Sanda Blonde IPA
Fyne Ales Ltd

Sanda Blonde IPASanda Blonde IPA
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From:
Fyne Ales Ltd
 
Scotland, United Kingdom
Style:
American Pale Ale
ABV:
5.5%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.81 | pDev: 9.97%
Reviews:
8
Ratings:
14
Status:
Active
Rated:
Aug 15, 2017
Added:
Apr 06, 2013
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of MisterBanks6
Reviewed by MisterBanks6 from Scotland

4.72/5  rDev +23.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Pours a nice clear golden colour and has strong smells of citrus and blonde hops. This was not as strong in flavour or texture as expected but was a lovely and clean, crisp IPA with the flavour of Jarl and Hurricane Jack with more bitterness. Was not overly bitter and is very nice and light to enjoy. Another beer for a summers day.
Aug 15, 2017
Photo of flyingpig
Reviewed by flyingpig from Scotland

3.6/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
330ml bottle from Morrisons, Glasogw (£1.00):
Nice stuff, stronger than expected initially & more hoppy with plenty citrus & floral flavours. Things settled down a little once things had time to open up some & at this point touches of sweetness & the odd earthy flavour started to make itself known, there was even touches of tart with the nose at this stage. The beer had a decent balance & was quite an easy one to drink throughout, the carbonation was good & there was a nice, crisp feel to proceedings that was enjoyable too. It's a nice & very sessionable IPA from the brewery.
Feb 21, 2017
 
Rated: 3.5 by mtbdonn from Colorado

Feb 09, 2017
Photo of Hanglow
Reviewed by Hanglow from Scotland

3.71/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours clear golden, nice head that remains well. Sweet apricot and gooseberry jam in the nose, perhaps not as much aroma as a modern IPA demands but very pleasant

Flavour has a decent citrusy hop bitterness that is perhaps again a little on the low side for my tastes in a modern IPA. Some decent malt flavours, light crystal (thankfully not too much of this) are there too. Dry finish, bitterness sticks around for a bit but not unwelcome

A very good beer, perhaps straddles the APA/IPA boundary.

bottle
Dec 31, 2015
Photo of kevinodonnell91
Rated by kevinodonnell91

4.33/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Bitter hops with citric undertones, great APA.
Jun 12, 2015
 
Rated: 3.94 by bcrossan from North Carolina

May 22, 2015
Photo of chinchill
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina

3.27/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
From a bottle in Edinburgh.
Looks like a lager; excellent clarity.
Smells like an APA, with herbal/fruity hops dominating.

Medium-light body with medium carbonation.
Apr 27, 2015
Photo of EmperorBevis
Reviewed by EmperorBevis from England

4/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottled and part of a mixer case from the brewery
Ood looking beer
Mango then citrus, toffee then leads to a slating bitterness, splendid indeed.
Solid mouthfeel
Nov 23, 2014
 
Rated: 3.3 by dcmchew from Romania

Oct 24, 2014
Photo of jazzyjeff13
Reviewed by jazzyjeff13 from England

3.52/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A 330ml bottle with a BB of Oct 2014. Picked up a while back from Beeritz. The label states that this is hopped with Nelson Sauvin, giving the beer a fruity character.

Poured into a Duvel tulip. A hazy golden hue with medium carbonation. Yields a decent head of white foam that lasts for a few minutes before reducing to a frothy surface layer. Slight lacing. Aroma of fruity hops with hints of white grape, peel, citrus, mild grass, earthy yeast and light malt. Dry and vinous. Possesses tart, almost vinegary overtones that are vaguely reminiscent of lambic - an unusual side-effect of the hops?

Tastes of mildly fruity hops and earthy yeast, with a dry, bitter finish. Notes of white grape, faint grapefruit, peel, citrus, subtle tropical fruit, grass/hay, earthy yeast, light malt and stewed hops. Faint vinous overtones lurk in the background. Highly attenuated, followed by a tart, strident bitterness. Mouthfeel is smooth, dry and tingly, with good carbonation and decent body. Pretty astringent, accompanied by an aftertaste of fruity aromatic hops, bitterness and dry, earthy yeast.

Not bad, but an unusual hop choice for the style. The result is certainly an IPA, but with a flavour profile that isn't as crisp or well-defined as most. Looks good, while the aroma and flavour are a blend of white grape, mild citrus and yeast notes. Slightly tart and vinous. Body is OK though a shade too thin. Interesting and well-crafted, but with an understated hop character that some might find unappealing. Worth sampling if you come across it.
Apr 12, 2014
Photo of cjgiant
Reviewed by cjgiant from District of Columbia

3.82/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
A: yellow golden, little cloudy, foamy white head that sticks around. The look is more reminiscent of a blonde ale.
S: initially I got a little sea scent, some lemon; deeper sniffs got a more classic ESB style of malt and bitterness.
T: much like the later smell, reminds me a little of an ESB. There is a little lemon tartness underneath. More hops than malt, grassy throughout - not what I expected from the look.
M: carbonation plays throughout, and there's a good tug on the sides of the mouth in the end.
O: more bitter and dry than I expected, but quite enjoyable. This is definitely an IPA despite its yellow pale look.
Feb 22, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by JavierGC from Spain

Jan 12, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by innominat from Ireland

Jul 28, 2013
Photo of StJamesGate
Reviewed by StJamesGate from New York

3.68/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Platinum blonde with creamy white froth that leaves speckles, rings and ribbons.
Flinty grain, honey, some honeydew and lemon peel on the nose - faintly.
Saltine malts pushed aside by white grapefruit rind, cattiness and musky white grape skin. Sweetens as it warms.
Melon finish and sweet gooseberry linger.
Light, crisp, lean.

Wondering how much aroma hops they're putting in this Sanda series because not much is showing up on the nose. And again, at 5.5%, it a bit thin and sharp to hold up to a punchy hop like Nelson. More like an English Blonde than an IPA or APA - but then it would be too strong for that style. Chalky and not altogether pleasant.

Where are you going with this, Fyne?
Apr 06, 2013
Sanda Blonde IPA from Fyne Ales Ltd
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 14 ratings