California Blonde Ale
Eel River Brewing Co.

California Blonde AleCalifornia Blonde Ale
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From:
Eel River Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
American Blonde Ale
Ranked #321
ABV:
5.62%
Score:
79
Ranked #26,749
Avg:
3.42 | pDev: 14.33%
Reviews:
64
Ratings:
141
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 07, 2023
Added:
Aug 12, 2003
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  14
Our lightest beer . A great organic beer. With an exceptionally crisp palate, this ale balances the light malt palate with a subtle bitterness. This ale is an ideal beer for those unaccustomed to micro-brewed beers. Made with pale, wheat, carastan and carapils malts. Hopped with Cascade, Saaz and Tettnang hops. Made with pride and great taste from the worlds first certified organic brewery.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of Pivopijak
Reviewed by Pivopijak from Washington

3.7/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
draught
IBU: 13
organic version
Thin, creamy white head. Medium gold appearance. Low levels of medium light toasted malt and herbal hop aromas. Moderate amount of medium light toasted malt and grains, with light level of herbal hops, in the background, for the taste.
May 07, 2023
 
Rated: 3.48 by westcoastbeerlvr from California

Mar 04, 2023
 
Rated: 3.68 by Shatik from California

Jun 14, 2022
Photo of TinFang
Reviewed by TinFang from California

4.14/5  rDev +21.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Look: clear amber gold, light irregular head, some lacing
Smell: best feature of this ale - clean crisp hops. I thought it was a pilsner for a moment.
Taste: toasty grains, malt, hops with a subtle character. Clean tasting. If you're habituated to IPAs you might have to try this a few times to appreciate it
Mouthfeel: easy drinking, light carbonation.

Good but not outstanding. No best by date which is bad behavior.

I would order this in a bar but might not buy more.
Mar 05, 2022
Photo of tone77
Reviewed by tone77 from Pennsylvania

3.47/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a golden color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of burnt grains. Taste is grains, malts, light hops are present, refreshing. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a decent beer.
Feb 10, 2022
Photo of Brent963
Rated by Brent963 from California

4.33/5  rDev +26.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Good blond was surprised at the hops.. that's ok I like hoppy beer ...it taste smooth pretty quick though. A good beer overall .
Aug 28, 2020
 
Rated: 3.57 by beaulabauve from Louisiana

Aug 10, 2020
Photo of RonaldTheriot
Reviewed by RonaldTheriot from Louisiana

4.25/5  rDev +24.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I believe this bottle is from 2015 (blame the store and the distributor). Well, it has a medium, bone-colored head, an opaque, orange-gold appearance, lots of big, tan chunks, racing bubbles, and little lacing. The aroma is turned fruit and pale malt. It has a similar flavor with a heavy orange pekoe tea taste and no hop bitterness. There is a low to medium body, and Eel River Organic California Blonde Ale has a sweet finish.

RJT
Jun 02, 2020
Photo of BucannonXC5
Reviewed by BucannonXC5 from California

3.66/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Type: 12-oz. bottle
Glass: Clear 16-oz. Bruges beer glass
From: Gregg
Price: n/a
Purchased: n/a; Received Nov. 12, 2019
Consumed: Nov. 26, 2019
Reviewed as: American Blonde Ale
Misc.: No bottled on date

Thanks, Gregg!

Got this and a bunch of other beers from Gregg. Most of them weren’t that fresh, especially the IPAs. Thought I had this one before, but had not checked in on Untappd or reviewed on Beer Advocate. Had a few over the previous few days, giving it a 3.5 on Untappd and writing, “Good for the style.” Beer Advocate description was, “Our lightest beer. A great organic beer. With an exceptionally crisp palate, this ale balances the light malt palate with a subtle bitterness. This ale is an ideal beer for those unaccustomed to micro-brewed beers. Made with pale, wheat, carastan and carapils malts. Hopped with Cascade, Saaz and Tettnang hops. Made with pride and great taste from the world’s first certified organic brewery.”

Poured an amber clear color with 2-to-3 fingers of frothy off-white head. Lots of fast moving bubbles coming up along the sides of the glass. Outstanding spotty lacing. Excellent foamy retention. (Sight - 4.25)

Smelled grain, lemon, pear, lemon shortbread cookies, cracker, white bread, floral, grass, apple, hints of pepper (Saaz) and citrus zest. (Smell - 3.75)

Taste was almost as good as the nose. Didn’t seem as fresh as I’d have wanted it. Got grain, lemon shortbread cookies, cracker, white bread, pear, apple, floral, grass, spicy Saaz, black pepper, citrus zest, herbal, soap, caramel malt and hints of honey. (Taste - 3.50)

Medium body. Thin texture. Average carbonation. Abrupt finish. (Feel - 3.50)

May have underrated this overall, but very good for the style. (Overall - 3.75)

3.66 | 83 | B
Dec 31, 2019
 
Rated: 3.39 by wc94wc from California

Jul 05, 2019
 
Rated: 3.69 by robotic_being from Illinois

May 20, 2019
Photo of BillzDubbel818
Reviewed by BillzDubbel818 from California

4.56/5  rDev +33.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Nicely made very tasty blonde.Light hops not too overpowering with a hint of caramel creaminess on the finish very flavorful I'm liking this.Good job EEL River solid beer would definitely recommend.It's really smooth no bitterness my favorite blonde cheers...
Feb 17, 2019
 
Rated: 3.74 by InfernoBoss from California

Feb 15, 2019
 
Rated: 3.5 by DOCRW from Kentucky

Jan 19, 2019
Photo of superspak
Reviewed by superspak from North Carolina

3.63/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
12 ounce bottle into pint glass, no bottle dating. Pours slightly hazy medium golden yellow color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and fluffy off white head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of lemon, orange, peach, pear, melon, red apple, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, lightly toasted biscuit, light pepper, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance of citrus/earthy hops, pale/wheat malt, and fruity yeast notes; with solid strength. Taste of lemon, orange, peach, pear, melon, red apple, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, lightly toasted biscuit, light pepper, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness. Light herbal, floral, grassy, peppery bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of lemon, orange, peach, pear, melon, red apple, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, lightly toasted biscuit, pepper, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Nice robustness and balance of citrus/earthy hops, pale/wheat malt, and fruity yeast flavors; with a nice malt/bitterness balance, and no cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering bitterness. Medium carbonation and body; with a smooth, moderately creamy/bready/grainy, and fairly sticky mouthfeel that is good. Not as crisp/clean as expected, a bit too malt heavy. Zero warming alcohol for 5.8%. Overall this is a nice American blonde ale. All around nice robustness and balance of citrus/earthy hops, pale/wheat malt, and fruity yeast flavors; smooth and pretty refreshing to drink with the mellowly bitter/drying finish. A bit too fruity/yeasty, but not overwhelming. A nicely enjoyable offering, and good style example otherwise.
Nov 22, 2018
 
Rated: 3.52 by BlueSpader from Washington

Oct 03, 2018
 
Rated: 4.19 by beerbart from California

Sep 21, 2018
Photo of Nvrmind16
Rated by Nvrmind16 from California

3.67/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Smooth blonde ale, they serve it a lot near vegan friendly places, because its "organic". Anyhow its easy to drink.
May 19, 2018
Photo of DoctorRobert1969
Rated by DoctorRobert1969 from California

3.5/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Tasty and flavorful. Goes down pretty easy. Some nice maltiness.
Nov 26, 2017
 
Rated: 2.76 by Hophazzard from California

Sep 21, 2017
California Blonde Ale from Eel River Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 79 out of 100 with 141 ratings