Blond Bombshell (Big Nose Blond)
McNeill's Brewery

Blond Bombshell (Big Nose Blond)Blond Bombshell (Big Nose Blond)
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From:
McNeill's Brewery
 
Vermont, United States
Style:
American Blonde Ale
ABV:
5.2%
Score:
81
Avg:
3.51 | pDev: 14.53%
Reviews:
27
Ratings:
36
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 08, 2016
Added:
Apr 25, 2004
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  2
A West Coast style golden ale. Hoppier than many throw away beers, it contains a generous amount of citrusy hops, German and domestic malts and has a deep gold color. Winner of the golden ale category at the '94 Great American Beer Festival.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Brad007:
Photo of Brad007
Reviewed by Brad007 from Vermont

4.47/5  rDev +27.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a light blond color with a thick, fluffy head. Aroma is light and malty, somewhat flowery (due to the hops) and smooth. Aroma is smooth and light upfront with a heavy malt aftertaste that retains the flowery notes that I observed. Pretty light beer here. The aftertaste is nice because it even retains a very faint hop bitterness as well. Reminds me a lot of a belgian wit as well. Very delicious.
Dec 03, 2007
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 2.79 by swierczt from Connecticut

Jul 08, 2016
 
Rated: 3 by Westyn from Texas

Jul 31, 2014
 
Rated: 2 by patrick802 from Vermont

May 04, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by Noelito76 from New York

Mar 23, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by OriolesFan1008 from Maryland

Jul 06, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by sammy806 from Maryland

Jul 03, 2013
Photo of Phyl21ca
Reviewed by Phyl21ca from Canada (QC)

3.5/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle: Poured a slightly hazy blonde color ale with a large white foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of semi-sweet cereal notes with light hoppy and floral notes. Taste is a mix between some semi-sweet clean cereal malt backbone with some light floral and hoppy notes. Body is about average with good carbonation. Enjoyable though nothing to write home about either.
Jul 11, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by jawneyt from Wisconsin

Mar 26, 2012
Photo of MoreThanWine
Reviewed by MoreThanWine from Massachusetts

3.16/5  rDev -10%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Poured a big 3" velvety custard head. The body looks hazy straw yellow. Smell hints it will be along the lings of a hefe, and there are hints of spice, but the fruit or banana hints aren't there. There is some sweet malt. You're basically getting a mild blond ale which is rather boring after the lovely head subsides.
Jan 15, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by Chaz from Minnesota

Dec 21, 2011
 
Rated: 3 by Rochefort10nh from New Hampshire

Nov 18, 2011
Photo of jondeelee
Reviewed by jondeelee from Massachusetts

3.97/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Blond Bombshell begins with a hoppy aroma, thick with nuanced grapefruit and hints of pine, atop a layer of sugary malts that is reminiscent of confectioner's sugar.

On the tongue, the brew begins with a simultaneous burst of grapefruity hops and sugary malts, the latter rich in berry flavors (strawberry, cherry) and light fruit esters (apricot, pear, apple). These rest atop a good layer of toasted grains, and the brew is thus quite like a good bowl of cereal with fresh fruit. Later in the mouthful the sugars die off, exposing the toasted grains, which last well into the mouthful, as well as the hops, which are present in good quantities and create a warm burning on the tongue and soft palate. Mouthfeel is medium, and carbonation is medium to medium-heavy.

Overall, this is a good beer, with surprising and tasty berry flavors that nicely complement the grain and citrus flavors.
Aug 03, 2011
Photo of WesWes
Reviewed by WesWes from New York

3.45/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
The beer pours a hazy gold color with a thick frothy white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is decent. It has a grainy pale malt scent along with a mild hop nose and a touch of biscuit malt breadiness. The taste is decent as well. It has a thin pale and biscuit malt flavor. It's light and grainy with a mild noble hop character. The mouthfeel is fine. It's a low bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is an easy drinking blonde ale; not overly complex and sessionable.
Jan 07, 2011
Photo of potownbill
Reviewed by potownbill from New York

3.94/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Cloudy straw color with a thin white head
Smell: Yeast, Lemon citrus, Sourdough bread
Taste: some tartness, yeast, citrus
Mouthfeel: moderate carbonation, smooth
Drinkability: Very enjoyable. Easy to drink.
I am looking forward to another. McNeill's has been a very reliable brewery, and I am looking forward to trying a few more.
Oct 03, 2010
Photo of Seanibus
Reviewed by Seanibus from California

2.5/5  rDev -28.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
I at first thought I had a bad bottle, but I have tried a couple of others to be sure and I think this is just the way the beer is.

And it's not good.

Pours a slightly hazy straw with a torrent of carbonation that leaves a fizzy, weird head.

The aroma is thin and sour, yeasty and lemony - way lemony.

The flavor is super sour, like a fresh lemonade, which is great in lemonade but no so great in a beer. The flavor is cidery, leomony and sour and not pleasant. There is no hop bitterness on the finish.

Just not a good thing.
Sep 30, 2010
Photo of cavedave
Reviewed by cavedave from New York

3.55/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a cloudy dark straw, with a thin off white head that relaxes to a skim and finally disappears.

Not much aroma, some tart yeast, candy sweet, and lemony citrus.

Fuller flavor than expected. As it warms it changes character. First it is sweet, some tart yeast joins in, and some noble hop spiciness joins in, finishing lemony, lightly bitter, and juicy, saison-like. As it warms some decent malt breadiness joins the game, the lemon calms down, the tart subdues, it balances, and it turns into a very nice taste. Nothing spectacular here, but a tasty brew for sure.

Very low carb., but good for the flavor profile, medium bodied for style, and a decent finish.

Drinkability is okay, I didn't crave the next sips, but enjoyed drinking this.

Impression: A well made beer in a style that isn't super popular.
Aug 31, 2010
Photo of jdhilt
Reviewed by jdhilt from New Hampshire

3.43/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pours a three finger white head that fades slowly to a thin layer leaving some lace. Clear pale amber color. Good carbonation and medium bodied. Faint citrus and hop nose. Flavor has hints of caramel with hop bitterness. $3.79 for a 22oz bottle from Beverage Warehouse Winooski, VT.
Jul 24, 2010
Photo of billybob
Reviewed by billybob from Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
poured from a 22oz. bottle

cloudy yellow gold color with a fluffy one finger white head that holds to just covering the beer and ring of lace as you sip. smells of citrus, lemons, limes, and very slight spice also. first taste is wow sour yeast and malt then some fruity citrus then sour and tangy again. medium body and carbonation is crisp. takes getting used to but it's very enjoyable. don't know if it would make a good session beer.
Jan 19, 2010
Photo of ThirstyBird
Reviewed by ThirstyBird from California

3.87/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
On tap at McNeill's in Brattleboro VT
A - Appears a cloudy light amber. Head falls to a ring. Minimal lacing.
S - Sweet malt, fruity, slightly musty.
T - Sweet malt....follows nose. Nice slightly bitter aftertaste.
M/F - Low/medium carbonation. Light body.
D - Definitely an easy drinking beer.I have to admit it was better on tap than the bottle that I had previously.
Jan 07, 2010
Blond Bombshell (Big Nose Blond) from McNeill's Brewery
Beer rating: 81 out of 100 with 36 ratings