Third Coast Beer | Bell's Brewery, Inc.
Brewed by:
Bell's Brewery, Inc.
Michigan, United States | website
Style: American Blonde Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.80%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by BeerAdvocate on 06-01-2002
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 344 | Ratings: 809
Reviews by zerk:
More User Reviews:
3.82/5 rDev +9.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours a slightly hazy pale yellow, nice size creamy white head that retains long after the pour. Crisp and clean aroma with some toasted malt and faint grassy hop. Clean but strong toasted malt base mixes with faint floral and grassy hops, clean and toasted finish. Medium body with low carbonation leads to a creamy mouthfeel and crisp finish. One of the better blonde ales that I've had.
★ 389 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours a slightly hazy pale yellow, nice size creamy white head that retains long after the pour. Crisp and clean aroma with some toasted malt and faint grassy hop. Clean but strong toasted malt base mixes with faint floral and grassy hops, clean and toasted finish. Medium body with low carbonation leads to a creamy mouthfeel and crisp finish. One of the better blonde ales that I've had.
★ 389 characters
3.69/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Third Coast Beer reminds me of those first few rays of summer morning sun that peek through the curtains; it has a gentle radiance - nothing blinding - but is awash with golden brightness. Its head looks no thicker than a dryer sheet but leaves a wicked mess of lacing.
Somewhere a baker is turning green with envy; this beer tastes remarkably like a fresh-baked country loaf. Even the inside of ovens can't offer a perfume with this much sweet, wholesome breadiness. Each sip is like biting into the soft, warm, white, airy center of the loaf, while the aftertaste has subtle hints of toasted, lightly caramelized crust.
It's apparent that Bells has used the finest quality malts - a wise move for a recipe that showcases them so plain and abundantly. It's not all about grain however; hops are relatively significant for a blonde ale aimed at mainstream drinkers. None of the bitterness is perceived, but gently floral and fruity undertones are noted every step of the way.
Between the toothsome, biscuity sweetness and soft, rose-like hoppiness, even those who typically reject 'plain' ales will have a hard time not enjoying this. An offering this wholesome and tasteful endorses the virtues of craft beer perfectly: it's not always about being extreme or different, it's about making great, better quality beer.
Bells is a brewery with integrity and nothing proves that better than Third Coast Beer: it is a clean, flavourful, well-malted, tastefully hopped ale that has far more character than commercial, industrial brewed beers but is still every bit as approachable and easy-going. Anyone who remotely likes beer should find this a delight.
★ 1,657 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Third Coast Beer reminds me of those first few rays of summer morning sun that peek through the curtains; it has a gentle radiance - nothing blinding - but is awash with golden brightness. Its head looks no thicker than a dryer sheet but leaves a wicked mess of lacing.
Somewhere a baker is turning green with envy; this beer tastes remarkably like a fresh-baked country loaf. Even the inside of ovens can't offer a perfume with this much sweet, wholesome breadiness. Each sip is like biting into the soft, warm, white, airy center of the loaf, while the aftertaste has subtle hints of toasted, lightly caramelized crust.
It's apparent that Bells has used the finest quality malts - a wise move for a recipe that showcases them so plain and abundantly. It's not all about grain however; hops are relatively significant for a blonde ale aimed at mainstream drinkers. None of the bitterness is perceived, but gently floral and fruity undertones are noted every step of the way.
Between the toothsome, biscuity sweetness and soft, rose-like hoppiness, even those who typically reject 'plain' ales will have a hard time not enjoying this. An offering this wholesome and tasteful endorses the virtues of craft beer perfectly: it's not always about being extreme or different, it's about making great, better quality beer.
Bells is a brewery with integrity and nothing proves that better than Third Coast Beer: it is a clean, flavourful, well-malted, tastefully hopped ale that has far more character than commercial, industrial brewed beers but is still every bit as approachable and easy-going. Anyone who remotely likes beer should find this a delight.
★ 1,657 characters
3.8/5 rDev +8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a medium gold color with a rather thick fluffy head,a real malty toastey aroma not much hop to it.The taste is really malty and bread-like some nice fruitiness as well,there is some hop dryness and herbalness in there but its very faint.A decent brew but I dont rate it with some of the others from Kalamazoo.
★ 315 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a medium gold color with a rather thick fluffy head,a real malty toastey aroma not much hop to it.The taste is really malty and bread-like some nice fruitiness as well,there is some hop dryness and herbalness in there but its very faint.A decent brew but I dont rate it with some of the others from Kalamazoo.
★ 315 characters
3.35/5 rDev -4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25
Pours a perfect straw color, mostly opaque and hazy all around with a fluffy white head thanks to the generous amount of carbonation in the drink. The aroma has a slightly metallic base to it, upon which a little bit of straw and wheat sweetness surfaces, along with generous amounts of fruit; lemon zest, orange peel, apple skins, and some citrus. The taste includes most of these same fruits on the tongue, alongside a tiny bite from the carbonation. No metal on the tongue, but the slight amount in the aroma may have you thinking otherwise. Hops are there, but they're relatively low and outdone, making it hard to even pinpoint a profile to them. A slightly bitter hit comes around near the latter half of the beer, but it's still relatively low in the IBU department. The aftertaste lingers out with this tiny bit of bitterness as well as a touch of yeast and wheat that slowly decrescendo into nothing. Thin body, crisp and refreshing.
This is a beer for taking out on the lake for a hot afternoon of fishing. Refreshing and it goes down like a champ. Not the most flavorful thing on the planet, but it gets the job done.
★ 1,129 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25
Pours a perfect straw color, mostly opaque and hazy all around with a fluffy white head thanks to the generous amount of carbonation in the drink. The aroma has a slightly metallic base to it, upon which a little bit of straw and wheat sweetness surfaces, along with generous amounts of fruit; lemon zest, orange peel, apple skins, and some citrus. The taste includes most of these same fruits on the tongue, alongside a tiny bite from the carbonation. No metal on the tongue, but the slight amount in the aroma may have you thinking otherwise. Hops are there, but they're relatively low and outdone, making it hard to even pinpoint a profile to them. A slightly bitter hit comes around near the latter half of the beer, but it's still relatively low in the IBU department. The aftertaste lingers out with this tiny bit of bitterness as well as a touch of yeast and wheat that slowly decrescendo into nothing. Thin body, crisp and refreshing.
This is a beer for taking out on the lake for a hot afternoon of fishing. Refreshing and it goes down like a champ. Not the most flavorful thing on the planet, but it gets the job done.
★ 1,129 characters
3.79/5 rDev +8.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I can barely stand the way this beer looks. It looks like someone unloaded a pepper shaker into a golden beer. Not appetizing.
Decent aroma of peppery and piney hops. Hop forward for sure.
The taste is better. The American hops bring a nice, drying bitterness forth. Piney and an unsuprising touch of yeast, being that it's floating around everywhere like fish food in the glass. A little heavy on the carbonation, but it makes for a solid BBQ beer.
★ 451 characters
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I can barely stand the way this beer looks. It looks like someone unloaded a pepper shaker into a golden beer. Not appetizing.
Decent aroma of peppery and piney hops. Hop forward for sure.
The taste is better. The American hops bring a nice, drying bitterness forth. Piney and an unsuprising touch of yeast, being that it's floating around everywhere like fish food in the glass. A little heavy on the carbonation, but it makes for a solid BBQ beer.
★ 451 characters
4.12/5 rDev +18.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours from the bottle a quite nice cloudy sunshine yellow with a half inch head of creamy foam on top. A dusting of yeast specks on the bottom of the glass. Aromas of sweet pale malts and a slight lemon tone. Herbal citrusy hops are quite pronounced in the background and bring the aroma together nicely!
First sip brings a nice wave of sweet malty flavors, lemony and crisp as it rolls over the tongue. A loving blast of green, herbal spicy citric hop bitterness hits on the back of the palate and slightly lingers. Bready yeastiness throughout. Probably the best all malt lager I have had the opportunity to sample.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, crisp and refreshing. Perfect carbonation as it flows down the gullet. A wonderfully drinkable lager that could easily stand up to hot weather. The hop presence really adds to my enjoyment of this one. A great one to keep around in the warmer months.
★ 902 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours from the bottle a quite nice cloudy sunshine yellow with a half inch head of creamy foam on top. A dusting of yeast specks on the bottom of the glass. Aromas of sweet pale malts and a slight lemon tone. Herbal citrusy hops are quite pronounced in the background and bring the aroma together nicely!
First sip brings a nice wave of sweet malty flavors, lemony and crisp as it rolls over the tongue. A loving blast of green, herbal spicy citric hop bitterness hits on the back of the palate and slightly lingers. Bready yeastiness throughout. Probably the best all malt lager I have had the opportunity to sample.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, crisp and refreshing. Perfect carbonation as it flows down the gullet. A wonderfully drinkable lager that could easily stand up to hot weather. The hop presence really adds to my enjoyment of this one. A great one to keep around in the warmer months.
★ 902 characters
3.53/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This is a pretty tasty one. Bell's seems to specialize in making "big" beers, and that touch showed through in the other lighter-colored beer I had from them, "Oberon." This one is no different - very big taste & flavor. I'd say this is hoppier than your usual APA. Very close to an ipa, really. The mouthfeel is interesting - almost a champagne-like feel. Very lively. Pleasantly bitter aftertaste. I'm suprised this doesnt have a higher overall average score. I'd drink it again.
★ 481 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This is a pretty tasty one. Bell's seems to specialize in making "big" beers, and that touch showed through in the other lighter-colored beer I had from them, "Oberon." This one is no different - very big taste & flavor. I'd say this is hoppier than your usual APA. Very close to an ipa, really. The mouthfeel is interesting - almost a champagne-like feel. Very lively. Pleasantly bitter aftertaste. I'm suprised this doesnt have a higher overall average score. I'd drink it again.
★ 481 characters
3.33/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.61/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
12 oz bottle, batch 7182 (12/14/05). Older, but this was bought in MI last month. It pours a dirty yellow with lots of suspended yeasties. It has a frothy white head that quickly goes to a thin film that leaves some lacing.
The aroma is musty, soapy, bready, and fruity hops.
The flavor is bread and melons/lemon initially with a musty, fairly bitter hop finish that has a long lingering bitter aftertaste. The mouthfeel is medium to full with a nice amount of carbonation.
Overall, a decent Pale Ale - pretty different from most APAs. The flavors are OK, and the aftertaste is a bit much.
★ 598 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
12 oz bottle, batch 7182 (12/14/05). Older, but this was bought in MI last month. It pours a dirty yellow with lots of suspended yeasties. It has a frothy white head that quickly goes to a thin film that leaves some lacing.
The aroma is musty, soapy, bready, and fruity hops.
The flavor is bread and melons/lemon initially with a musty, fairly bitter hop finish that has a long lingering bitter aftertaste. The mouthfeel is medium to full with a nice amount of carbonation.
Overall, a decent Pale Ale - pretty different from most APAs. The flavors are OK, and the aftertaste is a bit much.
★ 598 characters
3/5 rDev -14%
Decent easy drinking Blonde Ale, not a lot to it but its quaffable
66 characters
Decent easy drinking Blonde Ale, not a lot to it but its quaffable
66 characters
3.57/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
pale color with a off color. Cloudy with a slight head that dissipates to the side of the glass.
Pale and crystal malts in the aroma with a slight nutty and citrus notes
This is a full pale ale. the taste is full of pale malts. The carbonation is upfront and builds. Crystal malts make an appearance and finishes with slight hop citrus and bitterness.
★ 353 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
pale color with a off color. Cloudy with a slight head that dissipates to the side of the glass.
Pale and crystal malts in the aroma with a slight nutty and citrus notes
This is a full pale ale. the taste is full of pale malts. The carbonation is upfront and builds. Crystal malts make an appearance and finishes with slight hop citrus and bitterness.
★ 353 characters
3.95/5 rDev +13.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
I enjoyed 2 bottles of this light ale over dinner. Poured light straw in color, very clear, untill the final pour which added sediment and haze. Grainy hop nose, white head which left alot of lacing. This is a crisp, quite bitter brew. Citric/lemony in the middle and more sharply bitter in the finish. Refreshing and tasty. Decent everyday brew.
★ 346 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
I enjoyed 2 bottles of this light ale over dinner. Poured light straw in color, very clear, untill the final pour which added sediment and haze. Grainy hop nose, white head which left alot of lacing. This is a crisp, quite bitter brew. Citric/lemony in the middle and more sharply bitter in the finish. Refreshing and tasty. Decent everyday brew.
★ 346 characters
3.75/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Appearance: 1/2 inch head, high carbonation, light-gold in color, hazy
Smell: almost dark wheat, grass, and a touch of toffee
Taste: grass dominates with toffee and a touch of wheat
Mouthfeel: light body, sweet with underlying bitterness, very high carbonation
Overall: Solid but not great sessionable ale that would work well on a hot day. Typical Bells being very clean. I would not go out of my way for this, but a fine example of the style.
★ 448 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Appearance: 1/2 inch head, high carbonation, light-gold in color, hazy
Smell: almost dark wheat, grass, and a touch of toffee
Taste: grass dominates with toffee and a touch of wheat
Mouthfeel: light body, sweet with underlying bitterness, very high carbonation
Overall: Solid but not great sessionable ale that would work well on a hot day. Typical Bells being very clean. I would not go out of my way for this, but a fine example of the style.
★ 448 characters
3.53/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Serving glass: Poured from bottle into a tall glass.
Appearance: Very light gold with bubbly white head and active bubble action.
Smell: Orange, apple, metal and spice.
Taste: Lightly sweet and sour malts with some citrus, apple and lemon. Ends on a spicy, metallic, and just barely bitter note, but the sweetness remains and leaves an off-taste in my mouth.
Feel: High carbonation, light body, somewhat crisp finish. Very lager-like.
Drinkability: Light, easy drinking but not really worth returning to, especially because of the lingering aftertaste.
★ 558 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Serving glass: Poured from bottle into a tall glass.
Appearance: Very light gold with bubbly white head and active bubble action.
Smell: Orange, apple, metal and spice.
Taste: Lightly sweet and sour malts with some citrus, apple and lemon. Ends on a spicy, metallic, and just barely bitter note, but the sweetness remains and leaves an off-taste in my mouth.
Feel: High carbonation, light body, somewhat crisp finish. Very lager-like.
Drinkability: Light, easy drinking but not really worth returning to, especially because of the lingering aftertaste.
★ 558 characters
3/5 rDev -14%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Bottle shared. Pale yellow, white hops. Yeast, green hops, generic bitterness. Dry.
83 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Bottle shared. Pale yellow, white hops. Yeast, green hops, generic bitterness. Dry.
83 characters
3.13/5 rDev -10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.71/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Reviewed from notes. Consumed 8/6/09
Poured from a 12oz bottle into a water glass. Firm pour yields a quarter inch of white head. Very nice lace. Head falls quickly. Color is a cloudy pale lemon yellow.
Nose- Very nice muted lemon citrus. Some sweetness comes through in the nose.
Pallate- Very nice session beer. Pleasant lemon citrus hops slightly sweet, and tart very good.
Mouthfeel- Active, tart.
Drinkability- Fantastic
★ 430 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Reviewed from notes. Consumed 8/6/09
Poured from a 12oz bottle into a water glass. Firm pour yields a quarter inch of white head. Very nice lace. Head falls quickly. Color is a cloudy pale lemon yellow.
Nose- Very nice muted lemon citrus. Some sweetness comes through in the nose.
Pallate- Very nice session beer. Pleasant lemon citrus hops slightly sweet, and tart very good.
Mouthfeel- Active, tart.
Drinkability- Fantastic
★ 430 characters
4/5 rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from 12 oz. bottle into a Sam Adams perfect pint glass.
Appearance: Hazy golden yellow with lots of bubbles. Solid two finger white head with good retention and a light amount of lacing.
Smell: Grains and caramel malts with a solid presence of earthy, floral hops. Hints of citrus and lemon peel. Aroma is fairly light overall, but the floral hops are very noticeable.
Taste: A bready flavor up front from the grains and malts is followed by a decent bitter bite from the floral, herbal like hops. Hints of lemon zest. Good balance between sweetness and bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with a medium to high level of carbonation. Feels light in the body but the floral hop flavor is high. Very smooth.
Overall: A very tasty and interesting brew. It has a surprisingly high hop presence for a lighter bodied beer. Its like a light version of a pale ale. A good option for summer when you want an easy drinking beer with a good hop presence. This bottle was a few weeks past its recommended date yet it still tastes fresh.
★ 1,049 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from 12 oz. bottle into a Sam Adams perfect pint glass.
Appearance: Hazy golden yellow with lots of bubbles. Solid two finger white head with good retention and a light amount of lacing.
Smell: Grains and caramel malts with a solid presence of earthy, floral hops. Hints of citrus and lemon peel. Aroma is fairly light overall, but the floral hops are very noticeable.
Taste: A bready flavor up front from the grains and malts is followed by a decent bitter bite from the floral, herbal like hops. Hints of lemon zest. Good balance between sweetness and bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with a medium to high level of carbonation. Feels light in the body but the floral hop flavor is high. Very smooth.
Overall: A very tasty and interesting brew. It has a surprisingly high hop presence for a lighter bodied beer. Its like a light version of a pale ale. A good option for summer when you want an easy drinking beer with a good hop presence. This bottle was a few weeks past its recommended date yet it still tastes fresh.
★ 1,049 characters
Third Coast Beer from Bell's Brewery, Inc.
3.49
out of 5
based on 809 ratings.
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a slightly hazy light gold with a persistent white head that leaves sheets of lace. Aroma is a mixture of bread and toasted malt notes, and some earthy and citrusy hops. Flavor begins slightly malty, some toasted cracker and yeast, with a large hop presence... earthy and citric hops add a lingering bitterness that is quite nice. Body is light and carbonation is medium, making this a very nice session ale for hopheads!
★ 427 characters