If you want something on the more malty side of the interpretation of brown ale, try Upslope’s (Boulder, CO) offering if available (cans). I prefer the hoppy or balanced brown ales and thus just make my own as I don’t have many local offerings that fit that bill. My wife loved the Noti Brown Ale I did a few months ago.
Decided on 3, not 4. Citra did not make the cut.
Amarillo
Cascade
Willamette
all to IBU 22.1 according to calc. 0.40 BU:GU OG 1.055 Single Infusion. 100% RO yellow balanced. 5.4% ABV. Each and every one of these beers are quaffable. I got my wife to bottle up for me, different colored caps, which allowed me to decide what I liked best, blind. It was an awfully close battle. But I want to wait to reveal the reviews until I have some friends try it out. I was not terribly pleased with the foam on this brew, but it could be that they are still young. idk, foam continues to vex me. My wife says she won’t tell me for sure which is which. Although I am pretty sure I nailed it. Here is how they look today.
side by side all three
a little haze on this brew
I liked how this looked in a mason jar
Looking good. Was all the hops at 60min?
I hear ya Keith. I’ll take that motion to “it” any day. I like most styles, but Kolsch is at the top of my list. Blondes are fine too. Hard to find them done well, so to speak.
These breweries have adopted facets from two styles, and combined them to fill sales gap. BMC folks like dry, light colored, low-bittered beers. Craft beer folks like C-hop profiles. Mix them together and voila - dry, a bit hoppy (but not bitter) blonde ale. Fills a void in one swoop. Brewery can brew a single batch and have something to sell to both crowds.
I personally kinda like those blondes that keep it easy on the bitterness (ie, 20-low 30 something ibus), but still display a nice noticeable citrusy hop flavor and aroma profile. They go down really easy on a hot day. Are they pale ales? I don’t think so. I think they are distinct enough from pale ales to stand apart, the way Vienna and Marzen do, or Helles vs G Pils, vs Helles Export (aka Dortmunder).
When I want an APA or an IPA, that’s what I’ll order. God knows, there are a zillion of them. When I want something a bit lighter but still has some hops to it, this citrusy blonde profile is a delicious addition to the menu, IMHO.
Maybe modern blondes that are too hoppy are filling the void modern pale ales created by becoming IPAs.
Mind … blown
And on that note, Fireman’s #4 by Real Ale near Austin is a really good one. I find it to be a good “gateway beer” for people that aren’t scared of a little hops
I agree. I have brewed many hoppy blondes. I think they are different from a pale ale and quite drinkable. I don’t think they are hard to make, but, lots of commercial examples are pretty bad.
When I listed my favorite beers asking for direction moving from kits to recipes, I got blonde recipes (and American wheat). I don’t have a broad or refined palate but I am not a hop head or bitter fan. I will drink a 40ibu beer, but when you say low bitter blonde and throw out a number over 25 I laugh. This is why the rules include a range, we are all different. I am curious if any of the other blonde fans have tried Atwater’s Dirty blonde and what they think. My favorite blonde is at Weasel Boy brewing in Zanesville Ohio. Maybe we should do a commercial and HomeBrew blonde swap.
I haven’t had Atwater’s. The description reads a bit like an American Wheat. I have put my hoppy blondes in BJCP contests a few times. As Blondes they do well but some judges say too much hop flavor and aroma. As APA the judges say great beer but not enough bitterness and hop flavor and aroma. I have always thought my American Blonde’s closest relative may be the American Wheat where the low bitterness (20 IBU for me) and medium hop flavor and aroma are welcome. Just missing the wheat.
all additions were different, but were the 30 min range to achieve the same IBU with different Alpha A %
Right! American Blonde with 40 IBU isn’t blonde its an APA. Balance is to me what makes this smooth and drinkable. I don’t want a mouth full of hop tea labeled blonde. That’s what English bitters are all about. That’s why I shot for 22.1 IBU with a 1.055 OG These are what I would call balanced, smooth, and refreshing beers. Just the right amount of hops on the nose for some character. Subtle character, not I smoke 2 packs a day and occasionally lose 3 bumps of Columbian baking powder, I can smell the hops but they don’t over power the malty sweet fruity aroma.
Ha, I wish they could just do what they do but know what to call the beer. Isn’t the idea of putting a label on it to best identify the brew before we crack the seal and take a swig. If it is really a pale ale, please call it a pale ale. If it is an India pale ale, call it an India pale ale. I only say that for the ones that are CLEARLY out of style. There should not be a version of a blonde ale that has 35+ IBU.
This is possibly the longest thread about the most boring topic ever posted at AHA. 
HA!! ;D
Do blonde ales have it?
Problem solved. 8)
I think I am going to post in this thread everyday just to keep it alive.
Wait, what are you guys talking about? Could you summarize it for me