Edenton Joseph Hewes Revolutionary Ale
Edenton Brewing Company

Edenton Joseph Hewes Revolutionary AleEdenton Joseph Hewes Revolutionary Ale
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From:
Edenton Brewing Company
 
North Carolina, United States
Style:
American Blonde Ale
ABV:
5.4%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.75 | pDev: 7.73%
Reviews:
27
Ratings:
28
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 17, 2012
Added:
Jun 05, 2004
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
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Ratings by ppoitras:
Photo of ppoitras
Reviewed by ppoitras from Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12oz bottle from GCBrewingCo as part of BIF 20. Thanks for the opportunity.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 2" off-white head above the slightly cloudy 18K golden brew. Head isn't going anywhere, fueled by voracious streams of bubble form the bottom of the glass, and lacing is sporadic but foamy. Aroma is citrus and pale malts. Taste starts with a light pale malt sweetness, which is quickly overpowered by the tart citrus character. Mouthfeel is okay, could use a bit more sweetness to smooth the ride, and drinkability is the same or a bit better. Not a bad blonde here, but not something I would start shaking the trade trees to revisit either.
Aug 20, 2005
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by cliff1066 from Virginia

Dec 17, 2012
Photo of ByTor2112
Reviewed by ByTor2112 from North Carolina

3.62/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Immense white head from my bottle. Golden straw color.
Aroma is sweet and slightly hoppy, I get a small hint of corn, and it hints at being lagerish. Hops are very light.
Crisp but light hop bitterness hits the palate. Just a plain staright ale here. Light in body, hops are light and crisp, not spicy but make presence known then fade away. A good froth releases some estery sweetness but flavor stays the same. Very basic ale, not much complexity but rather drinkable.
Jan 13, 2007
Photo of msubulldog25
Reviewed by msubulldog25 from Oregon

3.28/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A 12 oz. bottle sent in a recent swap with Metalmonk; poured to my lovely Abita pint glass. Label has an American Revolution-era portrait and signature of Joseph Hewes, a representative from North Carolina to the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence (thanks wikipedia!).

A: I'd be hard-pressed to find a more "golden" beer. A glowing blonde ale, slightly hazy, with a scattering of carbonation and a pencil-thin white head. A wispy ring encircles the glass once the head dies, almost no lace.

S: There's corn, no doubt, and some malty graininess. An adequate sprinkling of fresh hops. Meh.

T: Slightly sweet, corn and malt comingled. A moderate hop bitterness gives the flavor a cleanness. I almost found a subtle doughy spice, then it disappeared. A touch of citrus tang in the finish. Flavors aren't too bad, they're just benign...I'd give a '3' but my wife really liked and ranked it a '4'...therefore a '3.5' it is...

M: Pretty crisp and clean. Lighter mouthfeel and body, seems very fresh. A fair amount of gassy carbonation and a bit of starchy stickiness in the finish.

D: A decent beer but nothing outstanding to bring me back. A summery, borderline "session" beer at best. Certainly quaffable, I suppose "worth a try" would be my recommendation...the first US Secretary of the Navy deserves a better beer, dammit!!!
Oct 23, 2006
Photo of Metalmonk
Reviewed by Metalmonk from North Carolina

3.24/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
In the glass this looks unpromising, with a pale, nearly sick yellow color and a poor head which lasts no more than a few seconds.

Feed corn, caramel corn, Fiddle Faddle, Corn Pops breakfast cereal...yes, the aroma is rather corny. Sweet and malty too, some butter there, but generally dominated by that corn element. I like it, reminds me of my local guilty pleasure, Legend Lager, but I can't help but think it could use more depth. Something more beerlike perhaps.

Flavors also lean on the corn side, with a bitter sweetness that mildly satisfies. But the overall profile is flatline and bland, having no real depth to recommend it. Crisp, yet also somewhat sticky in the finish. The more I sip, the less I like. There's just not a lot going on here, yet nothing foul to report either.

Nice enough in the mouth...a bit more substantial than the flavors. Velvety, buttery, without any heaviness.

There's subtle, there's simplicity...and then there's boring. Joseph Hewes is on the boring side. But it drinks quite well since there are no overtly offensive characteristics that I can identify. Bottom line? I wouldn't go out of my way for it.
Oct 04, 2006
Photo of blackie
Reviewed by blackie from Oregon

3.97/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5
appearance: The pour gives a very slight, white head that soon recedes almost completely. The beer is golden in color.

smell: Sweet, pale graininess and a nice American hop aroma. Smells good.

mouthfeel: The carbonation is light, as is the body. Seems pretty undercarbonated.

taste: Very flavorful and tasty for a blonde ale. Plenty of sweet, pale grains and a nice boost of hop flavor to balance things out. An unusually flavorful beer for the style, which keeps it from getting boring.

drinkability: Very easy drinkability...five down and no problem

six-pack purchased from Peace Street Market for $6.99
Sep 10, 2006
Photo of dirtylou
Reviewed by dirtylou from Oklahoma

4.17/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz single, Peace Street Market in Raleigh

appearance: pours a hazy golden orange, very small light white head with very little lace

smell: aromas fairly faint, lemon grassy, light citrus notes, grassy hop presence, very light toasted grain

taste: big green grassy taste, squeezed lemons, sweet and fruity, light pineapple, nice earthy feel...def the best american blonde i have ever tried

mouthfeel: a little chalky, medium-light body,

drinkability: good session
Jun 02, 2006
Photo of tgbljb
Reviewed by tgbljb from Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
poured a hazy apricot color with short creamy white head that very rapidly disappeared. Smell is fruity and malty with a touch of piney hops. Taste is moderately sweet and fruit with a solid hop bitterness coming through. Finishes more dry than sweet and leaves a pleasant feeling in the mouth. A nice drinking session beer.
Jun 01, 2006
Photo of Backer2004
Reviewed by Backer2004 from North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
This was another beer I got from Beer Poker at the Flying Saucer. This time I was much mor eimpressed with my selection than before. Never heard of this one from Edenton. At first smell, taste and appearance I though this was a wheat beer, especially with it's unfiltered hazy look. Very noticeable fruits in the smell and taste. Quite easy to drink (altough by this point of the night, I was pretty full). Great selection after a hot summer day . . . not so much for a cold February night.
Feb 26, 2006
Photo of RBorsato
Reviewed by RBorsato from Virginia

4.42/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Hazy pale straw to light yellow in color with a full white head, lots of suspended sediment, good carbonation, and bits of lace. Nice grainy malt profile and light hop aroma. Grainy malt flavors dominate with a nice hoppy balance and finish; nicely balanced with medium bitterness. Medium-light bodied and relatively smooth with a nice grainy dry finish.

A sessionable Blond Ale for sure ...

Per EBC website: 5% ABV.
Perle, Tettnang, and Hallertau hops.
Dec 28, 2005
Photo of BuckeyeNation
Reviewed by BuckeyeNation from Iowa

3.83/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Yeast-swirled lemon peel beneath a two finger cap that is closer to eggshell than to pure white. A short collar of lace is beginning to appear and looks tacky enough to give a good accounting of itself as the glass empties. We'll see. There's nothing at all flashy about the appearance, but then blonde ales aren't about flash anyway, they're about solid, jack of all trades competence.

The aroma, while not immediately impressive, strikes me as having that same solidity. Its lightly buttered, untoasted white bread maltiness holds the center while the German hops hold a restrained party at the periphery (nothing too wild, they're Germans after all). As blonde ale noses go, this one is better than average.

Even though the flavor follows the nose's lead, it reaches a slightly different destination. There's nothing specific that I can point to, but that won't stop me from trying to figure it out as I empty the bottle into my gullet. For whatever reason, the flavor rings that little carnival bell in my head that lights up in neon with 'good beer'.

The smell description applies to the flavor as well, so I won't attempt to re-phrase in order to say the exact same thing. The hops have freer reign on the palate. That's it! Hops are what make this beer go and are responsible for that 'certain something' that appeals to me. Of all the characteristics imparted by the Deutschland Trio (Perle, Tettnang, Hallertau), lemon zestiness is the one that makes the biggest impression.

There isn't much to say about the body/mouthfeel. It's as solid as all the rest and is without appreciable faults. It's on the lighter side of medium, which is par for the course regarding blonde ales, and gets the job done without calling attention to itself. The restrained, yet effective, carbonation doesn't falter even as the last few ounces exit the glass.

Joseph Hewes Revolutionary Ale may not be revolutionary, but it's still good beer. It's hoppier than most blonde ales, and that alone earns my gratitude. I could see myself buying sixers of JHRA to take to summertime cookouts if it was available locally.
Dec 06, 2005
Photo of whartontallboy
Reviewed by whartontallboy from New York

3.83/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours out a slightly-cloudy gold color with a thick, sticky white head that lingers pretty well.

Smell is lightly hopped, sweet, just a little bit lemony, with some little yeasty scents coming through. A clear bready malt base gives this one a nice backbone.

Flavor is similarly light, with the yeasty flavors coming through more clearly and playing against the hops well. The hops are just a little bit big, but they give a nice little citrusy flavor in there. The malty biscuit flavors are clear, too, and give it quite a nice foundation for the fruitiness.

Overall: Pretty good cheap blonde ale, an easy drinker and one that's worth trying if you see it.
Nov 21, 2005
Photo of silver0rlead
Reviewed by silver0rlead from North Carolina

3.66/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours a hazy golden yellow with a nice white head that retains well enough. Aroma is pretty simple, slighty spicy hops aroma followed by a bready malt scent. Flavor begins with a nice, clean bready flavor followed by a lightly spicy hops flavor and finishes dry and bitter. Nothing exceptional here, but a great session beer and descently flavorful...cant beat it for $10 a case at the brewery
Aug 20, 2005
Photo of charlottebeerguy
Reviewed by charlottebeerguy from Florida

3.15/5  rDev -16%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
this beers pours a deep gold color. I smell a few hops but it is very faint.thought it smells like it might have some good malt character.The beer is very light bodied not what I presumed at all. there is some minimal lacing action going on but nothing really to speak about.It is very drinkable though if you drank a 6 pack of this you would not feel like you just went to an all you can eat.ah there are the hops I smelled, very light hops most noticabled on the finish. this beer does go down well but nothing oout of the ordinary.
Aug 19, 2005
Photo of sabrills70
Reviewed by sabrills70 from North Carolina

3.98/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours a hazy golden color with a 2 finger head and good lace. Aroma of a semi rich malt with a bit of honey, a hair of citrus. Not a huge hop presence is detected. Taste of a slightly caramelized malt with some definate citrus notes accompanied by a sharp, but not stong ,hop presence. A subtle hop bitterness is left in the aftertaste and is vey easy drinking. Very refeshing. A great everyday kind of beer.
Aug 07, 2005
Photo of sulldaddy
Reviewed by sulldaddy from Connecticut

3.41/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to Blue & Gray BIF and AK Smoked Porter for the opportunity!

I am sampling a chilled bottle in a pint glass. The beer gushes open when I pop the cap, luckily I had glass ready and only spilled a few drops. A large fluffy eggshell white head foams up very quickly to fill the glass. I let this recede and refill the glass.
The beer pours a slightly hazy orange color with some small streams of carb rising to surface. The head now rests effortlessly on the surface.
THe aroma is fruity with green apple and I think lemon dominating but allowing some light caramel to come through as well. There is a slight medicinal smell as well. Uh oh bad beer? ON ward!
First sip reveals, an average body with very mild and finely bubbled carbonation.
Flavor is very lite and refreshing with a brief sweet caramel and then finishes with a nice citrusy hop backbone that I didnt expect after the nose. The finish is also a little dry and leaves a orange peel bitterness in the back of my mouth. QUite a decent flavor profile on this one that started a little off-kilter. A good beer on a hot day!
Jul 20, 2005
Photo of blitheringidiot
Reviewed by blitheringidiot from Pennsylvania

3.23/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5
Bland hues of slightly foggy orange hues with an ivory dense ½” head cap that steadily hangs in there.

Aromatic fruity scents of some estery peach and some delicate banana.

First swigs: Initially fluffy Tang fruity front with a chalky peach estery dull citrous twinge.

Diluted watered down light to medium feel that washes back with a diluted overall feel, however lending to some drinkability, but lacking in carbonation. Tacky cloying aftertaste.

Last swigs: Not quite Revolutionary, but an easy drinker of an ale that lacks any identity. Probably better out of the bottle than deserving a serious review. Overall just above average. Part of a mixed case with a Red, Nut Brown and another.

Beer is good. Happy beering.
Jul 17, 2005
Photo of WesWes
Reviewed by WesWes from New York

3.97/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The beer pours a hazy pale gold color with a thick frothy white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a nice malty scent that boasts of pale and bisquit malts. It has a breadlike aroma with some hops as well. The taste is good. It has a very smooth and malty flavor with a mildly bitter hop finish. It has a breadlike taste that gives it a bit of an earthy feel. The mouthfeel is good. It is a medium bodied beer with adequate/good carbonation. This is a good drinking beer. I love the aroma and taste.
Jun 21, 2005
Photo of brewdlyhooked13
Reviewed by brewdlyhooked13 from Ohio

3.79/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Appearance - a slight chill haze to this nicely goldened up blond. Thin white head holds at a thin cap and laces thinly but very well.

Aroma - grainy, a twist of yeast, fairly plain.

Taste - malt foundation with some citrus following. Very smooth, tasty hop profile, equal parts fruit and bitterness but staying in check and not over-riding the malt. Tastewise, this is a most well-endowed blond.

Mouthfeel - good body, smooth, average carbonation, on par for the style.

Drinkability - tasty and light enough for more than a one-night's stand worth of enjoyment. Props to merlin48 for letting me borrow one of his blonds this evening...
Jun 10, 2005
Photo of beerinator
Reviewed by beerinator from Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Clear peachy yellow with hints of orange when the beer hits the light.

Aroma: Sweet malt nuttyness with drifting rumors of fruit. Little to no bitterness in the aroma.

Taste: Malty upfront with balancing bitterness towards the middle leading to a fairly smooth finish. The hops show up with a slight sharp bitterness. There are notes of fruit in the taste as well. Mouthfeel is a touch on the thin side.

Notes: Very drinkable. A bit of depth keeps this one from becoming a boring beer. A good choice for session drinking.
May 15, 2005
Edenton Joseph Hewes Revolutionary Ale from Edenton Brewing Company
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 28 ratings