Bombshell Blonde - Southern Star Brewing Company

Reino

Oregon

4.18/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Received as an extra in a trade with screach. Thanks for the chance to try another craft beer in a can, and another Texas brew.

Appearance- Poured pretty aggressively into a pint glass, Bombshell Blonde produces a very sexy, 2-finger cream colored head that stuck around for quite awhile before settling into a comfortable 1/2 finger of creaminess a top the body. Beautiful lace left behind, especially on the second half of the glass. The body itself is a full, dirty blonde hue. A very good looking beer.

Smell- The sweet aroma of the Vienna/American malts are quite pleasing. There's also slight citrus notes resting on top of some biscuit aroma. Not very overpowering, but a nice combination nonetheless.

Taste- Pretty straight forward biscuity goodness with a kiss of floral hops and nuttiness. Not very complex, and I don't really want it to be. It quenches my thirst and is malt forward in the right way. It almost reminds me of a blonde take on a nut brown ale.

MF- Much creamier than I'd expect from a blonde ale, but that is a good thing. Nice middle ground carbonation, and finishes slightly dry.

Drinkability- Not my favorite style, but I'll be damned if I couldn't drink a lot of this on a hot day, or even right now sitting in a 68 degree house. It doesn't taste or smell as good as a kickass IPA or RIS, but that shouldn't be what it's held up against. It's a blonde ale, and I can't think of another beer of the same style that I'd rather have. Great job Southern Star.

Serving type: can

05-03-2009 22:00:22 | More by Reino

Ruslanchik

Texas

4.18/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A: This beer pours a very hazy orange with a thin white head. It is quite a bit darker than I would expect for a blonde ale. It looks more like a hefeweizen.

S: The aroma is very sweet--a touch of sweet malt and some citrusy hops. A good balance here.

T: Bitterness and malt flavours are nicely balanced, but the flavor hops push though, defining the flavor.

M: The beer is smooth and creamy, with just the right amount of carbonation.

D: Definitely a session beer! This one is perfect for hot summer days. Not too heavy for a day at the lake and flavorful enough to still be good at a party that night.

Serving type: can

05-28-2009 05:20:53 | More by Ruslanchik

busternuggz

Arizona

4.18/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz can and split with a friend.
Dark golden/bronze color, pretty dark for a blonde, a little odd. Nice foamy off white head.
The smell was surprising, and very nice. Honey, hazelnut, and toast, very pleasant and a little sweet smelling. The taste follows suit with the same notes, delicious honey, hazelnut, and toast, moderately sweet but not cloying. Nice texture too, a little thick and creamy but still quite light, compliments the tastes nicely. Very drinkable, finished mine quick. I wish this was on draft somewhere around here, it would be a great one to have a pint or two of while hanging out.
Overall very tasty. A little odd for the style but I like that it has character.

Serving type: can

06-15-2010 22:09:36 | More by busternuggz

Atlas1

Texas

4.15/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The can reads "Clarity is overrated." Indeed.

I'm a fan of the resurgence in canned beer (good canned beer) and the fact that Southern Star is canning in Conroe, TX makes me happy. The Bombshell Blonde pours a slightly opaque amber color with a fat two finger head on top. Strong head with good lace. The nose delivers rich malty caramel with buttered toffee, candied sugar, and faint fruit smells. It tastes is in line with the aroma, with a strong malt presence and caramel flavoring. Light apple taste mixed in with vanilla and toffee. Just enough hop character to balance out the sweet malts. Very nice. Chewy mouthfeel delivers home.

A fine brew here in this blonde ale. Well-crafted and unique. Easily drinkable at 5% ABV. I will happily return to this blond Bombshell.

Serving type: can

05-18-2009 22:56:13 | More by Atlas1

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

4.15/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I got this brew for winning SNF Squares - Week 5 from kiltedtxn and aggieboudreaux, Thanks Chris and Jason!

12oz can served in a pilsner glass.

Hazy brass color with a good sized head of white that left trails of lacing on the glass.
Smell is earthy, I also got some sour fruit smell - apricot & white grape.
Taste is like sourdough bread with light fruit flavors and bitterness on the back end.
Lighter bodied, crisp and refreshing.
Goes down real easy.

Serving type: can

10-20-2009 01:30:25 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

Fenris244

Texas

4.15/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into my Duvel tulip, 1 finger creamy white head, great retention, clear orangey amber in color

Some orange, sweet malt aromas, a hint of hops, small bits of honey aromas

Sweet malts, honey flavors, light hops balance the flavors well and a nuttiness on the finish, starts very sweet and quickly balances itself out with some hops an has the honey and nutty character on the finish.

Very smooth, pretty crisp, ridiculously drinkable and light in body

Overall usually not a big fan of the blonde ales but this one knocked my socks off, big fan of this brew

Serving type: can

05-16-2011 06:02:50 | More by Fenris244

BeanBone

Texas

4.13/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Hardly blonde in color, this is a lovely shade of golden-amber. There are a million particles of sediment suspended in the body, living up to the "clarity is overrated" slogan on the can. The finger of craggy head is off-white in color and features great retention and lacing. I could stare at this all day.

Aroma: Sweet, bready and biscuity malt with a few hints of citrus and earthy hops.

Taste: The same solid malt backbone is firmly in charge here. The profile runs the gamut from husky, to bready, to biscuity, to caramel-like. There's a splash of citrus and mild hop bitterness in the finish for balance. The aftertaste keeps the malt chorus going.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and smooth with mild carbonation. It finishes clean.

Drinkability: Top-notch, I could drink this all night.

Verdict: Perfect for sessioning, Bombshell is just a mild and friendly beer. Every brewery has to have an offering or two in their lineup that appeals to the fans of "lighter" beers, luckily this one has soul and flavors in abundance. A perfect companion for a hot Summer day here in Texas.

Serving type: can

04-22-2009 17:55:29 | More by BeanBone

roblowther

Texas

4.13/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Canned beer from Texas, my motherland and home to the best BBQ, no doubt.
Dark cloudy burnished gold. The head is creamy white and leaves very nice lacing. Smells of hops, strawberries, and a subtle pine note. So far WAY up there on the canned beer scale. Taste is freakin awesome. Nice, nice balance of malt and hops, again, delicate hops and a faint strawberry taste. A sharp finish, not too assertive. Very very, very very nice. Mouthfeel is soft and a touch undercarbonated. Drinkability is very good. An afternoon in the making, for sure.

Serving type: can

09-07-2009 20:33:12 | More by roblowther

SirSketch

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

The blond on the can convinced me to drink this after having sat in my fridge for a week or two. There is a wonderful dense head on this beer as it clings to the glass on the way down. As the can states, "Clarity is overrated." A hazy, dull yellow colored beer. The nose is primarily yeast character with just a bit of malty aroma. Orange slice smell as well. More bitter than I expected for a blond, but balanced in its sweetness. The floral hops blend well, too. Creamy mouth that ends semi-dry. Altogether, it makes for a very drinkable, delicious blond ale!

Serving type: can

03-03-2010 02:23:29 | More by SirSketch

deadliest

Texas

4.13/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A thick and murky amber-gold pour with a creamy head. Bits of would-be sediment float motionless, only a wispy collection of which few make it to the bottom on the glass. This isn't a beer that advertises too much with it's aroma. Pleasant smelling, but a bit weak.

Sweet, bready malts dominate the profile. Just enough faint hops to keep you from asking questions.

Mouthfeel and drinkability are both top-notch. Smooth, silken texture that sticks around just long enough to show off a pleasantly sweet aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2010 01:51:39 | More by deadliest

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A great canned extra I was able to grab recently. I had a couple other offering from them but never this one. So why not. Went for it. This twelve ounce can was served cold and poured into a pint glass. Consumed on 06/28/2009..



The pour was sublime. Rich amber in color, light with a nice head of white on top. Lots of carbonation coming up toward the surface throughout the session, reinforcing an already strong look. Light hops get stronger as it warms up. Nice bit of grain mixing in as well now, nice depth to it I have to admit. Crisp, clean taste and feel here. Really again very well done I have to say. Light finish which was quite dry and I have to admit this was very, very session able. You never can tell what is going to happen when you try a new pale ale, but this was surprisingly very good.



Overall I would definitely go here again. This was a superb offering for a hot summer day. Highly recommend.

Serving type: can

07-02-2009 00:41:40 | More by mikesgroove

nlmartin

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Wagonvolks for sending this beer as part of Ryans Ghetto Bif. The beer was served chilled in a pint glass.

Appearance: The body of the beer is a dirty copper coloration. The head was about half inch high white in coloration. Good retention of the head is noted. Lacing speckles my glass marking its passage.

Smell: The biscuity aroma of the beer is covered in caramel and honey. Floral hops combine with citrus to create a marmalade aroma. Very nice!...

Taste: The flavors mirror the aroma. This beer is well balanced malty and hops. Again very nice and well executed.

Mouthfeel / Drinkability: The beer has a light body. It never dips into the thin bodied notes. The carbonation is active and totally appropriate to this beer. This is a beer that I could session with and never be bored. Well played!

Serving type: can

09-10-2009 01:53:30 | More by nlmartin

jpaltan

Texas

4.1/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Golden colored, quite cloudy and hazy, making slightly opaque. head is thick and frothy and sticks down the sides. smell is a bit fruity. mostly pear and apple. little hop aroma. taste follows the smell, with hints of pear. hints of a bready finish. definately a nice malt background on it. a slight bitterness closes out the finish. drinkability is incredibly high on this one.

Serving type: can

01-23-2010 05:04:39 | More by jpaltan

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

4.1/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Received in trade from TexIndy, Thanks for the opportunity.

Pours a cloudy pale golden color with a monstrous creamy white head that shows much resilience. Fruity bready aromas waft in front of my nose with some bitter citrus as a supporting player. Taste is creamy rich and malty with lots of fruit citrus and honey. Rich creamy velvety mouthfeel, medium level of carbonation, light to medium body. I am very impressed with this one. Very light and flavorful. I could see downing many of these if I still lived in Houston.

Serving type: can

01-29-2010 23:57:50 | More by johnnnniee

SWMeyer4141

Texas

4.1/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Appearance-Hazy light brown, some yellow as well. 1 Finger white head with dissipates pretty quickly.

Smell-Sweet honey, light caramel. I get some banana. Very subtle.

Taste-Wasted expecting it to taste this good. Black peppered honey. Nice malt balance. Caramalized bananas. Good clean flavors. Very sweet upfront but doesn't overpower the beer.

Mouthfeel-Extrememely Smooth and Refreshing. So easy to drink, really coats the mouth. Perfect carbonation with some nice body. Not watery at all compared to other Blonde's.

Overall-This is kind of a hybrid between a Hefeweizen and a Blonde Ale. Love the fact that it's canned, and a 7.99 six pack is great for a summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2011 20:30:36 | More by SWMeyer4141

spentplanet

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is THEE epitome of a Texas Blonde.
Screw Firemans #4.
Southern Star Bombshell Blonde is barely $7 a 6 pack from my neighborhood Specs and goes down easy on these 106 degree days. Even when the Texas heat cools this beer down it is supported by a great malty backbone where most other beers fall flat, literally.

LOVE THIS STUFF.

Serving type: can

06-28-2012 01:20:28 | More by spentplanet

HardTarget

Texas

4.08/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A) Hazy dark gold/orange amber glass holds a half finger of tight white lace that clings to the sides of the glass.

S) Heady orange blossom citric floral blend with a mild yeast character.

T) Excellent balance, doesn't taste sweet or bitter, but has light hop flavors and a malty grainy finish. A little yeast flavor punches up the beer.

M) Medium heavy body is surprising given the mild tastes, lower carbonation helps.

D) Yep, keep them coming. I can see this being a staple canned beer setting beer; lake, pool, sun, yum. Really nice work, very clean and flavorful. Blonde beer done right.

Serving type: can

05-18-2009 22:31:25 | More by HardTarget

brentk56

North Carolina

4.05/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a cloudy honey color with a modest head that leaves a few strands of lace

Smell: Sweet biscuity malt with a hint of a herbacious, grassy character

Taste: Sweet and biscuity, up front, but with a growing grassy, herbacious and peppery bitterness that adds a lemony citrus character by mid-palate; after the swallow, the tart and sweet flavors blend together nicely, with a lingering touch of honey on the tip of the tongue

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body, creamy, with prickly carbonation

Drinkability: Not a beer I would have sought out had I not heard the review on Craft Beer Radio; not sure this qualifies as a blonde ale, I think it is a very creative take to define a new style

Serving type: can

10-28-2009 01:53:01 | More by brentk56

eclipse54

Idaho

4.05/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A 12 ounce can I received as part of turfy's "Taste of Texas LIF!" Drank on 09/03/2011, and reviewed from notes taken then.

A large, 4-finger white, bubbly head develops with good retention. A hazy yellow and straw colored body is accentuated by an endless stream of bubbles emanating from the bottom of the glass. The aroma is of wheat, straw, hops, lemon, orange, a slight funk, a bit of spice, and a bread/biscuit finish. It tastes of bread, straw, lemon, orange, some hops, and a bit of funky yeast. Mouthfeel is very smooth, and crisp on the finish. Overall, a delicious, refreshing brew.

Serving type: can

11-07-2011 01:31:52 | More by eclipse54

EnojysAnyBeer

Colorado

4.03/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- Solid looking, unfiltered, deep golden body with an impressive film of head leaving sheets of big-bubbled lace.

S- Gentle, lightly nutty and grainy. Hints of caramel and butter on top of carbonation

T- Very smooth, light malt flavor with a decent pinch of bitter hops. Hop flavor and aroma is minimal but does have a fresh feeling to it. Caramel and butter become more noticeable as the beer warms

M- Very substantial for a blonde ale. Carbonation is moderate and pinches a bit.

D- Damn speedy drinking and canned for easy delivery.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2009 01:37:07 | More by EnojysAnyBeer

ColdPoncho

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to tsatem for this!

A - Murky and cloudy amber/yellow. Thick white head with huge bubbles vanishes before my eyes.

S - lemon, black pepper, tomato, sweet malt.

T - Clean and crisp malt, some vanilla, touch of lemony zest.

M - smooth and creamy, quite light. A touch drying.

D - well this is very drinkable. tastes pretty good, pleasant, and not heavy.

Serving type: can

02-07-2011 21:28:45 | More by ColdPoncho

kemoarps

Washington

4.03/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From the can: "Clarity is overrated."
This beer pours a hazy straw colour with a beautiful off white head that dissipates quickly but leaves a nice fine... layer? Is that really the best word I could come up with for it? Anyway, it leaves a nice ___ on the top, which contributes to the lacing. I love watching the bubbles come up through this opaque brew.

The nose is almost fresh cut hay, Like straw harvested maybe a few days early. A bit of bready malt as well. Think a picnic in a barn on a warm summer afternoon/evening.

The straw characteristics carry through to the palate, alone with the mellow bready malts. Maybe a hint of hops on the finish, but not readily identifiable, almost like an afterthought.

kind of thick and chewy, but drinkable. I would continue with the farmhouse comparisons (man, I'm getting all nostalgic over here for childhood summers playing with hay bails). I'm not generally a big fan of blondes (at least not when it comes to beer...), but I really like this brew. I'd love it on a lazy summer afternoon. The fact that it is in cans also makes it that much more accessible to bring camping/hiking or to the beach or to a hayfield somewhere for a midsummer picnic. Grab a sixer if you see one and like the summer months. Well crafted and immensely enjoyable.

Serving type: can

02-07-2012 21:48:03 | More by kemoarps

JAramini

New York

4/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Blondes are not one of my favorite styles, but this might be converting me.

A hazy blonde color ("Clarity is overrated" on the can). Good lacing all the way down even though the head faded fast.

Fruity aromas and flavors. Very smooth and creamy. Nice mouthfeel and flavors. Much creamier and richer tasting than the ABV would lead you to expect.

Very drinkable, very smooth. I will have to drink more blondes because I just might like this style.

Serving type: can

01-29-2010 03:14:53 | More by JAramini

EPICAC

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bombshell Blonde pours a cloudy golden, and is topped by a shiny, white head that fades to a film and leaves lace that clings to the sides of the glass. The aroma is fruity with lighter notes of toasty malts, and herbal hops.

There's a toasty, bready sweetness upfront that is constant underneath the building flavors. A mild banana fruitiness appears in the center, and moves into a a mild, grassy bitterness in the flavor. I thought this beer had a pleasing sweetness that was offset by a good depth of flavor. This blonde ale is medium to light-bodied, and has a nice crispness that's accentuated by the carbonation.

I was very pleased with this beer. It had a nice amount of flavor, and would make a great session beer.

Serving type: can

02-18-2010 02:35:54 | More by EPICAC

AustinBeerLvr

Texas

4/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce can into a shaker pint glass. No freshness date, but not to worry, as it's brewed just right down the road in Conroe.

A: Much darker than what you would expect for a blonde ale, as the body is a amber/copper color with lots of bits and pieces of stuff floating around, hence their logo "clarity is overrated." Not much head retention, but a little left, and some pretty good lacing on the glass.

S: Toasty malts dominate the nose, with the paler malts more evident upon a few more smells. Nice citrus character from the hops along with a bit of esters shine through as well.

T&M: Starts off with a earthy toasted sweetness, and a cleaner more refined texture than what you would generally expect from an ale. Their website states it is fermented colder than most ales, which explains the more lager like characteristics. That said, some fruity ester flavors do make themselves present as the beer warms a bit. This is the most complex "blonde ale" I have ever had, as the taste transitions from the toasted malt flavors to a nice citrus bite from the hops in the end that is nicely accommodated by a trail of residual sweetness. Hint of alcohol in there as well. Mouthfeel is very rich for a blonde ale, arguably just a bit much for the style.

D&Notes: This is actually a good brew, but odd as it may sound, may just be a bit too rich and flavorful for what somebody expects for the style. It really doesn't taste much like a blonde ale, as in a blind taste test, I would say one could easily take it for a light vienna lager or amber ale. That being said, with a semi-complex flavor, moderate ABV, and the fact that it's canned, this is a great anytime, anywhere session beer for a beer geek.

Serving type: can

03-20-2010 17:56:22 | More by AustinBeerLvr