Blonde Bombshell - Indigo Imp Brewery

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

3.76/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

12 oz. Since this brewery does open fermentations and as such the beers can vary from batch to batch, I will point out that this is from a six pack purchased January 2013 in western PA.

Pours a hazy blond with a white film for a head.

Smells of citrus and mildly sweet wheat malt along with a mildly sour lactic-like note.

Citrus and sugar sweetness with some light lactic tartness.

Medium body with bubbly carbonation on the roof of the mouth.

I like the idea of the open fermentation, you never know exactly what you're going to get. This one is pretty good, light and highly sessionable, but could stand to be drier or even more sour. Definitely worth trying and looking forward to more from this brewery.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 22:17:51 | More by Cylinsier

PDXHops

South Carolina

1.83/5  rDev -46.6%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Another puzzingly wax-dipped treat from Ryan011235. 12 ounce bottle poured into a LaChouffe tulip. Slightly hazy deep gold with a fizzy head that's a small bubbly ring in a matter of moments. A stray wet bubbly bit or 2 of lace slides harmlessly back into the ring.

After my first 2 encounters with the Imp, I'm a bit apprehensive, but this actually smells normal, lightly sweet floral and honey aromas with a yeasty undertone.

Normal? Perish the thought; this is Indigo Imp, after all. Is this blonde by chance a strawberry blonde?? Tart and tangy with a lingering powerful taste of strawberry hard candy. Fizzy carbonation unleashes a hint of funk. The pale malt base does, I concede, appear to be appropriately well-attenuated for the style, but chalk another one up in the WTF column for Indigo Imp. (3-for-3 so far...)

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 16:07:01 | More by PDXHops

TuffNut87

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It poured into a pint glass with a giant white head and smelled of flowers and yeast. Cloudy and golden, the bubbles never stopped. One of the most surprising beers I have sampled. Fun in your mouth, sweet but with a bit of citrus and subtle bite. I was so surprised how much I liked this beer, It reminds me of no other beer I have had,well done Imp!

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 21:30:12 | More by TuffNut87

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy yellow to orange-ish color with an off white head. In the aroma, a small floral and a yeasty. In the taste, a dry to sweet floral and yeasty, with notes of fruitiness. A small bite and a medium to lighter bodied mouthfeel, with a small dry yeast and floral like aftertaste. A nice floral presence, nice, and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 19:33:44 | More by OWSLEY069

jwhawkins81

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Aroma - Light hop aroma and a definite wild yeast character

Appearance - Cloudy orangish yellow with a ton of residual carbonation but a thin white head.

Taste - Dry with a tart finish. No real sweetness detectable. This really isn't like anything I've ever had before, but I like it.

Notes - A good beer that would be nice for a session.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 15:10:36 | More by jwhawkins81

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +21%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours gold with a chill haze, effervescent and large fizzy head. Lots of active carbonation bubbles rise to the top.

Smell: Ripe with aromas of must, sweet Belgian yeast, white grape/green apple.

Taste: Sweet and funky, with some wild yeast notes. Tart like fresh apples and refreshing. A light malty note plays well of the mild sour notes. Little to no hop bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied, and has a high level of carbonation. Chalky yeast gives way to a welcome and very sophisticated dryness.

Overall: An impressive offering from the Indigo Imp brewery. Open fermentation allows wild yeasts to leave their fingerprints here, and it is more than suitable for this unique dry ale.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2011 05:53:45 | More by Stinkypuss

goblue3509

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy straw to golden color with a one finger soapy white head. The head recedes to a skim and leaves a little lace. The aroma is a little faint, it has a slight sweet green fruit smell at the front before a funk, clove smell comes through strong with a hint of spiciness. The taste starts out with a slight sweet green fruit tatse. The taste gives way to a nice mild sour taste. The end of the beer has a slight spiciness. The beer is lightly carbonated. Overall for the style this is a soild beer. The mild sour taste gives it some nice character. This is a good beer to try.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 14:31:14 | More by goblue3509

gkunkle

Oregon

4.03/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy golden color with a large head that recedes to about a quarter inch thickness. Carbonation is only visible near the edge of the glass. Some lacing is left in my glass. The smell is of banana and slight saison like funk. The beginning of the taste contains a light sweet malt then I get a touch of what seems like strawberry and a bit of sourness. (This is indeed a unique beer) the mouthfeel is of medium thickness, but it is quite effervescent. Overall, this is a spectacular beer, but from what I have read, each batch is different. It is however, not much of a blonde ale.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2011 00:54:07 | More by gkunkle

prototypic

Ohio

3.4/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Blonde Bombshell pours a nice yellowish gold color. Definitely looks gold when held to light. Active carbonation yields a vanilla colored head that stands over two fingers tall. It recedes slowly. Lacing was definitely on the lighter side.

The nose is alright. Not overtly bad. It is weak. More strength would help. It smells mostly fruity with a bit of wild yeast. Apple and pear and are the most notable fruit scents. It smells a tad musky and earthy due to the wild yeast. Light spicy notes are secondary. Smells mostly like pepper with a few others I can’t identify. Alcohol isn’t noticeable.

The flavor is better. It starts out with an apple and pear combo. Very fruity flavor overall. A bit of spicy pepper and cinnamon follow. Yeast is there throughout. It adds a bit of a musky, earthy flavor. There’s a subtle sour aspect to it. It tends to succumb to a spicy surge on the back end. It’s actually a really nice addition to the finish. Alcohol isn’t noticeable. Apple and complementary spices wrap it up with a bit of sourness.

The body is on the lighter side of medium. Carbonation is lighter than anticipated. The bubbles feel soft. Overall, it feels relatively smooth. More body would help a little nonetheless.

Blonde Bombshell is alright. It’s not great beer by any stretch, but it’s not a total disaster. Personally, I think it needs a little more of everything across the board. Aromatics, flavor, body…you name. Having said that…it really isn’t bad. If you’re into very, very mild sours and fruit flavored beers, you might like this quite a bit.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2011 02:44:04 | More by prototypic

nrbw23

Ohio

3.2/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A- Pours a hazy gold color with a huge white head. Quite a bit of sludge in the bottom of the bottle. Head has pretty solid lacing and leaves pretty light lacing.

S- Smell is pretty fruity, sweet and yeast. A bit of breadiness here too.

T- Taste is again quite fruity, but with the slightest bit of funkiness to it. Pretty sweet too.

M- Lighter in body and carbonation.

O- I'm not really sure how often I'd drinkk this one. Its different for sure.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2011 10:31:02 | More by nrbw23

ONUMello

Ohio

3.8/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass.
A: Thick two-fingered head, bold golden color and a plethora of tiny bubbles.
S: Apricot, baked apples and spice.
T: I agree, somewhat like fruit juice, caramel malts in the background, and the sourness from the open fermentation is pleasant- I've felt it's been too much in some of Indigo Imp's other brews.
M: Good balance- not too heavy or light, just a bit of acidic pucker, a slight tingle from the carbonation.
O: I like this. It may not be for everyone's tastes, but I find it unique and fun to drink.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2011 21:21:59 | More by ONUMello

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I've had thid beer once before and I strangely enough really enjoyed it...let's see how it goes this time. Pours out a slightly hazed orange golden hue with a bright white head forming thick above the rim of my chalice glass. Aroma has hints of lemon citrus and ripened apples. Flavor has soft cider notes with sugary cinnamon applesauce character. A mild earthy nuttiness, and much more spicy yeast content high carbonation much like a cider in a good way. Hints of bubblegum esters and fruity acidity. Mouthfeel is medium bodied slighly cloying with fruit juice, I can't believe there's no actualy apples added here this is just malts and open fermentation with a Belgian yeast strain. Really quality stuff I wonder if they added sugar because it's really sweet, I like slightly soured ales but like I said this tastes like applesauce. Mouthfeel is medium bodied evenly carbonated a bit cloying with the level of sweetness but overall this is an enjoyable original experience that I'm really enjoying. Call me crazy and give me this Imp anyday.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2011 13:05:55 | More by WVbeergeek

Hoptometrist

Oregon

2.88/5  rDev -16%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Served from the bottle into a nonic glass at the Winking Lizard

A-Pours a dark golden color with a finger of white fizzy head that leaves decent lacing.

S- Apple and mild spice

T- This really tastes like apple juice, Mott's Apple Juice. It has some mild spice and hop bitterness to go with the promient sour apple juice flavor.

M- Crisp, refreshing, and highly carbonated.

O- I like hard ciders like Woodchuck and beers with apple like Unibroue Ephemere, but this is not good. It really just tastes like a mildly bitter sour apple juice. This is the third beer from Indigo Imp I have had and I think I am officially giving up on them, every beer has been disappointing. I like to support local breweries, but these guys just don't make good beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2011 03:01:22 | More by Hoptometrist

Wildman

Ohio

3.05/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This beer poured a cloudy yellow color and formed a huge foamy snow white head that coated the glass with lace as it slowly subsided. A large amount of carbonation is present. An aroma of hops, clove and orange. Flavor is of hops, citrus and bread. The body is light and the finish is quite sour, not really the style for this beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2011 00:46:46 | More by Wildman

nickd717

California

1.73/5  rDev -49.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5

Thanks to Ryan011235 for this tick. 12oz bottle.

Hazy blond color with a quickly fading white head.

The aroma is sunblock, funk, and pale malt. Very faint.

The flavor is very weird, also like sunblock. What's the SPF of this stuff? Funk, pale malt, strawberry, and diacetyl round it out. Man this is nasty.

Unexciting palate with lower carbonation and medium-light body. This beer is just all kinds of wrong.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2011 02:08:45 | More by nickd717

rlshep

Ohio

4.08/5  rDev +19%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Aroma: A lot of fruit fresh peaches and pears. A hint of sourness. Sweetness in the background. Honestly, open up a fruit cup that is what it smells like.

Appearance: Pours big bubbly white head. Dissipates fairly quickly. Minimal lacing. Golden yellow color. Very clear. Lots of carbonation.

Flavor: Tartness up front. Pear notes as primary flavor. sweet bread as secondary flavor. A honey flavor lingers in aftertaste. Not quite as fruity as aroma would suggest. Bitterness leaves a crisp taste, well balanced. No hop aroma.

Mouthfeel: Dry with a hint of sweetness. Alcohol noticeable.

Overall: This bottle has been sitting for awhile waiting for me to review. It has lost something with age, suggest to drink fresh.That being said this is one of the most interestingly complex, yet easy to drink beers I've had in a long time. I highly suggest it.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2011 00:49:12 | More by rlshep

hustlesworth

Ohio

2.98/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 2

who's bad

A- huge expanding white head with a yellow tint to it like lemon pith is dense and nearly unmovable and i'm growing anxious waiting for her to settle. her body is a hazed golden amber with many tiny bubbles rising up the stange. i decided not to include too much of the yeast.

S- fruity sweet and crisp, and it somehow reminds me of the beach. aroma is of melon and pear becoming very floral with some bready and honey-like malt sweetness.

T- very fresh, but odd flavor. sweetness creeps up on me, almost starting dry and becoming honey sweet with an almost artificial sweetener flavor. there's about zero hop flavor and the balance is insanely one sided. there's a bit of tartness under there but the malt pretty much goes unchecked. finishes too sweet for me.

MF- creamy and soft with fine gentle carbonation. also pretty sticky. as far as the whole real ale deal goes, they hit a bullseye on the dart board of cask feel. just a step zestier than having a nitro widget.

D- i don't know about this one. i guess i was expecting it to be similar to a kolsch. looks nice, smells nice, feels nicer, but the flavor just doesn't do it for me.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2011 01:37:32 | More by hustlesworth

joebeerdude

Ohio

3.78/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I was intrigued by "bottle conditioned" on the label. Hard to find that in this price range. I looked at a few reviews and didn't see any mention of that. To me this helps explain the unique characteristics of this brew. I'm no expert but I thought bottle conditioned meant that the some of the fermentation process took place after it was bottled. One result of that would be an extra natural carbonation kick. I agree with many of the other reviews regarding the presence of Belgian complexities. Another thought is this is more of a 'garage band' kind of beer in that it has a rawness to it. And I'm ok with that. It's also worth mentioning that the top of one of the six bottles is covered with an artfully applied dripping blue wax coating. Kind if adds a nice touch. It is different than what I expected and that is why I like try different beers.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2011 20:09:41 | More by joebeerdude

clickpush

Pennsylvania

3.15/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Pours 12oz bottle to pint at WL DT. Dont love the name o the beer but bartender recommends. Heavy pour yields a big white head over cloudy orange body. Lots of carbo hugging the glass on its flight to the surface. Reduces to a half cap of lace and small halo. Aroma of peaches and cream, somehwat buttery, quite fruity. Reminiscent of orange juice. A somewhat over carbonated body explodes in the mouth, foaming up entirely. Malty flavors hit a chemical like component that lingers and tickles the throat. Comparable to a Belgian wit with a slice of orange. Refreshing and perfect for summer.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2011 02:31:49 | More by clickpush

alleykatking

Indiana

3.63/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz bottle. Many thanks go out to Tifore a.k.a. Tyler. This guy pretty much rocks all you traders out there.

A- Pours a cloudy golden yellow color. One finger white head shows medium retention. Light streaks of lace on the sides of the glass.

S- Light earthy tone to this beer. Grainy, with hints of citrus and even some almost Belgian yeast in there. A light sourness to the beer overall in the nose as well.

T- The carbonation at first pricks the palate with a light lemon grass flavor at first. Middle of the beer has some banana, orange peel, and candi sugar notes. Ending hints of lemon grass and Belgian yeast strain. Sweet alcohol ends this beer altogether.

M- Light medium mouthfeel. Carbonation is very high for the beer I think. Sweet lemon tones left on the palate. More of a Belgian yeast taste with some sweet alcohol in the aftertaste. Flavors for what they were came out very well and were balanced. No off flavors at all. Medium drying on the palate from the alcohol.

D- This beer was good. I liked it as it would make a nice summertime beer for me. Blonde Ales really don't do it for me most of the time but this time it delivered.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2011 16:07:29 | More by alleykatking

jsulko

Illinois

3.38/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Brought back by a friend after a visit to Ohio.

Pours a cloudy reddish gold with little head.

Smell is a little sweet

Taste is very unusual. Has a sort of sweet/sour thing happening. Not a typical american blonde. Beer is bottle conditioned as well.

Not something I would seek out but a legitimate try at something different from a brewery.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2011 05:03:47 | More by jsulko

sixerofelixir

Ohio

3.48/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle, which is indeed indigo.

Pours opaque dirty gold, thin to no head. Smell is grainy and sour. Tastes sweet and sour, almost reminds me of a weizenbock. Darker flavors than the color hints at. Finishes tart. Feel is actively carbonated. Drinkability OK, an interesting beer to say the least.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2010 17:58:41 | More by sixerofelixir

therobot

Minnesota

3.58/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Received in trade from frothhead.

A - Cloudy yellow-orange light quickly dissipating head.

S - Very pungent and unique smell, sour citrus, maybe apricot.

T - Wow, very sharp sour taste makes my taste buds tickle. Fruits are very present, maybe some sweetness from candied sugars, overall this is really throwing me for a loop not at all what I expected.

M - Highly carbonated, very fizzy on the tongue, but refreshes the palette from the intense sour.

D - I will easily finish this bottle it is unique, refreshing, and even with its' strong flavor it is keeps me coming back because the flavors and carbonation work well together to produce a solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2010 00:35:08 | More by therobot

EricHeff

Ohio

3.95/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Live tasting

This beer is completely different from other Blonde beers I have had. It pours a darker yellow color with little head that disappears quickly, except for a white ring still around the top even 1/2 way through. The smell is good with a touch of sour to it.
The taste and mouthfeel is what sets this beer apart. It has a crisp citrus taste to it that leaves a champagne like feel in your mouth after drinking it. Like Indigo Imp's other beer "Gatekeeper", it has a sour taste to it but unlike Gatekeeper I think it works for this beer.

It is defiantly a unique beer and I am proud to see breweries trying different things in the Cleveland area.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2010 15:39:58 | More by EricHeff

Cresant

Kentucky

3.3/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured this 12 oz. brown bottle into a Tripel Karmeliet glass. No date. The brewery calls this an American Blonde Ale, but I would call it a Belgian Pale Ale/Wild Ale. It appears to use Belgian yeast and it is fermented openly (that doesn't sound like an American Blonde Ale). There is a lot going on here. The body was a hazy deep butterscotch color. A gentle pour created a hugh creamy white head, over three fingers.

Smell was sweet and a little tangy. Mild spiciness - banana and coriander.

Taste had a peppery bite with understated Belgian yeast characteristics. Spicy. Creamy sweet finish followed an opening tartness. Raw grains, fruit and bubblegum. The alcohol became more noticeable as it warmed.

Mouthfeel was medium to full in body. There was a good deal of zestiness, yet some slickness too. Like I have already said there is a lot going on here. It may not all work together but it is entertaining. I will let this one age further and revisit it later, an interesting beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2010 14:02:34 | More by Cresant