True Blonde Ale - Ska Brewing Co.

mactrail

California

3.58/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Pale golden poured in the pint shaker. Pleasant carbonation in the mouth and a decent foam in the glass. Modest floral and malty aroma. A touch of resiny flavors in the back of the mouth but not much in the way of hops. Some bread and yeasty flavors, though very light. The body is also light but not watery. Quite clean and faintly bitter at the end.

I didn't think this was so damn bad. It's just another very light beer but it has a little more style and substance than the average for this category. An enjoyable brewski for the twilight on the patio. From the 12 oz can at the Radisson on the Yavapai reservation.

Serving type: can

04-19-2013 02:35:15 | More by mactrail

InlandTaipan

California

3.73/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A: Straw colored gold with a nice frothy white head

S: Smells like sweet bread

T: Sweet and not too dry. nice malt character, subtle bitterness. Not much hop character.

M: very full feeling with great carbonation.

O: this is a great blonde, not sure why it is getting reviewed poorly.

Serving type: can

03-02-2013 20:08:33 | More by InlandTaipan

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

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

The body is a bright gold with no head floating on top. My big knock on how it looks is the carbonation is really low for the style. barely any bubbles at all.

The smell is exactly what you think it would be. Light malt (nothing really offensive, but nothing to make you hate it). Hint of corn and a touch of grains round out the smell.

it tastes more grainy than it smells, with a hint of corn and other grains coming in. It feels light and sweet, with a dash of earthy hops flashing in and out really quickly.

I actually like the beer, but its not exceptional. Its really balanced and really light, and highly drinkable.

Serving type: can

02-24-2013 18:15:19 | More by VncentLIFE

kojevergas

California

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

Can into New Belgium stem-goblet in me gaff in Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are average.

Served straight from the fridge. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a one finger thin beige colour head of no real cream and below average retention. Body colour is a pale clear yellow. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Meh.

Sm: Clean pale malts, barley, light floral hops, and straw. An average strength aroma. Meh.

T: Clean pale malts. Crisp clean barley. Middling floral hops. Imbalanced, with an empty bland third act and unsatisfying climax. Very boring.

Mf: Smooth, thin, and wet. Okay carbonation. Underwhelming. A bit crisp.

Dr: Bland and boring. A drinkable but underwhelming blonde from Ska. Why brew this? I wouldn't bother with it again. A dull beer.

C-

Serving type: can

01-08-2013 06:28:21 | More by kojevergas

bmwats

Louisiana

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

Poured from a 12 oz can, into a tumbler.

A: Hay color. Medium heavy carbonation. Pours about a half finger, foamy, white head. Settles pretty quickly, leaving a blanket of foam on the surface. Thick, beer ring lacing.

S: French bread.... not much else.

T: Sourdough bread, with a really doughy, pungent flavor.

M: Light body, pungent aftertaste.

D: Pound and enjoy.

Atmosphere is good enough. Fair body, and nondescript nose. Flavor is a light and crisp doughy thing. Overall, this is a pretty good quaff.

Serving type: can

10-28-2012 03:08:10 | More by bmwats

CHickman

New York

3.2/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours crystal clear light yellow with a nice 2 finger snow white head that was full of bubbles and faded leaving pretty decent lacing.

Smells grainy, with husk, light citrus hops, lemon, and wheat or bread; the nose is very basic and average, it smells like a macro lager.

Tastes like it smells, with grains, husk, light citrus hops, lemon, wheat, biscuit, grass and light yeast like cardboard. It’s light, crisp and refreshing, but rather dull tasting overall with too much, malt, corn and husk to keep you focused on the flavor.

Mouthfeel is light, crisp and refreshing, with very mild carbonation, a very light and almost watery body, and a session-able ease that lets it flow down like water. Micro impersonating macro, this was OK; a great lawn mowing beer.

Serving type: can

09-14-2012 02:38:52 | More by CHickman

tdm168

North Carolina

3.6/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - transparent, golden yellow with a quarter of an inch of thick, pure white head that has decent retention

S - faint cereal grains, a hint of lemon, faint grassy hops

T - bready, cereal grains, lemon, faint grass

M - light to medium bodied, a bit crisp but well carbonated

This is a rather malty brew. The bready flavors are intense. There are some fruity notes that come trhough as well. The lemon is most evident. There are some subtle, grassy hops, but overall, this is a bit unbalanced and ultimately a bit forgettable.

Serving type: can

09-12-2012 00:13:36 | More by tdm168

marlinsfan4

Maryland

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

Part of the Ska brewing mixed 12 pack of cans, enjoyed on a nice hot week at the beach. Blonde ales are typically boring styles, but this one does seem to have a bit more body and taste than the usual one. Nice lemony touch, crisp hops, and clean finish, an above average blonde ale but probably wouldn't seek it out again.

Serving type: can

08-26-2012 22:20:01 | More by marlinsfan4

ChicagoBeerCat

Illinois

3.43/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This beer has a nice peachy smell and a fairly decent clean, citrusy, bright taste. I am drinking it out of a regular pint glass. It is not the best beer I have ever had but it is a fairly decent session beer with a nice clean taste for a hot day. It is fairly drinkable but I wish it wasn't in a can.

Serving type: can

08-02-2012 23:47:15 | More by ChicagoBeerCat

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

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

Poured into a standard pint glass. The beer is a clear golden/straw color. A fizzy white head dissipates soon, leaving a film. Some sticky lacing at first, then nothing. The beer smells slightly metallic, with malt and grassy notes. Tastes grassy, light, and somewhat of a lemon peel note. Mouthfeel is medium to light bodied.

Overall, standard fare from Ska. Not great, not awful. Pretty enjoyable when the temp is 103 and you're sitting on the deck, but I've had better. Not regrettable.

Serving type: can

07-04-2012 20:01:39 | More by JuicesFlowing

chugalug06

Colorado

3.85/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Two-finger, soapy, white head. Brew has brilliant yellow clarity.

Saaz hops dominate. Honey and slight ABV burn are also prevalent. Very light.

Crisp, clean, smooth. A bit soapy, but not in a bad way. Very refreshing brew for a HOT day! Best served ice cold. Sessionable. Nice medium carbonation. No bitterness.

It's a refreshing Blonde, sure beats BMC for tailgating, parties, ect. Very sessionable. Highly recommended on hot days or for drinking outdoors.

Serving type: can

06-24-2012 19:17:50 | More by chugalug06

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

3.2/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Can, consumed out of the can

This beer has a rather enticing aroma. Crisp, almost lager like and somewhat wheaty. There is also a light fresh hop character to it.
The taste however, is not as impressive. There is no hop flavor and it is best compared to an adjunt lager with wheat. The beer is drinkable but the flavor wont keep you interested. The feel is light which isnt bad but the aftertaste is poor and rather bland. This is a step up from the big name beers but a small step indeed.

Serving type: can

06-18-2012 02:47:04 | More by TwelveOunces

thydarkprevails

Illinois

1.78/5  rDev -46.7%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

From a can to a duvel tulip. Beer pours a clear golden yellow with a finger length white head. Aroma is light bread, corn, very faint floral. Not much here. Taste is bready malt, more corn, and lower quality grains. Mouthfeel is thin and forgettable. Not my favorite beer.

Serving type: can

04-19-2012 11:39:41 | More by thydarkprevails

blackcompg

Illinois

3.2/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from their 12oz can...

Appearance - Poured a finger of brite white head, color of the beer is a transparent lite yellowy gold. I get some faint webbed lacing.

Smell - Lite citrus and lemon, pear, and white bread.

Taste - Very light grains with a little apple, also a touch of faint lemon citrus. Long into the finish I get some very lite spice, like white pepper or coriander, and even a touch of floral hops. There is malty and lightly sweet backbone present throughout.

Mouthfeel - Mouthfeel is light, carb is medium which provides a clean crispness.

Overall - It's a fairly good beer, very sessionable at 5.3%, but not quite substantial enough for my personal tastes. Looks, drinks and nearly tastes like a lite beer, but with some nice flavoe, complexity and balance.

Serving type: can

04-06-2012 04:17:43 | More by blackcompg

facundoCNB

New Jersey

3.53/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

a straw yellow clear pour into a pint glass with nice amounts of head and lacing throughout the glass. smells of pils and grassy hops - a hint of citrus. tastes a bit bitter and wheaty. not much else there taste-wise. a nice refreshing mouthfeel though, light bodied and makes your cheeks cringe a tiny bit with the bitterness but is overall a crisp and refreshing summer blonde ale.

Serving type: can

03-21-2012 22:28:48 | More by facundoCNB

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.53/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

pours a nearly clear yellow with a fading 1.5 inch white head, but i prefer this one ice cold right from the can. smells like a medium bodied wheat beer, some malty textures, but nothing overbearing. hops here serve merely to make it crisp, nothing ornamental with the hops flavor wise. feel is pretty good, bubbly and foamy and drinkable. this is a very light beer in terms of it filling you up, very sessionable on a summery afternoon. definitely nothing special by ska's standards, but it serves it purpose rather effectively.

Serving type: can

03-15-2012 18:43:36 | More by StonedTrippin

WoodBrew

Illinois

4/5  rDev +19.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Merry Christmas!!!!The first beer on this blessed Holiday is a True Blonde from SKA. The beer pours a golden clear with thin white head that is not lacing....due to the fruitiness. The smell has subtle lemon flare with delicate malt balance. The taste is a great balanced beer with good lemon zeal. The mouthfeel is a medium to light body with good carbonation. Overall the beer is quite tasty....and highly recommended.

Serving type: can

12-25-2011 18:47:19 | More by WoodBrew

ONUMello

Ohio

3.48/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz can poured into a pint glass
A: Light orange with a 1/2 finger head that quickly dissipates.
S: Cereal and malts.
T: Somewhat sweet, with wheat, cereal and a twist of lemon.
M: Light but crisp and refreshing.
O: Overall it's pretty average, but is quite pleasant to drink and would make a good session beer.

Serving type: can

08-25-2011 00:26:41 | More by ONUMello

DCon

Missouri

3.48/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bought two of these 12oz cans from Lukas Liquor in Ellsiville, MO for $1.99 each. Poured into a giant Hefeweizen Glass and has BEST BY 10/04/11 on the bottom ridge of the can.

Aroma- Light and crisp aroma with a wheaty background. Sweet malts are present but no signs of hop or any other character.

Appearance- Pours a 4.5 finger head that keeps very well. A straw, gold color body shines in the glass and leaves fairly good lace.

Flavor- Very grainy and malty from the beginning. Sweet, light, and has a lemon twist at the end. No bitterness but does have a sweet finish.

Mouthfeel- Light Bodied, High Carbonation, Smooth, and Refined. Almost has a rice characteristic in the mouthfeel that I do not appreciate.

Overall Impression- Refreshing but wouldn't go out of my way to have again... The main reason I went for this was it was in a can and the other 8 cans I grabbed were all to match up craft beers with other friend's A.B. cans and see what they thought. So far the O'Fallon Wheach is winning! (w/ Ska's Modus Hoperandi in a close 2nd).

Serving type: can

08-18-2011 16:06:51 | More by DCon

StoneTSR

Colorado

3.58/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

APPEARANCE: I touch cloudy and I’d say, well, Blonde in color. A half-inch head rested on top after a fairly aggressive pour and it hung in there for a while.

SMELL: Very bready and slightly citrusy.

TASTE: Like a lot of Ska’s beers, the Blonde followed the nose. A nice biscuit-like flavor was complimented with some peripheral citrus, particularly lemon and with a touch of grapefruit. It is slightly sweet and more full-bodied than many blondes I’ve had. I’m sure there’s a ‘that’s what she said joke in there’. Anyhow, the finish has a tiny bit of a hop bite too it that most blondes do not, which probably turns off a lot of people who are fans of the style, but as an IPA guy I’m all for it.

MOUTHFEEL: The mouthfeel is very pleasant. Unlike some of Ska brews, this isn’t too strong on the carbonation, but it is light and very easy to drink. It goes down very smooth.

OVERALL: At 5.3% this is easily sessionable if the sweetness doesn’t build too much. I think I could handle two or three before the sugar got to be too much. That said, I think Ska created a very accessible beer in the Blonde that is palatable for the uninitiated to good beer and the seasoned vets who can still enjoy it even if it is toned down a bit.

Serving type: can

08-17-2011 09:21:15 | More by StoneTSR

brandoncox

Virginia

2.7/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 3

Translucent pale golden pour.

Crackers and buttery biscuits take over but a hint of honey comes in and mellows it out. Sour wheat is also present on the nose but only slightly.

Wheat and a touch of honey is just about all I get. No complexity to give this brew a worthy nod.

Very thin body and very under-carbonated. Just not a lot of action on the palate.

Overall this is just simply boring. But don't rule this out being a light beer to be enjoyed and paired with food. Sampled one while eating pizza and one before bed... it definitely made my pizza into a pretty damn good meal. However, look to something else if you're just looking to drink a beer.

Serving type: can

08-06-2011 18:25:15 | More by brandoncox

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a golden straw. its cloudy and has a very thin head. Appears to have some sediment maybe yeast. Carbonation is average.
Smells lighty of yeast and pale malts and grains.
Flavor is pretty average.Some old tart lemon, alittle hops, alittle malt...
Thin mouthfeel dry and bland. Watery as it warms.
had this at a restaraunt its pretty basic beer nothing fancy.
One and done.

Serving type: can

07-17-2011 12:08:36 | More by micromaniac129

beerad666

Illinois

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

If you pour it out into a glass you will be presented with a hazy, golden color and just a slight head. The aroma of yeast, lemons and grains drift from the glass and begin to brighten up your day. The full essence of summer fills your mouth when you take that first sip. Flavors of sweet malts, lemon and a slight hop presence brings a smile to the face. Drinking this beer you can easily knock back a few cans and just enjoy the afternoon.

Serving type: can

05-15-2011 17:38:32 | More by beerad666

blakereik

Nebraska

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

Drank these from a can, so can't say much about the appearance, although it is a good looking can :)

S: Malty and sweet

T: Medium body a little bitter. Crisp, but this was out of an ice cold cooler on the side of a golf cart, so anything would seem crisp in that condition. Sweeter taste first, maybe some honey and fruit tones quickly drowned out by grain. A little bit of metallic in the flavor from the can.

Better than the typical can of beer i can have on the golf course, will keep looking for a beer that I can really enjoy out on the course without violating the rules.

Serving type: can

05-09-2011 15:32:01 | More by blakereik

rawfish

California

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

Hazy gold when poured into a shaker glass, small cloudy particulate blended well. Very little head to speak of, white and bad retention with no lacing.

Little smell to speak of, grains and a grassy coating maybe a little citric hop notes. Overall lightly sweet from bready malt and a touch of honey.

Really sweet brew overall characterized with thin grassiness and hints of lemon on the fore front before a large bready malt backbone and a large amount of honey. Rather overpowering on the honey aftertaste, no hop profile and starts to get a little musty after a while. Not unpleasant because the malts are well balanced but the honey note would probably make this too sweet for most.

Could've enjoyed this one colder, medium body for a blonde with average carbonation. Despite being so sweet it lacks any form of stickiness or residue.

Average blonde ale, really potent honey character but that's all that was really memorable about this beer.

Serving type: can

05-01-2011 07:35:51 | More by rawfish