Blonde Ales

My favorite Blonde Ale is Victory Summer Love!

I just picked up the Victory Summer Variety 12-pack which includes Summer Love but also: Prima Pils, Whirlwind Wit and Kuhl Kolsch.

Summer has come early!!

Cheers!

 

Kolsch is not an ale, it's an obergäriges lagerbier in German. Even the BJCP accept this.

 

From a Scottish perspective, I think we do pretty well on the blonde ale front. Arran and Black Isle breweries' offerings are probably my favourites at the moment.

 

New Belgium Skinny Dip. Glad to see it back this year...it's been too long.

 

I'm a big fan of Bombshell Blonde

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/16759/45576/

 

I'm a huge fan of Ska's True Blonde.

 

You bought a 6-pack of Victory Kolsch?

I am confused; it was my understanding that the bottled Victory Kolsch (Kuhl Kolsch) was solely available in the Summer variety pack.

Cheers!

 

I suspect that Blondes, much like Ambers, fall into the "red headed step-child" category for most BAs. I don't drink a lot of them, outside of ticking, but I'll have one as a change of pace once in a while.

 

Ommegang Gnomegang and Allagash Blonde (draft only) are my favorites.

 

I'm not sure that blonde ales constitute a style , they have always been around. Boddington's for example, Shipstone's and others have always been notably pale.

 

Any idea of when the cans will be released? Summer Love is my go-to beer!

 

From @rotsaruch in a past thread:

"Had the 2015 version of Summer Love on draft at Phillies bright Network Field in Clearwater, FL last week. It's delicious as usual....a great summer thirst quencher. Look for it in 12-oz cans later this summer! Plan to be at brewpub for release."

Cheers!

 

I sort of agree (but on another day I might disagree). Given it's use in the UK, US, and Belgium, it's always seemed like the word was too loose to be practical if we're already using the term pale. What's paler than pale? If anything, I'd default to it's use in Belgian beer. I don't know. Perhaps if it signifies something then it is something.

 

While not my absolute favorite style, they do seem to hit the spot in the warmer months. Favorite is DuClaw's Bare Ass Blonde. If you like this style, I would think about a trip to New Orleans. Just got back from there and they have several tasty local options including NOLA, Tin Roof, and Southern Prohibition.

 

Hmmm, I think I see what you are saying?

FWIW, some history on the Blonde Ale style courtesy of Brad Smith:

“History of Blonde Ales

It is difficult to trace the precise origin of the term “Blonde Ale”, but it is clear that Blonde Ales are a modern style. The American Blonde Ale style is largely an invention of the US craft beer revolution of the early 1990’s. In the UK, John Gilbert of Hop Back Brewery is widely credited with developing a Blonde ale called “Summer Lightning in 1989. Blonde ales are now widely made in Belgium (such as Duval), the UK, US, Brazil, France, and indeed worldwide.

The style itself has heritage back to both Pale ales and light European ales such as Kolsch, both of which have been produced for centuries. Significant variations exist, with West Coast US breweries often pushing the more assertive Pale Ale end of the spectrum,while others explore moderate English summer ales or the light Kolsch end of the flavor spectrum.”

http://beersmith.com/blog/2013/03/21/blonde-ale-recipes-and-beer-style/

Cheers!

 

Good for summer, also what I like to call a gateway beer (along with red/ambers), for those looking to convert from BMC to craft beer

 

Most of the blondes I've tried are just plain boring. But I managed to find a bottle of Natchez Brewing's Bluff City Blonde and I really liked it. The bit o' honey aspect really sells it. I'll be glad then they distribute it more widespread through Mississippi.
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/39334/161181/?ba=brewskifan55