Hoppy Blonde
New Belgium Brewing Company
- From:
- New Belgium Brewing Company
- Colorado, United States
- Style:
- American Blonde Ale
- ABV:
- 5.7%
- Score:
- 86
- Avg:
- 3.8 | pDev: 9.47%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 65
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jan 11, 2026
- Added:
- Feb 13, 2016
- Wants:
- 10
- Gots:
- 64
SCORE
86
Very Good
86
Very Good
Take the leap and hop into the tropics with Hoppy Blonde Ale. This easy-drinking beer sips light and refreshing with a soft malt base, while vibrant notes of mango, lemon, blueberry and pine spring across the tongue courtesy of Mosaic, UK Admiral and Centennial dry-hopping. Light enough to session, but with a head rush of hops, Hoppy Blonde will leave you jumping for more.
IBU: 45
YEAST: Ale yeast
HOPS: Nugget, Simcoe, Mosaic, UK Admiral, Centennial
MALTS: Pale, Caramel 80, Munich
SPECIAL PROCESSING
Dry-hopping adds more aroma and flavor without adding additional bitterness. Heat sensitive aromatic hop essential oils that otherwise were lost in the brewhouse are captured here. In this case: Mosaic: rich in mango, lemon, citrus, pine and blueberry and earthy; UK Admiral: hints of citrus with herbal and earthy flavors as well; Centennial: floral and citrus tones.
IBU: 45
YEAST: Ale yeast
HOPS: Nugget, Simcoe, Mosaic, UK Admiral, Centennial
MALTS: Pale, Caramel 80, Munich
SPECIAL PROCESSING
Dry-hopping adds more aroma and flavor without adding additional bitterness. Heat sensitive aromatic hop essential oils that otherwise were lost in the brewhouse are captured here. In this case: Mosaic: rich in mango, lemon, citrus, pine and blueberry and earthy; UK Admiral: hints of citrus with herbal and earthy flavors as well; Centennial: floral and citrus tones.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Rated by ttoadee from Texas
3.65/5 rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.65/5 rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
RB transfer
Jan 11, 2026
Reviewed by BWED from Colorado
3.83/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.83/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 oz. bottle poured into willibecher.
A- Blonde, almost gold, with some nice clarity. White head, dense. Leaves some fat lacing.
S- Tropical notes, some citrus sweetness and tartness. Citra pungency. Not much in the nose as far as malt/grain goes.
T- Mild tropical and citrus. A little bitey, with a small light toast background.
M- Body is light with a fairly sweet finish.
O- Hop overshadows most blonde characteristics. Not bad, but nothing outstanding.
Sep 23, 2017A- Blonde, almost gold, with some nice clarity. White head, dense. Leaves some fat lacing.
S- Tropical notes, some citrus sweetness and tartness. Citra pungency. Not much in the nose as far as malt/grain goes.
T- Mild tropical and citrus. A little bitey, with a small light toast background.
M- Body is light with a fairly sweet finish.
O- Hop overshadows most blonde characteristics. Not bad, but nothing outstanding.
Reviewed by JimKal from North Carolina
3.77/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.77/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Nice looking beer on the pour, dark gold with a nice head and good lacing on the drink down. Nice but not overstated hoppiness. While I enjoyed it I'm not sure I'll repeat it. NB seems to be doing a lot of things with their lineup these days and most of them don't seem to work for me. Most of the core beers are gone but they have kept Fat Tire which could use some change. Most of the beers in their Fat Tire and Friends were an improvement on the base beer. Even this Hoppy Blonde would be a good addition even if it didn't work for me in terms of looking for a repeat. That might change if I could find one that wasn't bumping up against the sell by date.
May 04, 2017
Reviewed by Wasatch from Colorado
4/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz. Bottle
Pours a pretty nice yellow/amber color, pretty nice carbonation, with a pretty nice thick/creamy/foamy white head, which leaves some sticky lacing behind. The nose is hoppy, malty, citrus. The taste is hoppy, malty, citrusy. Medium body. Overall, a pretty tasty brew.
Apr 04, 2017Pours a pretty nice yellow/amber color, pretty nice carbonation, with a pretty nice thick/creamy/foamy white head, which leaves some sticky lacing behind. The nose is hoppy, malty, citrus. The taste is hoppy, malty, citrusy. Medium body. Overall, a pretty tasty brew.
Reviewed by elNopalero from Michigan
3.13/5 rDev -17.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.13/5 rDev -17.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
This pours a crystal clear gold color. I get notes of honeydew melon and a green apple peel on the nose. Flavor tastes all over the place, with melon and an unpleasant vegetal note. Onions and garlic for the finish, and not in a good way. This was not appealing in the least, although I wouldn't expect it to be skunked that would at least explain some of the problems with the beer.
Jul 22, 2016
Reviewed by J_T_Arlington from New Mexico
3.58/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.58/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
A blonde ale, yes, but very hoppy. Good lacing.
Smells flowery.
Tastes mildly piney. Lemony citrus. Forrest-like qualities. A step down from an IPA, but hoppy nonetheless.
Feels full.
Overall, better than some, not as good as others. Worth a try, but not a mainstay for me.
Jul 21, 2016Smells flowery.
Tastes mildly piney. Lemony citrus. Forrest-like qualities. A step down from an IPA, but hoppy nonetheless.
Feels full.
Overall, better than some, not as good as others. Worth a try, but not a mainstay for me.
Reviewed by BigGold from Mississippi
3.68/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.68/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
First had poured from 12-oz. bottle, stamped enjoy by "24 JUL 16," into faceted mug. With the malt backbone and nice hops, this Blonde drinks more like an American Pale Ale, which is not a bad thing.
Jul 17, 2016
Reviewed by wordemupg from Canada (AB)
3.93/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
355ml bottle poured into tulip 11/7/16 some hoser gave me the bottle, cheers man!!
A crystal clear bright golden yellow liquid, two fingers of dense foam has great retention and never really falls and cakes the side of my glass with partial rings
S at first all I got was orange juice, then some canned pineapple, some mango and papaya, sweet malts starting to come out, and a little sweet lemonade
T a little spruce and lemon rind come out with the tropical notes I was smelling, a small step back from the nose
M lighter side of medium, softens up from the bubbles, a mild bitter bite, a little gritty, weedy citrus finish
O I was expecting Belgian yeast for some reason, the name of the brewery might have something to do with it, either way solid beer that i enjoyed
A day past its date but still hoppy as can be and drinking fresh, much like most of these American 6ers its way overpriced on the shelf here in Alberta
Jul 11, 2016A crystal clear bright golden yellow liquid, two fingers of dense foam has great retention and never really falls and cakes the side of my glass with partial rings
S at first all I got was orange juice, then some canned pineapple, some mango and papaya, sweet malts starting to come out, and a little sweet lemonade
T a little spruce and lemon rind come out with the tropical notes I was smelling, a small step back from the nose
M lighter side of medium, softens up from the bubbles, a mild bitter bite, a little gritty, weedy citrus finish
O I was expecting Belgian yeast for some reason, the name of the brewery might have something to do with it, either way solid beer that i enjoyed
A day past its date but still hoppy as can be and drinking fresh, much like most of these American 6ers its way overpriced on the shelf here in Alberta
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