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Give me a Dark Beer, Mr. BrewmasterJan 29 '02 (Updated Oct 28 '06) Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Blonde beer is usually light and lacking and character, and ranks among my least favorite styles.
Beer comes in many styles and flavors, ranging from sweet, fruity beer, to dry, bitter beer. The color of beer, while not as varied as the other attributes, ranges from very dark to very light golden with tinges of red and other colors in certain styles. One type of beer that tends to be light in both color and body is called blonde beer, or golden ale. This style of beer is, admittedly, one of my least favorite styles, mainly because beer of this variety usually has little character or flavor. What are the Characteristics of Blonde?: Blonde beers tend to be on the light side and that’s precisely why some craft brewers make the decision to include a blonde beer in their lineup of products. A good brewer knows that this style of beer is not really the best, in terms of overall character and flavor. But it’s often a good idea to make a blonde style, to have a product that will appeal to those who are novices in the world of malt beverages. Besides being light in color and flavor, blonde beers are usually less bitter and lower in alcohol content than many pilsner- style beer, which adds to their appeal to novice beer drinkers. They tend to be non- assertive and non- intimidating, making them a good choice for those who don't normally enjoy quaffing a rich brew. Some blonde styles go a step further and add fruit, for a more distinct taste. I don’t normally like fruit added to my beer, but I make an exception when it comes to blonde beer. Because this style is typically on the bland side, the additional flavor from fruit often does enhance the taste and makes the beer more unique and memorable. Blonde beers are usually made with light pale malt and no specialty malts. The exclusive use of pale malt ensures that the beer will have a very light color. The only beer style that I can think of that is lighter in color than blonde would be some of the rice- adjunct beers, like Busch and Budweiser, from the Anheauser- Busch family. These beers are usually have a very light hue, because of the light malt and the added rice. In keeping with the emphasis on blandness, blonde beers are often under- hopped and have very little bitterness to speak of. They are brewed at a moderate to low initial gravity of between 1040 and 1060, and the hop bitterness level is usually less than 25 IBU. Examples of This Style: I don’t spend much time seeking out blonde beer, since it’s one of my least favorite styles. However, I have tried a few over the years that were good enough to recommend. Some examples would include Goose Island Blonde (brewed in Chicago); Full Sail Golden Ale; and, in my area, Miami Trail Golden Ale. If you want to try a fruit- flavored blonde that’s widely available, then I recommend trying Pete’s Strawberry Blonde. There are countless others that are available in brewpubs across the country. They all have the characteristic lightness that you expect in this style of beer. Final Thoughts: Blonde beer is not one of my favorite styles. For the most part, this style is just too light and too boring to capture my interest. My taste preference tends toward the “meatier”, more full- bodied dark beer with lots of malty taste, so I have a natural bias against lighter beer. Don’t get me wrong- blonde beer isn’t the worst style on the market and it’s the type of taste that many people will enjoy, regardless of what I might say in this review. I just prefer my beer darker and more full- bodied. If given the choice, I would choose a glass of blonde over a glass of a light American- style pilsner, like Miller Lite. But I would choose most other styles over blonde, including other light styles like wheat. So, in a nutshell, blonde beers can be light and refreshing, but they can also be dull and extremely lacking in character. For myself, when given the choice, I will take a brunette over a blonde any day. I want my beer to be full- bodied with lots of malt character. You don’t get that with a blonde. Be Sure to Click the Links Below to Read Advice on Other Beer Types: What Should You Know About Pilsner Beers What Should You Know about Dunkles Beers What Should You Know About Black & Tan Beers What Should You Know About Porter Beers What Should You Know About Stout Beers What Should You Know About IPA Beers What Should You Know About Wheat Beers What Should You Know About Bock Beers What Should You Know About Doppelbock Beers What Should You Know About Ale Beers What Should You Know About Lager Beers  |
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