Tipsy Toe Head Blonde Ale
Mick Duff's Brewing Company

not a bad blonde here, especially in a morning context after way too many last night, i wish these guys casted a little wide r net with where they sent their beer, as i have liked most of what i have had. this is cereal forward, simple but not dumbed down to me, not hoppy in the least, and just a yellow drinker that seems to need a little context built in around it to be at its best. for me it was a fried chicken sandwich and some real good conversation, a sipper like no other in that setting, but maybe a little plain on its own. i like the clean ferment and the fact that the grain isnt generic here, but this lacks a finish or a distinguishing element, and ends up sort of bland and samey to me when i size it up against the best beers in the style in my mind. that said, nothing wrong here at all, and every brewery needs to make a beer like this, its better than a lot of its peers then. slightly watery in feel, refreshing still though, and probably a beer i am not appreciating enough, but its tasty, but only locally good, like this wouldnt nationally stack up, but it beats some in range alternatives and i was happy to suck one down this morning...

16oz glass at the downtown Sandpoint brewpub. Does the name have something to do with sticking your foot in Lake Pond d'Oreille when you've had too much of Mick Duff's offerings?

This beer appears a clear, medium golden yellow colour, with a thin cap of wispy and somewhat frothy dirty white head, which leaves some pleasant barbed cloud lace around the glass as things duly recede.

It smells of bready, crackery pale malt, white grape juice, a bit of wayward earthy yeast, and plain leafy, weedy, and faintly floral hops. The taste is semi-sweet, doughy pale malt, a twinge of caramel sweetness, more white table grape fruitiness, receding yeast, and a weak earthy, leafy, and floral hoppiness.

The carbonation is quite tense in its attempt at generic frothy support, the body medium-light in weight, and generally smooth, the pre-vinous fruitiness not in the vindictive mood. It finishes well off-dry, the sweet malt and inherent fruity notes carrying on like old college pals.

Overall, a genial, easy-drinking version of this otherwise simplistic summertime (were it only so) style. Not really sure what a 'tipsy toe head' is, but I'm sure that I'll come across it during the remainder of my week in this burg.