True Blonde Ale - Ska Brewing Co.

Dusty6467

Texas

2.63/5  rDev -21.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

A: clean, clear, light, blonde, 2 finger head that dissipates very quickly.

S: faint smell of citrus hops and bread, not much here

T: metallic- almost like a cheap champagne, faint citrus taste;I expected more

M: clean, light and crisp

O: decent blonde ale, but subpar. Very sessionable with high ABV, but not my personal choice for a blonde ale- drinks more like an American light lager.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 18:52:37 | More by Dusty6467

Twincrasher

2.78/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Average look for blonde. Not impressive head for this style. Like much more in terms of head and lacing for blonde.

S: Metalic. Common for this brewery so far.

T: Eh. Phenol flavors that seem to overpower. Not very balanced.

O: Good, but not too impressive.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 20:31:48 | More by Twincrasher

xylophonica

Australia

3.85/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Murky golden colour with almost a finger of head and plenty of carbonation bubbles.

S - Sweet, slightly caramel malt with some light hops. Touch of fresh herbs as well.

T - Smooth and creamy at first with a soothing maltiness. As with the aroma there's a sensation of herbs (vaguely coriander) in there as well. Aftertaste is quite bitter and vaguely reminiscent of some darker malt flavours.

M - Plenty of creamy malt here which coats the mouth fairly quickly. Nice level of bitterness which creates a pleasant harmony.

O - Decent blonde ale with some nice creamy textures and a solid group of flavours. Unlike a lot of American beers there doesn't seem to be the usual identity crisis here - it's just a straight homage (or rip-off) of a classic Belgian pale ale. Not sure how this was classified as an American Blonde (I'm sure that's not a real category...) but it's an enjoyable beer with modest aspirations.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2012 07:33:00 | More by xylophonica

ADZA

Australia

2.75/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to Beermasons for this and pours a see through golden blonde hue which leaves a frothy three finger head and clingy lacing,the smell is quite average and has aromas of honeyed malts,herbal hops and some grassiness,the mouthfeel is lightbodied too light for me and the tastes arnt much better very similar to smell with hints of honeyed malts,grassy herbal hops,cereal and bread and overall love the label but thats it for me and wouldnt buy or drink again cheers.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2012 08:09:56 | More by ADZA

denver10

Colorado

3.18/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a golden yellow with a slight white head that quickly drops down. Some honey, some lemon zest, some malt in both flavor and aroma. Very simple. A nice medium body to it. Overall, this is a very easy drinking beer. Not the most memorable but every once in a while it can hit the spot.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 21:16:24 | More by denver10

MrKennedy

Australia

3.23/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12oz via Beermasons, poured into a Golden Monkey tulip.

Pours a hazy true-golden colour, with a nice white, soft, small-bubbled head of foam. Ok retention, the odd drip of lacing on the way down.

Smell is a mix of light floral bush honey to start, then lemon, lemon zest, orange peel and then sweet malt.

Taste is more of that sweet malt, not over the top, but it builds. Little bit of bush honey as a closer, but faint.

Some light pepperiness to it as well, instead of any noticeable hop bitterness. Body is more than sufficient for the style and ABV.

Nothing wrong with this, decent, simple enough to be sessionable, body is big enough to be content with just one. Have bought plenty worse.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2012 09:14:43 | More by MrKennedy

doubledteague

Texas

3.35/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from bottle into pint glass.

A- Milky golden.

S- Heavy malts, little bit of cereal.

T- Deffinately has the malts. Slight aftertaste of lemon or somethin tangy.

M- Heavy carbonation, and the malts hit almost immediately.

O- Good, I like blonde ales and put this one right at about average. The malts were just a little on the heavier side of some I've tasted, but overall good.

Tasted and reviewed on 10/25/11 @ 1930-2000.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2011 01:20:38 | More by doubledteague

Nerudamann

Arizona

3.45/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a stein glass.

Look - light golden/straw color, clear, with good carbonation, and about two or three fingers worth of foam that dissipates somewhat quickly.

Smell - fairly malt heavy, maybe a bit of a cereal grain tinge to it.

Taste and Mouthfeel - again fairly heavy on the malts, but not as much of a cereal tinge in the taste. There's a little bit of a muskiness and a bittersweetness to it. The texture is pretty well on the watery side, but not too bad.

Overall - not a bad brew, but not very interesting either.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2011 03:38:00 | More by Nerudamann

SWMeyer4141

Texas

3.45/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearancee-Slightly hazy yellow/orange with a 3 finger white head, not good retention and average lacing.

Smell-Slightly lemony and some sweet malts. Grainy and earthy. Very average.

Taste-Very earthy and grainy upfront with some light citrus hops. Light bitterness on the backend but instantly masked by the malts. Peppery.

Mouthfeel-Crisp and refreshing. Feels like a hefe. Medium bodied with medium carbonation.

Overall-Just another blonde ale. Nothing to brad about, but would drink more.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2011 22:36:03 | More by SWMeyer4141

mikesgroove

South Carolina

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

light golden yellow with a nice white frothy head that faded quickly leaving behind a decent, but shortlived lace ring. Smell was lively, lots of yeast was present even in the aroma, and it was very light. Bread and earthy grains were the predominant aromas. Taste was crisp, light and refreshing, perfect for a summer day. Very smooth and full of bready and earthy grain tones, with a slight hop presence as it warmed. Overall this was excellent for exactly what it was

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2011 02:19:30 | More by mikesgroove

TexIndy

Texas

3.38/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass. Best by date of 5/27/11 lasered on the neck. Was a hazy golden color with lots of little yeast bits floating around. Good carb streams. Had a barely there head that quickly dissipated into a very, very tiny and partial ring. No lacing.

The aroma was bready and grainy malt with a touch of honey as well. A little citric hops but not much. The taste was grainy with a little sweet from the honey. Decent for what it is but not much flavor there. Medium mouthfeel with good carbonation and a sweet aftertaste.

Overall, a middle of the road blonde ale that I won't remember 15 mins from now. Not that it's bad but just not much there to get excited about. Avail here in TX. Rotation - I Like the other Ska offerings much better so I'll stick to those [N;N]

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2011 01:26:38 | More by TexIndy

JamnesCameron

Illinois

2.98/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured into a MJ tasting glass.

Pours a hazy gold with a two finger stark white cap of foam. Head is slow to drop. Some lacing evident.

Aromas of grainy malt, grassy, lemons. Yeasty.

Flavors of light lemon, sweet grainy malt. Yeasty. Dusty. No hops to speak of. Finish is short and on the sweet malty side. A little cardboardy, could be past its prime. No freshness date, so hard to tell by looking at the bottle, but tastes like it's gone over.

Mouthfeel is light, good level of carbonation.

Not a bad session beer. Might be better fresher. Nothing aggressive or memorable.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2011 00:46:57 | More by JamnesCameron

ZenAgnostic

Texas

3.88/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - Very little, white head. Doesn't last at all. Yellow slightly foggy body.

Smell - Grass clippings, pinecones, a hint of grapefruit. Almost like potpourri. Slightly offensive, but definitely interesting.

Taste - Slightly bitter, with a pointed finish. Reminds me of wheat, golden sunrays, and Spring allergies.

Mouthfeel - Just the right amount of carbonation.

Drinkability - Different enough to keep me interested, but not too weird where it's more like a one-time experiment. I'd have a couple of these in a night and might pick up another one. But I am not infatuated.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2011 01:41:12 | More by ZenAgnostic

Kromes

Georgia

3.73/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Crystal clear straw color with a fingers width white head. No real noticable carbonation in the beer.

S: Honey, malt and some peach-like fruity hop aromas. Smells pretty good.

T: Sweet malts and honey dominate the flavor and there is a nice peach and citrus fruit flavor to the beer. The finish is a little bit bitter and sweet.

M: The beer leaves the mouth a little dry and sticky. The body is light.

D: A nice beer. Not overly sweet like some beers brewed with honey flavors. But it is still on the sweet side, so not too sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2011 23:48:23 | More by Kromes

Anthony88

Alabama

2.85/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - Light golden in color with little head and no lacing. typical for a blonde ale.

S - little smell, more of a hoppy smell with citrus undertones. Not impressed.

T - decent hoppness with a lemony taste. .

M - Creamy, easily the best part of this beer.

D - Nice beer to sit down and drink. The mouthfeel really makes the beer one that i would drinkt more than one of.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2011 00:28:16 | More by Anthony88

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

3.68/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Received in trade form depechemode1983, thanks for the opportunity!
Pours a golden blond color with a small fluffy white head that dissipates quickly. Smells of grains bread honey and grass with a hint of herbal hops. Smells sweet and grainy for the most part. Taste is sweet with lots of honey in the taste mixed with a bit of grainy malt and almost enough hops to keep this from being a bit sweet. Medium body, crisp carbonation, sweet sticky mouthfeel. Not a bad little drinker. Smooth sweet and tasty. Its a decent brew, nothing really wrong with it, but nothing exceptional either.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2010 00:14:38 | More by johnnnniee

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.3/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Duvel tulip glass.

Goddamn dye-jobs... Huh, wha? Oh, yeah, the review. Ahem. This chick pours a clear sorta-pale golden straw topped by about a finger or so of white foam. The nose comprises wheat, flowers, orange rind, and light honey. The taste is nearly identical, though the orange rind and flowers dominate the proceedings, all filibustery and whatnot (wouldn't that have been a better political-charged thriller? Winnie the Pooh and the Filibustery Day? Yeah, I went there...). The one-sidedness really hurts things. The body is a heavy-feeling light, with a moderate carbonation and a kinda dry finish. Overall, a decent brew, nothing worth raving or ranting about. I'm not sure I'd aim for another one any time soon.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2010 05:33:15 | More by TMoney2591

dionisio

New Jersey

3.8/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer looks so much like a beer. I drank this in a wine glass, and holding it up and looking into it while listening to flamenco was cool.

I'd never heard of this brewery before, and they had an interesting name, and the packaging on this beer was cool, so I got it.

It's good.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2010 01:49:45 | More by dionisio

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Standard 12oz brown bottle with a best by date of 12/20/10.

Poured into a SA sensory glass this brew appears a perfectly clear yellow color with a finger of white head. A constant stream of large bubbles rise to the surface in support of the head. Despite the rising bubbles, it doesn't take long before the head receeds to a thin film across the top of the brew with a spotty amount of lace clinging to the glass.

This brew smells of light bready grains that come across as sweet at times. Little to no indication of hops, infact there isnt much going on in this brews aroma outside of a slightly sulfur twang and a very subdued fruitiness that is faint in the back as it warms.

The taste of this brew is crisp, clean and light tasting of bready malt. A very minor note of herbal hops keeps the malt in check as to not allow it to get sweet. In the back is a slight indication of the alcohol's presence. Lingering flavor left inside the mouth is mostly a clean maltiness and slight light fruit almost like pear skin.

This is a light bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. Fairly drinkable but not a bold amount of flavor or things to pick out in the nose. However, I can't fault this brew considering I am not that familiar with the American Style Blonde Ale. My impression of this brew is that with it's easy drinkability and lack of big flavor, it would be a likely substitute for a lawnmower beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2010 02:06:43 | More by stakem

Onenote81

North Carolina

3.83/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle picked up in a mixed sixer. Bottle on the first week of July, notched on the label. Says this is brewed with the finest of Wildflower Honey on the bottle. Nice. Poured into a pint glass.

This beer pours a slightly hazy light gold. A thin off-white head sits on top. Retains poorly. Leaves some light lace on the glass. Upon taking a whiff, I get scents of flowers and some faint hops right away. Further scents of light fruits such as apples and green grapes. Smells light and refreshing.

The body is fairly full for this style. Slightly chewy and has a bit of depth on the back end. Carbonation level is low-to-moderate. Nice clean flavors make this up. The honey comes through a bit in the flavor as there is a mild sweetness present. Bitterness is low on this, but that is expected. Slight grassy notes on the aftertaste. This was pretty good. Every once in awhile, I could go for this style. This is a good representation. Check it out.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2010 19:43:00 | More by Onenote81

Halcyondays

California

3.78/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle,

A: Pours blond with a minor white head, no lace, pallid.

S: Notes of honey, some fermented Meyer lemon, sweet citrus, orange maramalade.

T: Lemon and orange blossom honey upfront, slightly sweet finish again with sweet oranges, tangerines. Notes of white grape, very Kolsch like mid-palate, tasty beer.

M: Crisp, tad flabby carbonation but not too bad, light-bodied, refreshing.

D: A pretty good beer in a style that doesn't all too often interest the beer geek. Kind of kolsch with a kiss of mead, definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2010 00:07:37 | More by Halcyondays

eclaycamp

Kansas

3.33/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle. Perhaps not surprisingly, pours a bright blonde color with minimal head. Aroma is all cereal malt with some faint grassy hops off in the background. Clear light malted flavor comes through with some light hopping adding to a bittersweet finish. Light mouthfeel with mild carbonation. Most assuredly a beer that comes in on the light end of the spectrum. This isn't a beer that will come out and wow you by any stretch of the imagination. It's a simple, straight forward beer meant to be enjoyed on hot summer days. Pretty not bad.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2010 20:43:02 | More by eclaycamp

beerman207

Kentucky

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

Got this from a friend of mine.

A: Yellow almost like piss in a glass - for the style I'm guessing this is ok. :) The head lingers a while.

S: Lemon zest, wheat, some malt, grains

T: Lemon zest again along with some strong malt presence.

M: Easy to drink - medium carbonation

D: Could drink this all night - low ABV - good flavor.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2010 01:39:47 | More by beerman207

bamadog

Kentucky

3.65/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to my buddy Jeff for the hook-up here! Review is from notes taken on 7/14/2010 and poured from the bottle to a pint glass.

Appearance: Pour is a nice blonde/lemony yellow; starts with no real head to speak of, but there is a thin island of a cap sitting in the center; body is perfectly clear and shows moderate carbonation; only a few slippery spots of lacing are left behind.

Smell: Smell is crisp and toasty grainiess; a slight lemony citric/zesty hoppiness lingers around the back -- nose is a little weak overall.

Taste: This beer is OK -- nice toasty graininess; there is also a fair corn-like malty sweetness; a mild lemony hoppy bitterness lingers and it remains throughout the aftertaste; pretty simple overall, but solid enough and it makes for a nice summer beer.

Mouthfeel: Body is moderately light, and the carbonation is quite prickly and strong; a thin and moist stickiness is left hanging around.

Drinkability: Solid enough and great for a hot summer night -- nothing special about it, but it'd definitely sessionable with its light weight and low ABV.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2010 01:38:24 | More by bamadog

genek

Maine

2.8/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A - Poured a Green Tea yellow with lively carbonation. No head at all.

A - Floral & Citrusy with a nice lemongrassy scent. Hop aromas pull through a bit, but not strongly.

T - Floral and Lavender with a mildly bitter finish from hops. Honey is present in a dry sort of way. A bit of tannins at the end. In all it reminded me of a dry Mead.

D - Easy to down fast, but no more thank two before switching to something with more body.

P - White fish, toss into a beer batter for some onion rings, or a cheese sauce for pretzels, Sesame or leeks seem good as well.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2010 21:13:33 | More by genek