Eel River California Blonde Ale

Brewed by Eel River Brewing Company
Style: Golden Ale/Blond Ale
Fortuna, California USA

Pours dirty blonde withh a decent off-white head and a lightly floral aroma. There is a crisp caramel malt flavor with a fair amount of hop bitterness. Sort of average.

Bottle. Copper. White carbonation. Bread, sweet caramel, mild bitterness, light dose of green vegetation. Unpleasant bitter finish. Medium body, balanced. The vegetal bitter notes kill this. Will retry.

Bottle. Poured clear yellow amber color with an average frothy white head that lasted with good lacing. Moderate citrus hop and malt aroma. Medium body with a smooth texture and soft carbonation. Moderate bittersweet flavor with a moderate bittersweet finish of medium duration. Good soft brew.

I just continue to not really be that big of fan of American Blonde ales. They’re usually weak and boring in comparing to so many other brews. This hits the same format. Drinks nicely, but, eh, whatever.

Sample poured from a bottle at Cincy Beerfest. Pours a light yellow-gold color with a small white head. Light aroma of pale malts, grains, straw, grass, biscuit, and hops. Flavor is also very light and malty, with grains, straw, herbal notes, mild spices, and bread. Light bodied, malty, and dry. Moderate carbonation. This one is light from start to finish, and not bad but nothing special.

Bottle. Lightly yeasty, lightly dusty nose with some Jolly Rancher - strawberry? Pale, clear golden body with a short sudsy white head. Aggressively crisp body, full (too full), very dry with just a touch of rubber. Light pale malt and light bitterness. A little dryness in the aftertaste, and the alcohol is relatively well-hidden, but I’d like a thinner body and less booze - this is clean but boring.

Bottle Pours a clear golden with a white head. The head deminishes quickly and leaves spotty lacing. Has faint aromas of floral, bread, corn and grass. Has an average carbonation. The texture is watery. The taste is good but not awesome. Good blend and flavors are tasty. The body is light. Has an okay finish and aftertaste. An easy drinking beer which is made to specs.

Short 12oz Twist-off bottle. light amber color. Aroma of citrus, pale malts. Stale flavor. Bland malts, sharp bitterness. Light bodied. Tasted like dried pine straw.
23 may 08