Libby (Original)
Tilted Barn Brewery

 

Purchased yesterday at the source cold and kept cold until served. Poured to an ultra fancy tulip-like glass from a 16oz can dated 07/02/25.
The body is very light apricot in color (let’s say blonde) and opaque, but even mild light from behind brightens the glass. A three-finger large-bubble head sits after the pour and fades over a few minutes to a ring. Lacing is moderate to low but falls over time.
The aroma is slightly citrus rind, some pine and a sense of malt.
The taste is also citrus but not overpowering as this beer has a malt balance. This beer is pretty sweet for a Blonde Ale.
The mouthfeel is coating for the style and carbonation seems a little heavy.
Not bad, very crushable. My only complaint is that it's not really a Blonde Ale, more like a lower ABV NEIPA.

 

 

Pours a cloudy, banana peel yellow color with a half finger of yellowed head that settles into a messy wisp and leaves decent lacing. Looks like a Northeast-style APA.

Mixed tropical fruit aroma giving off a bit of a Starburst-like impression. Smells like a Northeast-style APA.

The taste is similarly fruity when it first hits the tongue, with a bit of melon complementing the tropical flavors, but that’s all quickly replaced by an earthier, more tea-like flavor. That type of dull bitterness lingers in the aftertaste, joined by a slight hint of butter to round out the edges. More British than NE here.

Medium bodied with tight fizz. The feel is back in the NE APA camp, as it has a certain pillowiness to it.

I’ll admit to not really knowing what an American Blonde Ale is “supposed to” look, smell, taste and feel like, but in my mind, I imagine something much clearer looking and cleaner tasting. I think this fails as a Blonde. Rating it as “a beer” rather than to style, it’s a refreshing enough as a beverage. The British aftertaste isn’t the perfect match for the New England lead up, though.

 

 

 

I believe this is the original Libby. Nothing on the can indicates that it's fancy.

Pours more like a contemporary IPA than a blonde. Very thick and hazy, darkish yellow.

Smells quite nice. Floral and fruity. Potpourri and raspberries.Very, very nice.

Tastes like it smells, but the flavor does not work as well as the aroma. The aroma was like you were smelling a nice candle, whereas the flavor is like you're tasting a nice candle. B-but it's not as extreme as that, it still tastes good, but the delicate floral nodes of the aroma are just hyper intense here.

What I will say is this isn't quite like anything else I've ever come across. It's interesting in a mostly good way.

 

 

 

 

 

Pint can.

A beautiful ahadevof white golden liquid, hazy and murky with a very healthy and tight, crystal white foam cap. Silky smooth look, constant coverage is impressive. Thick and wide lacing is leftover.

Thr aroma is magical. A very sweet raspberry tart style hop scent at first, very much like an ephemere. Creamy, fruity hop, light tropical fruits, buttery and sweet maltiness in the nose as well. A hint of minty herbs and grasses in a subtle way, floral for sure and even a but medicinal. Very nice indeed.

So , I must comment on the texture and mouthfeel first....smooooth, lush, smooth again, light and crispy....super clean, but mostly amazingly smooth, silky body. Oh, baby!

The flavor spectrum certainly comes across more like a hoppy pale or maybe a good 'ol ipa than it does a blonde ale, or at least what we think of when we see "blonde ale" It certainly is a nice platinum blonde color. A wild berry tart kick happens first, golden wheat and dry grass, bitter side hops, not very bitter but certainly the dry side of earthy toned hops. The malt is very light and clean, really only providing a foundation for the hop flavor's.

Wildly crushable and crazy interesting. Easily the most complex and enjoyable "blonde ale" I've had. High grade goods!