Curve Ball Blonde Ale - Pyramid Breweries, Inc.

tomakeanend

California

4.68/5  rDev +44%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

One of my all-time favorite beers. I may be going against the grain with this review, but to me, this is what a refreshing beer should taste like. Good flavors, but not overpowering. The old man and I threw back a few at Pyramid's tap house before going to watch TDKR. VERY good decision.

Serving type: on-tap

03-21-2013 03:37:47 | More by tomakeanend

draheim

Washington

3.23/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into an American pint glass at Greenlake Bar & Grill, Seattle. Pours a pale golden color with minimal head, no lacing to speak of. Lazy carbonation.

Aroma is faintly floral and delicate, light malt and hops.

Taste is a combination of slightly grainy malt and floral hops. Maybe a touch of lemon juice. Very light and clean, but there's just not much going on here. I almost detect hints of Belgian yeast, but can't be sure about that. Drinkable but not very interesting.

Mouthfeel is average. This is a pretty light summery beer designed to be refreshing and easy to drink.

Overall, a fine lawnmower beer but I see no reason to drink this again if there's something else on the beer list I haven't tried.

Serving type: on-tap

06-20-2012 03:07:13 | More by draheim

nataku00

California

3.08/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Stopped by a pub/restaurant in Seatac while waiting for a flight. On tap poured into a pub glass. Half an inch of head that disappeared fairly quickly. Beer was slightly cloudy orange color, with decent carbonation.

Smells lightly of orange peel and light malt.

Tastes like it smelled, light orange with malt finish, though not as dry as I think this should have been. Light bodied beer, combined with high carbonation made it drink almost like a soda.

A decent summer seasonal, though nothing really stands out about it.

Serving type: on-tap

08-19-2010 22:46:04 | More by nataku00

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.05/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On tap in the Burger Bar (Las Vegas), wasn't advertised as a Kölsch or I'd have passed on it.

Pale golden colour, thin white head, typical Kölsch even if this was brewed thousands of miles away from its homeland.

No smell (also typical Kölsch), gets my standard score of 3 for a non smelling Kölsch/Pilsner/Lager.

Bland and boring, not unsimular to the real thing.

Kölsch beers are fine if it is sunny, you're in Köln, otherwise leave them alone. They are supposed to be delicate and flavourless, this one fits the bill perfectly, so full marks for effort. The beer is well made, but it isn't the beer to be having if you're on a mission like I was.

Serving type: on-tap

05-25-2010 08:12:13 | More by BlackHaddock

astout

British Columbia (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Highly drinkable but otherwise not exceptional blonde ale.

Fairly light in colour dominated by bready aromas and similar taste. Decent beer to have on a sunny day, or like I did before a Mariners game at the brewery. Hence the high drinkability ;).

Seriously though decent summer time beer and goes down easy.

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2009 17:51:08 | More by astout

kaseydad

California

2.28/5  rDev -29.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

On tap at the local Pyramid.

A yellow straw color with almost no head at all. Nothing special to view.

A malty, grainy smell that sort of reminds me of skunky beer.

It does have a crisp taste with a rice type flavoring. Grainy as well with light carbonation. A very unpleasant aftertaste which lingers far too long.

I would be hard pressed to try this again.

One of my least favorites from Pyramid.

Serving type: on-tap

06-13-2009 16:10:23 | More by kaseydad

cvstrickland

North Carolina

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

On tap at CPW's in Greenville:

Shaker pint draft arrives with a hazy amber body and a finger of white foam atop.The head settles into a sheet that leaves minimal lacing on the glass.

The smell of the drink is a bit grainy and vinous.

The tast of the drink is a bit fruity, lightly grainy and sweet. No bitterness to speak of.

Light-medium in body and very drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

08-26-2008 10:51:27 | More by cvstrickland

orangemoustache

Illinois

3.03/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Had this at Medicis in Bloomington,Il advertised as a Golden Ale.

Pours a apple juice amber with a small head of white creamy foam that leaves no lacing as it vanishes.Smells of lightly toasted malts and some tart apple.The taste is a bit less assuming than I had anticipated,overall very balanced.Roasted peanuts,toasted white bread,along with fruity flavors of pear and red apples can be found within this subtly satisfying brew.The body was light,but not as light as other Kolsh offerings,the carbonation is light and the finish is clean with a lingering sweetness.This went nicely with the steak burrito,a bit to plain jane for me to order a second.

Serving type: on-tap

07-07-2008 16:43:22 | More by orangemoustache

nrbw23

Ohio

3.2/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

A- Pours a very clear pale yellowish gold color with a very thin white head that leaves very little to no lacing.

S- Crisp, fruity, yeasty and grassy not a whole lot going on here.

T- Kind of bland. Bready and finishes with a tiny bit of herbs/spices and fruit.

M- Light in body.

D- On a hot day this would be an easy beer to drink other than that I'll take something else.

Serving type: on-tap

06-17-2008 08:27:10 | More by nrbw23

Dogbrick

Ohio

3.05/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On draught at Chili’s in the Houston airport. Pours a slightly hazy yellow-gold color with columns of bubbles and a medium white head that dissipates steadily. Spotty lacing. Aroma of mild hops and citrus. Light-bodied and effervescent with notes of hops, sweet malt and citrus. The finish is mildly bitter hops with a touch of spice in the aftertaste. Overall about what you would expect from a summertime beer from a brewer like Pyramid.

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2007 19:25:06 | More by Dogbrick

Durge

Connecticut

3.28/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had this at my hotel in Durham, NC and it seemed pretty fresh. The appearance was a bit whimpy with a very light golden color, a whispy head and medium lacing. The aroma was skunky wheat to me. Not my favorite, although I am also generally not drawn to this style naturally despite a number of pleasant surprises. This one did have a very nice clean cereal flavor with some citrus highlights. It has a lively carbonation, fine bubbles, and is a refreshing, drinkable choice but it's maybe a little too dry for me to want to drink more than a couple of these. Not bad but worth a try on a hot summer day (good with salsa and chips perhaps?).

Serving type: on-tap

09-30-2007 04:30:27 | More by Durge

skillerified

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Very light in color. Golden hues. No head and no cap, possibly due to pour, but no lacing either. Very clear.

Faint fruity (strawberry maybe) and bread like scents. Nothing special here.

Fruity, slightly vinous and bit of sour rasberries. Some citric, lemony flavors as well. Good, sweet malt backbone as well. A little bready.

Light bodied. Easy going down. A bit acidic or sour, but in a good way. Nothing special here, just a little smoothness.

A reasonably drinkable beer, maybe a sessioner, but nothing too exotic. My first Kolsch, so it's hard to judge for style. Served maybe a little too warm too. Felt it might have been a little tastier at a slightly cooler temp. Went pretty well with a light turkey sandwich though.

Serving type: on-tap

04-15-2007 06:40:11 | More by skillerified

klewis

Ohio

2.35/5  rDev -27.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

On-tap at the BrewKettle, Strongsville, OH - 4/11/07

A: Served in a slender pilsener glass, the beer poured a light golden color with little head or lacing.

S: Weak smell with indescriptive malt and yeast aromas.

T: Creamed corn with a bit of hops to balance. Not good.

M: Light-bodied and moderately carbonated. Good for the style.

D: Not good. Pass.

Serving type: on-tap

04-14-2007 11:35:45 | More by klewis

finepaws

North Carolina

2.13/5  rDev -34.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Poured a golden color with a small head, that dissapated quickly. Smelled like a wet dish rag. Very grassy. Tasted rancid. Like rotten lemons, and grass.
Mouthfeel was ok, average.
I was not impressed by this beer at all. Do people really like this? Not for my taste at all!

Serving type: on-tap

07-24-2004 05:26:23 | More by finepaws

Mark

California

3.63/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

An o.k. offering that I had at the Pyramid Alehouse in Walnut Creek. Straw colored and topped by a thin white head that did not last too long. Lacing was not around, at all. Grainy aroma was quite pronounced. malty, grainy, taste profile was light and refreshing. Some herbal hoppiness and a touch of lemony notes were present. Easy drinking with a light mouthfeel. A decent seasonal but not outstanding by any means. Good for a hot day but there are better to be had.

Serving type: on-tap

07-22-2004 01:53:45 | More by Mark

Boilermaker88

California

3.63/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served up on-tap at Angels Stadium, Anaheim, CA. This kolsch style brew had a slightly hazy straw color, lots of highly active carbonation and a decently sized soapy white head that left nice lace behind.
The nose had a sweetly grassy malt aroma backed by citrusy, herbal hops notes. The taste had a fresh grainy maltiness up front. More modest citric hops roll around for a bit of a puckering tartness. Finally, it finished with a lightly spicy taste that was nice. The feel was light, dry and refreshing.
This offering from Pyramid hit the spot on a nearly-100ºF day at the baseball game. Refreshing and light, Curveball had a nice taste and feel that lent itself to easy drinking. Definitely beats the macro offerings that dominate most venues.

Serving type: on-tap

07-19-2004 17:13:33 | More by Boilermaker88

Redrover

Illinois

3.6/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I had this on tap at the Viking in Spokane. Nice beer bar and worth a stop.

The beer was a light copper with nice lacing and a decent head.

The beer has a slightly fruity nose. Think pears & apples. Also a bit of subtle spicing. While the aroma is fine, it is a bit on the pale side.

This was a nice stab at the style. The fruit flavors swirl in the background while the malts seem to add a bit of sweetness. Seems to have very subtle hopping.

The mouthfeel is nice with just a bit of a bite. Drinkability is good, I think this is a good lawn mower, BBQ type beer.

Not a bad beer, but if your looking for an even better interpretation, try the Goose Island Summer.

Serving type: on-tap

06-23-2004 20:55:41 | More by Redrover

BCMan

Pennsylvania

2.83/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

This beer poured up very light in color. An aggressive pour did little to stir up some foam and what did come left just a fsat. It had a crisp, dry aroma and a mild citrus flavor. The m,outhfell was also dry. This beer might have been better on a hot day at the ball park.

Serving type: on-tap

06-07-2004 21:09:16 | More by BCMan

MobBarley

Oregon

3.85/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A pale yellow brew with a short-lived white and fizzy head that has little lace to leave. Smell is big and herbal with a little grassiness and a good fresh maltiness. Taste is altogether crisp and dominated by mellow caramel maltiness and spicy, herbal hops. Mouthfeel is light and bubbly...good for the style/season. Drinkability decent but the peculiar herbalness might make it less favorable for session use. Better than many examples of the style, this brew has character and alot else going for it. Nice!

Serving type: on-tap

05-24-2004 05:58:14 | More by MobBarley

henrysunset

Washington

3.4/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

L: 3.5 - crystal clear dark pee color. flimsy head but it left some lacing up the rim

s: 3 negligible hops, strong "beer' smell, hint of fruittiness.

t: 3.5 sour, slightly bitter light brew.. hint of fruit, but no real aftertaste. drinkable but not terribly enjoyable.

m: 3.5 - thin as to be expected; nothing exciting here

d: 3.5 - it's not offensive so it's drinkable, but it isn't very exciting.

(It actually seems to taste better in a way when it's less cold. I can pick up a pleasent wheat-like sweetness now that was less obvious served cold)

got a free glass though :-) That's their policy for seasonals on tuesday at the brewpub.

Serving type: on-tap

05-12-2004 20:30:01 | More by henrysunset

francisweizen

Australia

3/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This beer poured a nice, pale-yellow/golden colour with a nice, yet small, white head. The aromas were of malts and hops...that's it. The taste was very clean and refreshing, with nothing else really going on. This reminded me of miller high life! The moutfheel was light and the drinkability was average. This beer is as average as they come. Call this a Kolsch? I wouldn't!

F

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2003 21:59:32 | More by francisweizen

AtLagerHeads

Ohio

3.13/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This is a clear light amber brew with a nice white head that laces reasonably well. The nose gives a sense of malt with hints of citrus. The flavor is pleasant but not impressive, again reflecting both a malt and citrus sense. The body is fairly light and a bit thin, but the drinkability is good due to the pleasant taste and light ABV.

Serving type: on-tap

07-20-2003 13:22:06 | More by AtLagerHeads

ryan1788a5

Massachusetts

2.93/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass. Illegible freshness date stamped on the neck label.

A: Pours a light, clear golden color with some small sediment particles in suspension. Rocky white head initially stands at a half inch, but soon settles into a thin cap. Thin, scraggly lines of lacing.

S: Very clean on the nose, to the point that there really isn't much going on at all. Touch of grain and dough. Floral hops with a slight citrus character. Slight stale, musty scent in the background.

T: Dough and honeyed grain. Slightly musty and stale. Slight earthy yeast contribution. Muted floral and slightly citrusy hop kick. Finishes with a drying grainy taste.

M: Lighter in body, somewhat firm. Moderately aggressive scrubbing carbonation. Smooth enough.

O: A fairly decent blonde ale, but it languishes on the shelves. This is their summer seasonal, and cases are still being sent to stores in our market. What gives? The freshness date is not decipherable, but I know this stuff is pretty old. It shows in the appearance, smell, and taste. And who's going to buy a middling blonde ale at an $11 six pack price? Pyramid needs to take a look at how their accounts are being handled out here, and consider pulling out of this market.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 18:49:39 | More by ryan1788a5

beerthulhu

New Jersey

2.5/5  rDev -23.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A: Pale pumpkin orange shows a mid-range of effervesce. The head is dirty white, a finger high, but quickly dissipates to a washy topping with only a speckled remains for lace.

S: Pale wheat and oranges, neutral yeast and wheat indications on the nose. Candy orange sweetness.

T: The flavor fizzy candy oranges and wheat, shallow flavor. A very safe bet not to offend with a small metallic ting.

M: The mouthful was a tad fizzy, light to medium body substance wise and overall a snooze fest.

O: Overall a curveball, if you consider this wide left of its intended style. Another boring beer from pyramid that you can easily see coming like a softpitch lob rather curve. Very generic, bland and becomes insignificant half way through. pass

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2012 23:00:22 | More by beerthulhu

yesyouam

New York

3.13/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 1.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pyramid Curve Ball Blonde Ale is a very sparkling, golden ale with no head and a turbulent surface. It has a bright, lemony aroma with light grain, maybe wheat. It's light bodied and crisp. It leaves my mouth feeling like I just ate an apple. It's lightly flavored with a grassy bitterness at the finish. There seems to be a very light sweetness throughout. There are hints of lemon, apple and pear. This was a good choice after mowing the lawn.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 14:47:36 | More by yesyouam