Saugatuck "Oval Beach" Blonde Ale

A blonde ale is starting to get into hard mode when it comes to brewing beer. Some of the more common styles are a bit easier to make (I've been told by Cammo that IPAs are very forgiving in that you can fix a lot by adding hops to the mix). Blondes aren't starting off as my favorite style in the first place, but I know that even the styles that aren't to my taste can really show me why they are popular.

The vaguely amber/copper colored beer doesn't jump into the head with both feet, and the head scurries away surprisingly quickly. Points of nucleation are the only things that let me know this beverage with a desolate surface actually has some carbonation in there. Light citrus sits atop a rather imposing malt in the aroma, and I had to look again to see that this was a blonde. 

First sip is the thick, bread malt with hops featured as a mere brush of citrus across the malt with a sweetness from the thick malt dealing with a mist of bitterness that is not entirely justified by the hops that assert at all. I'm not sure what flavor this is really going for, and it almost tastes flat. I checked the bottom of the can, and I'm within my 6 month window. 

Tip-in is light carbonation tingle with coriander and lemon joining a doughy malt. The middle kicks it up with carbonation sizzle over the sweeter, heavier dough malt. The finish is a bitter swell with a fine trail off of fruit mist and the bread malt. 

Bottom Line: Not as outstanding as it could be.

2.5/5