The refreshing light body and low ABV make this a good quaffer for the spring or summer. It is not very complex and the aforementioned strange bitter flavor keeps this one from a higher rating. Still well worth trying.

Serving type: can

03-14-2010 23:36:27 | More by jkrich

Zorro

California

3.38/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Gold colored beer with a slight chill haze and a small white colored head.

Smells mostly of malt and powdery yeast scent. Hops are not all that evident mostly a citrus aroma with a slight grassy edge.

Starts out pleasantly malty with a slight caramel and grain flavor. That is pretty much it, lots of grain and slight caramel flavor.

Mouthfeel is full.

Where this beer actually shines is in its mildness. Lager smooth and completely inoffensive with a big grain flavor, very easy on the taste buds.

Serving type: can

02-24-2010 02:45:09 | More by Zorro

DavoleBomb

Ohio

3.38/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a perfect pint.

3.0 A: Moderately hazed golden brownish color. One finger of frothy white head. Retention is a touch below average and no lacing is left.

3.0 S: Grassy/hay and lemon. Light biscuity maltiness and yeasty breadiness. The nose is pretty faint overall though.

3.5 T: Grassy hops with hay, lemongrass, and lemon zest. Pleasant biscuity sweetness with a light yeastiness. As good as the nose, but more powerful.

3.5 M: Light to lighter medium body. Good moderate carbonation. Crisp despite the yeastiness and smooth. Could use some more creaminess though.

3.5 D: Fairly tame, but tasty and easy to drink.

Serving type: can

03-02-2012 01:36:00 | More by DavoleBomb

acevenom

Louisiana

3.38/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours hazy gold with a massive, fluffy biege head. The head dissipates slowly, leaving some lacing on the side of the glass. The head retains very well. The smell is pretty mild, but I can detect some breadiness as well as some citrus. The taste is bready with some strong citrus flavor. There is some bitterness on the back end. The body is light to medium. The beer is refreshing and easy to drink. Overall, this is a good beer. This would be great for drinking on a hot summer day.

Serving type: can

04-16-2012 01:37:30 | More by acevenom

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

3.35/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Big thanks to Rbald42 for sending me this beer. Great guy.

Pours from the can with a big fluffy white head that hangs around for quite some time. The beer was a touch darker than I had expected. A light amber color with lots of gold highlights. Kind of a dull finish. Clinging lacing everywhere.

Aroma is a dough, light malt with a lot of yeasty notes.

Flavor does follow the aroma and was doughy to me. Almost undercooked...(tasting) There is a yeast flavor and a little chalk. A touch grassy.

Body is light again a little chalk grit.

Drinkable but not complex. You don't beg for another. Lawnmower beer.

Glad I had the opportunity to try this.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2010 23:59:06 | More by Reagan1984

Keffa

Ohio

3.35/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

Bought at Beverage Source in Newark Ohio.

Poured from a 12 oz. Can into a Unibroue tulip.

A- Dark gold, nice off-white head, sticky, rocky, lasting. Turns into 1/4 inch ring. Lacing on the glass stays through the whole glass. Looks excellent. Makes me want to drink it.

S- Caramel malt, yeast, not much else to be honest. Zero hop presence. Not nearly the same enthusiasm to drink after the smell.

T- Slight sweetness from the "Vienna" malt and a slight spicyness from the yeast. Very bready. Almost no hop again. If it weren't for the tiny bit on the finish I wouldn't have said they used hops. Disappointing to say the least.

M- Creamy, smooth. Nice feel, for sure. I wish the rest of the beer was this good.

D- It does give some semblance of drinkability, if a straight forward, malt heavy, non-balanced beer is your style. For me, I tried it. If I were offered it again, I would respectfully decline it.

Serving type: can

05-25-2010 02:47:08 | More by Keffa

zhanson88

California

3.35/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got this one courtesy of atxdelivery as an extra in a trade. Thanks!

Appearance: Blonde Bombshell pours a light golden color with slight orange highlights and 1.5 fingers of white head. Retention is pretty nice, and lacing is very nice. Good looking beer.

Smell: Lots of sweet, bready malts and slight citrus and piney hops. Hops are very light, but that's not surprising considering the style. Still, not bad.

Taste: Bready malts and some sweetness are prevalent up front, with a light kick of hops on the back end. Finish is bready and slightly citrusy.

Mouthfeel/Drinkability: Light bodied, but the carbonation is really nice. Pretty smooth going down. This is a really well-done blonde ale, and very drinkable. It has just enough flavor to make it sessionable and give you a desire to have several.

Serving type: can

03-04-2011 04:01:04 | More by zhanson88

teampishko

Illinois

3.35/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Right off the bat, I was surprised by the color. For a Blonde, it pours a hazy orange. Initially left a decent white head, but it quickly dissipated to just a thin layer. No lacing present on the tulip glass either. Picked up a grassy, and almost wheaty aroma, with just the faintest floral hop aromas. The crispness I was expecting was there, but hidden behind the light caramel flavor from the Vienna malt.

Overall, seems more like a light pale ale than a blonde, but on a warm night, this would go down easily, again and again

Serving type: can

05-06-2011 00:52:19 | More by teampishko

steve8robin

Massachusetts

3.33/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

First brew I have ever tried from this brewery. 12oz can...

A: A slightly clear / slightly hazy golden straw color with a small white head that fades quickly to a lace. Decent.

S: A mild, hidden wheat scent upfront with not much else going on. A slight tea scent. Eh.

T: A hint of spicy strong wheat upfront blended with some tea in the middle and almost some mild spice and almost pumpkin flavors on the backend. Very easy and smooth. Good.

M: Medium body with a fabulous carbonation! A nice bready finish. Very good.

O: All in all, this is a solid brew. Not much going on in the scent but a very easy and natural taste. Great to try if you like session brews and have access.

Serving type: can

04-14-2011 02:36:41 | More by steve8robin

number1bum

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev -12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

More thanks go out to krisandajt for this can.

Pours a cloudy tangerine-tinted, rich golden color with about one finger of ivory head. I would have expected a lighter color given that they call it a blonde ale. Keeps a thin but nto very full lace and leaves a bit of stick here and there.

Smell is lemony and sweet, with a bready quality to it. This smells an awful lot like a pale ale to me, with the citrus hops and some pale malt sweetness.

Taste stats off with some sweet malt, bread and a bit of grassy hop flavor. Biggest hop flavor is lemon, with a zesty quality to it. The finish is pretty sweet; too sweet in my opinion. Some good flavor here, but I need something to cleanse this sweetness off my tongue...

The mouthfeel on this one is way off from what I'd expect in a blonde or a lighter beer of any kind. It's a solid medium body but has a cloying quality with the sweet finish. Carbonation is pretty low, and it just finishes messy and leaving me want a sip of water.

Meh, I'm not in love with this one. It's decent, but odd. I'm not sure what kind of occasion I'd want to drink this on. It's not crisp or refreshing enough (it's not refreshing at all) to be a go to summer beer in my opinion, and that's the one place I could see it fitting. It doesn't, though. A puzzling little beer. I don't think I'd come back to it.

Serving type: can

05-30-2010 01:46:12 | More by number1bum

jujubeast6000

Texas

3.28/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Reviewed 10/25/2008 (Draft @ Southern Star Brewery, Conroe, TX):

Pours a golden yellow colored amber body, with a frothy white head, good lacing, somewhat diminishing. Somewhat fruity aroma, some pale hoppiness. No very strong. Hoppy dryish taste. Tasty light taste. Creamy-like.

Serving type: on-tap

02-22-2009 19:38:47 | More by jujubeast6000

DavidST

Texas

3.28/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a pint can into a pint glass, non canned date. This pours a near clear light yellow color with a large off white head which has goo retention and leaves a lacing. The smells are of light grassy hops and crisp malts, something closer to a pilsener. The feel is medium to light. The taste is okay, pretty light with a little malts and hops, disappointing.

Serving type: can

10-24-2012 04:44:55 | More by DavidST

ryanmac06

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - It looks just like a ABA should look like with the welcomed addition of potential for a 1-2 finger frothy head. Pored a hazy golden color.

S - The smell of this beer is very subdued. It doesn't lend anything to the taste of this beer. There is a faint bland malt smell

T - If there was any nose on this beer it would definitely help the taste. The beer comes in with a very bread dominated taste. Unfortunately the beer is not as well balanced as I would like and is overly malty. I realize this is a Blonde Ale but it comes across a bit bland.

M - The beer comes off thick and does a great job at coating the mouth. It starts think and finishes clean. The amount of carbonation exactly right for me.

D - This is a very easy drinking beer that is refreshing. If there were more balance in taste I think it would definitely add to it's drinkability.

Serving type: can

08-02-2010 01:01:46 | More by ryanmac06

SuperNova777

Indiana

3.23/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz can into a pint glass

A:Poured a golden color with small frothy head that quickly resides with no lacing at all

S:Has a sweet malty smell along with bread notes in the mix as well

T:Pretty mellow, small malt sweetness, and not as much bread notes as detected by the smell. Finishes out fairly smooth with nothing great going on with the aftertaste

M:Ligth body with not much carbonation

D:Not a horrible brew for the style. Decent creamy body with a smooth finish and easy drinkability

Probably will not have this one again thou...

Serving type: can

08-04-2010 04:12:38 | More by SuperNova777

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.2/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Picked up a can at Whole Foods. Clean but a bit boring. Just very subtle pale malt and a hint of herbal hops. This is a very light tasting ale, though the body isn't too thin. It's a fine lawnmower beer, probably a good beer for a party with mixed beer appreciation, but I wouldn't buy it for myself.

Serving type: can

02-23-2011 04:53:45 | More by tempest

seeswo

Ohio

3.2/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours hazy yellow with a full white head. Smells like a slightly soured belgian ale. Taste is like lemon-rind and tea brewed bready malts. Just a hint of that soured nose. Really odd. Mouthfeel is big carbonation and a medium body. Overall, this beer is alright. Something seems off.

Serving type: can

04-24-2011 05:27:10 | More by seeswo

tubeyes

Texas

3.2/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A- Not much head, minimal carbonation, deep amber, somewhat hazy yellow cloudiness
S- Little nose, dog park, grassy, clean
T- Some citrus, estery, wheaty
M- Light, crisp, nice aftertaste
O- Subtle after bite after swallowing, little lacing. Had in shaker pint at OSDH in Denton, paired with Mellow Mushroom's Red Skin Potato Pie pizza. They were both delicious.
[from note, drank 7/1/12]

Serving type: on-tap

07-25-2012 01:22:19 | More by tubeyes

maximum12

Minnesota

3.15/5  rDev -16%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to TexasStout for this can in a recent trade. Really enjoyed the Pine Belt Ale, looking to go 2 for 2 on Southern Star.

Poured into my New Belgium snifter and bubbles up with a big blond wig to go with the rather nice blond body. Smells a bit pale & grassy.

Bombshell doesn't quite live up to her name. The malt turns it very biscuity, with a background of cut grass in plastic bags that have just started to get wet. Ever so slight hop presence, as if they're just along for the ride. Pretty gentle. Easy to drink.

Decent enough beer. Once you get beyond her looks, there's not much to her.

Serving type: can

10-20-2009 02:24:03 | More by maximum12

robwestcott

Indiana

3.05/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

thanks to drabmuh for this one.

poured from the can to a sun king shaped pint glass a cloudy honey'd sunlight orange with a thin wispy, short lasting head leaving little, if any, retention.

aroma of earthy hops and not much else.

again, earthy hops, maybe a hint of sweet malt - a little one dimensional this one.

thin, highly carbonated, bubbling on the palate.

drinkable ? i suppose, but i don;'t think i'd have another.

but hey, the label is way cool.

Serving type: can

09-18-2010 23:22:43 | More by robwestcott

Reaper16

Alabama

3.05/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz. can served into a pint glass

Pours a golden darkish-straw color. Somewhat hazy. A finger's worth of off-white head yields minimal lacing. Not much to say here; it's a boring looking blonde ale. Average stuff.

There isn't much at all going on in the nose. Biscuity malts dominate. But I also get a floral hop component: some honeysuckle, some dandelion. It's too grainy to really be anything higher than average, though.

Also, this beer bores on the palate. A grainy, bready malt base provides a skeleton. Too bad there isn't much flesh (in this metaphor) to make use of it. I get some white grapeskin flavor and there's a major plant stem characteristic going on.

The carbonation level seems alright; along with the beer's medium body, the mouthfeel is Bombshell Blonde's most appealing characteristic. Ultimately, though, I find this to be a boring, bland example of the blonde ale style. When people say that they don't usually like blonde ales, it's because of snooze-fests like this offering.

Serving type: can

04-14-2011 04:33:04 | More by Reaper16

Ryan011235

Ohio

3/5  rDev -20%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured into a pint glass on 12/24/09

Slightly hazy & pale shade of medium-light amber. Nearly two finger head seems to hold up well. Pretty good retention & lacing throughout.

Earthy hop aroma with a touch of spiciness. Hints of grain & wheat. Some of the pale malts poke through, though the nose seems muted on the whole. Grassy undertones.

Tastes as the nose would suggest, but stepped up a notch. A decent amount of hoppy bitterness hits upfront; though it tames quickly, spiciness lingers. Moderate malt backdrop via toasted bread. Overall, well balanced & a bit underwhelming.

Lighter side of medium bodied with moderate carbonation; more creamy than prickly. Resin & grainy grit in there. Earthy finish.

Nothing stands out as particularly good or memorable. It's just ok. After this 6 pack, I'm done with this one.

Serving type: can

07-27-2010 02:06:04 | More by Ryan011235