Bombshell Blonde - Southern Star Brewing Company

mynie

Indiana

3.58/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Kind of an odd pour. Very dark, very cloudy orange with a large head. From across the table it looks like an APA but when get closer it looks a bit paler near the bottom, dark black on top, bubbles cascading upward.

Smells like a Vienna lager, oddly enough. Decent dose of hops, pale and Vienna malt, big nodes of bready yeast.

Tastes exactly like it smells, like a cross between a Vienna and an American blonde with a big, biscuity yeast finish. Hops pervade all throughout, and all around it's a damn good balance between sweet grain and bitter hops.

Serving type: can

05-21-2009 01:01:41 | More by mynie

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks again to the legendary woodychandler for yet another canned beer. Poured from a 12 oz. can. This beer exploded out of the can and finally setteled down to have a cloudy golden color with about 2 inches of head. Smell is malty, biscuts, slightly sweet. Taste is also malty and biscuts, some honey, a bit of sweetness to it. Feels full bodied in the mouth and overall is a quality beer.

Serving type: can

06-18-2011 15:43:45 | More by tone77

billab914

Virginia

3.93/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into my Dogfish shaped pint glass. Pours a cloudy pale gold color with a big fluffy two inch white head. The head settled out but left pretty good lacing on the sides.

The aroma has a moderate bready, grainy malt smell to it with a little citrus and a slightly spicy/herbal aroma from the hops. The taste is malty and slightly sweet with some caramel and bready flavors.

The mouthfeel is on the lighter side with moderate carbonation. Drinkability is pretty good, the Vienna malt added a nice flavor to it that I enjoyed. It's definitely different then any other American Blonde that I have had before, but it was pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2010 22:21:24 | More by billab914

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

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

emmasdad

Colorado

3.68/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy pale golden color with a huge, rocky white head. Aromas of bready malt, light caramel and a hint of hops. On the palate, a nice mix of sweet malt and hops make this one quite drinkable. Nicely carbonation leads to a clean mouthfeel which creates a good, refreshing beer. Nothing out of the ordinary, just a good, simple canned beer.

Serving type: can

04-26-2010 06:37:41 | More by emmasdad

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

msubulldog25

Oregon

3.63/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A 12 oz. royal blue can, 1 of 2 kindly carried back from a Lone Star State expedition by beer buddy, Bill. Poured to a pint glass.

Besides the eye-catching cerulean, the can design boasts a buxom blonde in cowgirl attire, riding a large phallic [ahem] bombshell. "Clarity is overrated."

A: The fact that 'clarity is overrated' (i.e. non-filtered, non-pasteurized) is notable, because this one is FULL of dusty sediment, a fine flurry stirred up at every jostle of the glass. Normally this would result in a much lower score (and it IS a deduct), but it's an otherwise lovely blond: an appealing golden/butterscotch, a bounty of small carbonation, a pile of white cream cresting at well over a finger. Good lace in jagged peaks and scattered sea spray.

S: A little on the 'sourdough' side, a squeeze of tart amidst bready yeast. Kinda musty, kinda rank even...but strong for the style, so credit given there...

T: A grassy/wet hay malt/hop combo that works pretty well. Sticky bread dough and trace lemon, a dash of dry cracked pepper. It's (per the style) maltier and not terribly complex, but has enough balance to compensate.

M: Crisp (not biting nor too carbonated) and quite refreshing; light-medium body and smoother, creamier finish. A fine gritty feel and a to-be-expected stickiness with that much sediment. Finish tapers and ends weaker than hoped for.

D: Good beer with a few flaws that limit my score (and desire for more) a little. Unclear when this beer was birthed, so it's debatable where this can is in terms of its freshness (case in point: friend returned with it from Texas mid-summer...but it's been fridge-bound ever since). My hunch is, though, that it's still pretty fresh...it's just among the middle of the pack for those I've tried of the style. I could return to this...or not. Though, since this is my second of two cans, I guess I DID return to it! Thanks, Bill!

Serving type: can

10-05-2010 21:46:14 | More by msubulldog25

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

allengarvin

Texas

3.73/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer is pale gold, appropriate for the style, with a large very fluffy, not dense head. Good head retention, though it falls eventually. The nose offers plenty of malt, light and sweet and not at all grainy, with a hint of fruitiness. The flavor is solidly malty, and lies on the sweet side of things. Bitterness is low and hop flavor nonexistent. A little fruity at the finish.

One of the better blonde ales I've had, though it's not a style I seek out. The bready maltiness makes it a step above most grainy offerings.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2009 00:53:08 | More by allengarvin

wagenvolks

Texas

3.83/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. can into a Unibroue tulip. Gotta love the canned craft beer movement.

Pours a dirty, copper-blond hue with lots of haze from the tiny chunks of yeast. Good retention on the inch of eggshell-white head, as it leaves a plethora of lace along the inside of the glass. For a Blond Ale, the aroma rocks, as it adds delicate notes of flora hops that balance lightly toasted biscuit and caramel malts. A hint of passion fruit and mango chime in from the yeast esters.

Flavor starts off with some biscuity sweetness from the pale malts that combines with nutty notes along the way. Hops are fairly muted, but distinctively floral and saved for the back of the palate where they add a slight bitterness to the finish. Mouthfeel is solid, with a great carbonation level, medium-thin body, and a smooth (somewhat dry) finish that both refreshes and leaves me wanting another sip. This Blonde Bombshell did her job well; keep up the good work Southern Star!

Serving type: can

03-28-2009 06:48:33 | More by wagenvolks

armock

New York

4.2/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Had on tap at the Brewery during its first weeks release.

A - Slightly hazy yellow color with a white head that leaves lacing

S - Has a faint smell slightly sweet malt

T - Follows the scent with light flavors

M - This beer has a light body with medium caarbonation to it

D - This is a session beer all the way generally not a style that gets me excited but I could drink this all day while watching sports worth trying

Serving type: on-tap

10-25-2008 19:31:21 | More by armock

Jayli

Massachusetts

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

Acquired this from gramatton so a big THANK YOU goes out to him!

A: This beer pours a hazy orange color with two finger of white creamy head. Head retains nicely leaving a thick coating of sticky lacing.

S: Nose is of pale malts, grain, touch of citrus and floral hops.

T: Taste starts with a bit of lemon citrus hops. Malt character quickly takes over - pale malts, grain and a hint of biscuit fill through the middle. Finish then has a fruity nature of some apple and banana in the finish coupled with a hint of floral hops.

M: Light body, medium carbonation, with a light but creamy feeling on the tongue.

D: Well balanced, nicely blended, decent representation of style, goes down very easy and definitely one to sit with for a while.

Serving type: can

03-23-2010 00:03:32 | More by Jayli

WoodBrew

Illinois

2.73/5  rDev -27.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The Bombshell Blonde Ale from Southern Start is ok. The beer pours a nice clear golden color with bubbly white head that is leaving a spotty lace. The smell is underwhelming, some faint lemon/lemon grass zest. The taste is very sharp, starts with a lemon flare then turns to a grainy/bread finish. The mouthfeel is light to medium with good carbonation. Overall it is a decent beer.

Serving type: can

02-19-2012 02:19:33 | More by WoodBrew

Pegasus

Texas

3.9/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Clear depp gold, with moderate, dense white head, which retains well. The lacing is thick and glass-coating, The carbonation moderate.

Aroma: Somewhat sweet a bit like honey, with grassy and lesser grapefruit rind notes.

Taste: Quite malty, the opening of the test is like fresh-baked bread drizzled with honey. As the taste progresses, there are floral hop notes, and towards the close, some mild medicinal hops. The taste finishes rather cleanly.

Mouth fee: Smooth, soft, quite pleasant.

Drinkability/notes: An excellent, refreshing summer beer, very well done.

Presentation: Packaged in a twelve-ounce aluminum can, served in a Chimay chalice.

Presentation

Serving type: can

07-29-2012 13:51:49 | More by Pegasus

alleykatking

Indiana

3.95/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 12oz can.

A- Pours a semi-hazy golden straw color. Two finger very light tan almost dirty white head. This stays for most of the time I'm drinking it. Nice thick lacing all over the glass.

S- Nice sweet bready malts in this one. Some light citrus (orangey) hops in the back of the scent. Also, a light grainy presence. Nothing too overpowering in the aroma. Balanced but still a little too light for me.

T- Light citrus in the front end of this with a light almost banana off flavor. Bready malts in this due a nice job of making this more balanced then I thought it would of had. Light earthy musty flavor in the back end of the beer. Nothing over the top but just right for me.

M- Medium light mouthfeel. Carbonation is good for the beer. Clean tasting through and through. Nice bready malts with a touch of orange on the palate and into the aftertaste. Nothing overpowering once again in the mouthfeel.

D- This is a very drinkable beer. I was surprised with this one. I am starting to remember that just because it comes in a can doesn't mean it will be bad. Would recommend to anyone who wants to either try the style or come back to a good beer in the style.

Serving type: can

01-30-2010 06:29:14 | More by alleykatking

Brenden

Ohio

3.68/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The color is a hazy though somewhat less hazy than expected blonde (yes) yellow. A small white head forms and has fairly good staying power before fading to a sturdy foam. Light to moderate lacing is left behind.
A distinct herbal note is the first smell I notice, followed by a light honey-like sweetness mixed with a distinctive yeast note and rounded out by a fresh hops, then finished off by a balancing malt it. I could do with a little more strength and something about the yeast threw it off. Otherwise it's quite good.
The taste follows suit, with the hops making for a heady herbal, earthy flavor. The honey-like sweetness takes a moment to come out but lingers for a good, long time. Like the smell, it's tasty and well-rounded and would be better if it was stronger. The flavors are there, but I'm just on the verge of calling it "flavorful."
As claimed, this beer does have a smooth, creamy body, light to medium in depth with a nice nip of crispness to it.
There's plenty of drinkability to this one, though if it was stronger I'd be more inclined to it. All round a tasty brew, though.

Serving type: can

04-19-2010 18:08:39 | More by Brenden

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

jsanford

Georgia

3.7/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Generous extra from Drabmuh, poured into a New Belgium globe

A - Hazy golden yellow with a huge creamy head. Really pretty.

S - Light, sweet malts and earthy hops. Subdued, but pleasant.

T - Sweet, bready malt dominates with more earthy hops to provide the balance. Slightly spicy finish, tastes like coriander or white pepper.

M - Smooth and creamy with medium carbonation.

D - Very drinkable, could easily session on a hot day outside

Serving type: can

09-19-2010 22:12:31 | More by jsanford

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

jwinship83

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz can drank out of my samuel adams perfect pint glass.

A- the pour yields a hazy glowing golden colored body with a finger of bright white head on top. the head stays around for a little before falling, and leaves behind small spots of lacing.

S- the first thing i pick out of the nose oddly enough, are floral and grassy hops. i wasnt sure what to expect, but nothing like this. after that i get some sweet pale and bready malts. not much else going on in here. simple and to the point.

T- the taste starts out with more of the bready and pale malts that i could smell, which impart a mild yet pleasant sweetness. after that i get more of the floral and grassy hops. not as strong as i thought it would be from the nose. nicely balanced.

M- the body is on the fuller side of light. the carbonation is just above average, but it works well here.

O- i really enjoy beers in cans, and im glad the craft beer movement is heading that way. the more camping/beach options i have, the better. i can see my cooler containing this next time i head for an outdoor adventure.

Serving type: can

06-27-2011 01:13:38 | More by jwinship83

augustgarage

California

2.8/5  rDev -25.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Courtesy of lnashsig (thanks!) - poured from a 12oz can into my Dogfish Head shaped pint glass.

Hazy orange peel body with faint golden-amber highlights and a lasting small stand of ivory foam. Sandy quick running lacing, average retention.

Smells much like a loaf of fresh (mass produced?) wheat bread - very doughy and sweet with the suggestion of butterscotch as well.

If this were a home-brew I would seriously wonder if a bag of Werther's Originals had been dumped into the wort, as this has a distinctive butterscotch/toffee sweetness similar to granny candy. Hops are AWOL unless they are contributing the faintly medicinal note I'm getting? Vienna malt adds a very delicate breadiness which is nice, but the finish is bordering on cloying. Hard to rate, as I appreciate that it is flavorful, but don't like said flavors...

Medium-light bodied, creamy, and well carbonated.

Partly refreshing, but then much too sweet with a constant butterscotch note (not diacetyl though) which grows very tiresome (although my girlfriend enjoyed it much more than me so YMMV).

Serving type: can

02-18-2011 01:31:46 | More by augustgarage

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

rtepiak

Poland

3.63/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

a pleasant surprise of a brew with a nice bellowing head of ivory and a body of cloudy gold. this beer has sediment and you can drink it clear or cloudy... there is a lot of esters in the cloudiness... but the yeastiness does get a bit overboard. smell of zucchini bread and very delicate pineapple fruit. palate is not as exciting. fruit is subdued by yeastiness and the bitter is finish has a straw must to it. not bad. the infiltered aspect is a saving grace for the ester and gentle body... a bit too gentle at times.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2010 02:46:53 | More by rtepiak

SkeeterHawk

Texas

4.55/5  rDev +21.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I have Southern Star beers on tap all the time and don't really get a chance to review them as it may be "Big Ass Beer" night at Molly's in the Woodlands or something and I will have had plenty...with no palate left for reviewing. I finally have some of the Blonde that I bought for friends to hopefully "convert" them. Anyway, on to the review...

Appearance: Pours a slightly cloudy yellow color with a slight orangish hue to it. There was a 1/4" head of loose bubbles right after the pour, and after about 30 seconds that mutated into about a 1/2" thick creamy looking head...nice. There are plenty of bubbles rising to keep the head thick even a few minutes after the pour it was still as thick as ever.

Aroma: I initially get a fresh hop bouquet with a pronounced bready malt background. These aromas are very distinct and separate. After the beer sits, the malt gets quite a bit more bready and takes on a wheat-beer like quality. As it sits further, there is a honey malt coming out to play with the other aromatics that are still present.

Taste: The flavor follows the aroma pretty closely with the fresh floral hops and the bready malt. The beer is significantly creamier than any other examples of this style that I have had, and this is quite pleasant. The carbonation is a little on the high side, but this does the beer well in the drinkability category as it slips across the palate rather quickly and ends up being a very quick one to go down. The finish is clean and refreshing with no alcohol noticeable. The creaminess and the carbonation carry the beer into the finish rather quickly. There is only enough bittering hops to keep the beer from being sweet, but the malt in the dominant player in the finish.

Opinion: I might be jaded as this brewery is just minutes from my house, so I am getting the beer as fresh as it can be. This is a session beer, and I think that it is a very good example of the style. I like the complexity to the malt on the palate and the fact that the hops are noticeable, but play a supporting role in the finish. All this combines into what I would call one of the best examples of this style. I would definitely recommend it!

Serving type: can

01-02-2010 01:01:16 | More by SkeeterHawk