Fireweed Blonde
Alaskan Brewing Co.

 

 

I got a 6pck of this beer from my local meijer store. It poured a clear golden with thin white head that is not leaving much lace. The scent had floral earthy notes. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with subtle hints of honey and potpourri. The mouthfeel was lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall it is a good beer.

 

Appearance: Pours a clear, medium to light golden color with a mild white head. SRM of 8. (3.75)

Aroma: Mild aromas of honey with some flowery notes. Pretty simple. (3.50)

Flavor: More mild honey with faint flowery notes of pepper. Mild flower in the middle. Finishes crisp and dry. Mild. (3.75)

Feel: Lighter bodied. Relatively strong carbonation. Finishes dry and crispy. (4.00)

Compared to Surly's First Ave 1+ Blonde 10/11/20: Pours a similar, but slightly lighter color. Milder/aromas flavors. Less flower and honey. Dryer and crispier.

Overall: A pretty decent and tamed blonde ale. Mild honey and flower flavors that are balanced. The fireweed honey doesn't overpower and this finishes dryer than I expected. Not a whole lot of nuance from the Fireweed honey, but it's an easy-drinking summer beer. (Final Rating: 3.67)

Tasted in a pint glass from a 12 fl oz can at Emil's Tavern on August 30, 2020.

these guys always do a good job with the lighter styles, blonde, kolsch, that sort of thing, and its no surprise this is also very good, simple and drinkable, but more than just a basic yellow beer too, the inclusion of this special honey is what sold me on the sixer, and what makes the beer distinctive, even if its impression on the beer overall is quite subtle, since this has been fermented down to dry and there really isnt any lingering honey sweetness anywhere to be found. its crystal clear from the can, holds over an inch of white foamy head in my pils glass, and sparkles with carbonation. the nose is slightly floral and even a little spicy to me, im not real familiar with fireweed honey on its own, but its apparent its pretty distinctive from generic honey, lots of character to it, and it comes through for me a bit more in the smell than in the taste. peppery, citrusy, herbaceous, tea-like, jasmine, its neat, but i get it only mildly in the flavor. the malt is simple and light, the yeast is invisible, and there is a great crispness to the mouthfeel here, high refreshment value, a little bitterness even, and an almost lagered quickness about it. i love the nuance, the low alcohol, and the fact this this is something more than just a basic blonde. very well done, i will enjoy the rest of the sixer tonight!

 

12 oz single can, best by 10/16/20, into Ploughshare glass. Shared with a friend.

Pours a hazy but slightly transparent blonde with a creamy white cap of 1 finger, leaving lots of lace.

Oddly enough this beer smells like honey and weeds. Some cracker malt and biscuit and sweet hay behind that. Moderately inviting.

Flavor is like drinking the water from a flower pot. It's weird and plantlike, and has elements of stale piss and hay. It reminds me of some of the worst malt liquor I've had.

Feel is crisp and clean but leaves a starchy finish that is cumbersome.

Overall, I'd advise against buying this one. Not even a single. It tastes like drain cleaner and malt liquor full of oxidized nickels and flower water. We both dumped our glasses.

Price paid : $1.49 / can
Would buy again : no, I overpaid as it is

 

This uses a special honey called "fireweed" that apparently is the top of the line for honey.

This is a nice drinking, lightly flavored golden ale with subtle floral and honey notes. It's very clean drinking, and has a touch of sweetness on the finish but overall drinks pretty balanced.

Body is along the lines of an AAL....not as carbonated though...

I was actually hoping for more assertiveness from this but as I drink it I can see the appeal in the summer. It's another solid offering from Alaskan if not loaded with flavor.