Citra Blonde Ale
LaGrow Organic Beer Company

16 oz can into a pint glass. Hazy golden straw color with a fluffy white head that left some lace as it receded to a surprisingly long-lived half-finger cap. Orange and grapefruit citrus on the nose. Grapefruit takes precedence over orange in the flavor, complemented by minor notes of mango and doughy malt. Feel is light-bodied and a little watery. Surprisingly robust summer crusher from a newer local brewery.

 

16oz can
stamped 096LAG952
L: foamy white head slowly fades atop a hazy golden ale
S: zesty grapefruit & orange, grainy pale malt, oats
T: refreshing Citra hops add flavor with modest bitterness; zesty & floral notes of grapefruit and orange; mango, oats, and doughy pale grain intermingle on the palate
F: lighter body, moderate carbonation, balanced finish
O: a good, refreshing beer! The Citra hops, pair well with the oats and orange zest, giving it some uniqueness compared to your typical blonde ale

Presentation: 16 oz. can with no dates. Served in a stange.

Appearance: The one and a half finger head stays around for a little bit and leaves behind a lot of lacing all over the glass. It's a clear, bright straw color.

Smell: There's orange and tangerine peels along with a soft, floral aroma in the background. 

Taste: There's a crisp fruity, ever so slightly bitter orange flavor at first. That's followed up by a healthy, sweet grain and a touch of honey. 

Mouthfeel: It's light and refreshing but it has substance. Carbonation is medium low.

Overall: It's more interesting that the average blonde ale you'll find pretty much everywhere. A good, well rounded beer.

16 ounce can into pint glass, 317LAG580 can code. Pours moderately hazy/cloudy medium golden amber color with a 2 finger fairly dense and rocky off white head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a large cap that lasts. Thick foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big tangerine, orange juice, red grapefruit, lemon, peach, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, mango, honeydew melon, gooseberry, citrus peel/rind, wood, pepper, pine, cracker, white bread dough, biscuit, light toast, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops, orange peel, and bready malt notes; with big strength. Taste of big tangerine, orange juice, red grapefruit, lemon, peach, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, mango, honeydew melon, gooseberry, citrus peel/rind, wood, pepper, pine, cracker, white bread dough, biscuit, light toast, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness. Light-moderate pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, floral, woody, grassy, peppery bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of tangerine, orange juice, red grapefruit, lemon, peach, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, mango, honeydew melon, gooseberry, citrus peel/rind, wood, pepper, pine, cracker, white bread dough, biscuit, light toast, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops, orange peel, and bready malt flavors; with an awesome malt/bitterness balance, and no lingering hop/fruit astringency after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering bitterness. Medium-plus carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready/grainy, and sticky/resinous/rindy balanced mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 5.1%. Overall this is an awesome hoppy blonde ale. All around awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops, orange peel, and bready malt flavors; very smooth and pretty refreshing to drink with the modestly bitter/resinous/drying finish; nicely soft and not overly aggressive. Awesome Citra showcase. Extremely juicy/vibrant hops/fruit, with some dank/earthy notes; with a nice sized oat/malt backbone for the ABV. Light residual sweetness with lingering resin dryness. A really enjoyable offering, and outstanding style example.

I tried this a Au Cheval in Chicago and it was a very good blonde ale.

 

Taste: crisp, floral hop, orange zest, clean finish, mild flowery citrus nose. Gold, clear, tall very lively carbonated head multi ring lace. Medium lite body. 20 IBUs