A Blonde in the Sun

For the most part, summer releases consist of various wheat beers, several different types of pilsner, and the occasional IPA or even pale ale. But another style of beer is also available, and should be a great summer option, especially for the craft beer newbie, or even the aficionado looking for an easy drinking session brew.
The Beer Judge Certification Program’s category of ‘Light Hybrid Beer’ includes the German Kölsch ale, American cream ale, blonde ale and wheat or rye beer. All of these beers, in one way or another straddle the line between ale and lager, often sharing characteristics and components.
If cream ales were a direct comparison to macro lagers, with a touch more hop presence and slightly more alcohol (and cream being related to corn, not lactose), then blonde ales would be the next step toward an all-malt ale. In this case, the malt will be of the bread variety, not caramel, and light hop notes are grassy as opposed to citrus and pine. What you have with a blonde Ale is an approachable beer, leaning to the malt side, that isn’t too much of a stretch for your average macro drinker.
These golden colored ales are often clear but can be slightly cloudy, and should offer a decent sized head of foam from which aromas of gently sweet malt will mix with a touch of American hop. Most blonde ales are medium-to-lighter bodied, typically well-carbonated, and smooth on the sip and finish.
Historically, this style of beer is a creation of the craft beer movement in America. However, it’s reminiscent of several different European styles of beer. Blonde ales most closely resemble the Kölsch beers of Cologne, Germany. You would likely be hard pressed to make a distinction between an American brewed Kölsch and a Blonde ale. The beer also suggests the English summer ales, which are quite rare. The next closest cousin to the Blonde style would be less-hopped American but especially English pale ales.
As the craft movement in this country began to mature, blonde ales were the usual choice for breweries to offer in place of macro standard and light lagers. Alcohol by volume (ABV) in the range of 4-5.5 percent, light-to-medium bodied, low hop bitterness, and a gentle malt backbone is a solid combination for the typical American beer drinker.
Numerous decent examples exist: Uinta’s Sum’r Summer Ale, Rogue’s Oregon Golden Ale, Heavy Seas Gold Ale, New Belgium Somersault, Bell’s Third Coast – all decent and passable examples of the style that will fit the bill.
Victory Brewing Company’s Summer Love is a great example of an American Blonde Ale. On their website, Victory says this about Summer Love: “With the sublime, earthy familiarity of noble, American and German hops backed up by fresh and clean German malts, Summer Love Ale ends with a surprising burst of lemony refreshment from fistfuls of American whole flower hops. Love Summer, now.” Victory also rates Summer Love at 5.2 percent ABV.
Not an out-of-this world beer experience, but a great sipping, non-adjunct beer, blonde ales are American and made for summer; an ale that above and beyond the usual macro lager. Enjoy the brews … Cheers.
Gene’s Haufbrau has at more
than 200 beers in bottles or on tap. “
Gene’s is located at 817 Savannah Hwy.  225-GENE. E-mail the Beer Snob at publisher@westof.net.