Tag: Beer Styles

Beer Style of the Month (June 2022)

What’s you favorite Blonde Ale?

Nothing says Summertime like a crisp, clean and refreshing Blonde Ale. Which makes it the perfect style for the month of June….or any other month really. Blonde ales of course have roots in Belgium where Belgian blonde ale is a popular style, but the blonde ales we are talking about are those born in America.

“They often have subtle fruity notes and low to medium hop aromas. These aromas combine to create a wonderful bouquet of citrusy, floral, fruity and spicy notes.“

American style blonde ales originated in small microbreweries and brewpubs that were unable to produce lagers. They were designed to be very approachable and drinkable by all and remain a great entry point for people looking to explore the world of craft beer. If you have a friend looking to try some great beer but they are typically turned off by IPA’s and other hoppy beers, hand them a blonde ale and see how they feel about that.

“The aromas fully awaken the flavors as the first sip is taken. A soft malty sweetness sometimes accompanied by bread, toast, biscuit and wheat flavors hit the taste buds.“

The aromas present in a blonde ale are subtle, but help to create an enjoyable drinking experience. Light to moderate malty aromas are commonplace and sometimes combine with bread or caramel notes. They often have subtle fruity notes and low to medium hop aromas. These aromas combine to create a wonderful bouquet of citrusy, floral, fruity and spicy notes.

The aromas fully awaken the flavors as the first sip is taken. A soft malty sweetness sometimes accompanied by bread, toast, biscuit and wheat flavors hit the taste buds. Following that malty sweetness the drinker may get hints of fruit and light to moderate hop flavor as it finished with a medium dryness to slight malty sweetness. The body is medium with moderate to high carbonation that awakens the taste buds. The experience is balanced and delightful.

You should go grab one right now….

There are many commercial examples available such as:

  • Kona Big Wave Golden Ale
  • Russian River Aud Blonde
  • Widmer Citra Sumer Blonde Brew
  • Pelican Kiwanda Cream Ale
  • Victory Summer Love
  • Pete’s Wicked Summer Brew

With that said, some of the best blonde ale’s I have ever enjoyed, were brewed right at home. Take a moment this Summer to kick back, bask in the sun, and enjoy a refreshing blonde ale! And be sure to learn more about it by checking out the BJCP style guidelines on blonde ale.

Beer Style of the Month (May 2022)

Witbier, Wheat Beer, Hefeweizen? What’s the difference

While all are made with a substantial portion of wheat, Hefeweizen is a type of weiss beer—German for “white beer” characterized by a strong presence of banana and clove. American versions of wheat beers use clean, American yeasts. These yeasts don’t create the heavy clove and banana character of German weiss beers or the fruity, spicy character of a Witbier, a Belgian white beer.

“Witbiers are typically brewed with coriander and sweet orange peels, however secret spices are rumored to be used in some…“

This month’s beer is Witbier. Origins of the Witbier date back to the 14th century where it was brewed in farming communities and monasteries around Broadbent, Leuven and Hoegaarden. After a long decreasing interest in the brewing style of witbier, there was a resurgence, in 1966, of witbiers in Belgium started by Peirre Celis which later became Hoegaarden. When drinking a Witbier, one will experience a medium-light to medium body, often having a
smoothness and light creaminess with an effervescent character from high carbonation. Witbiers are typically a delicate, lightly spiced, moderate-strength ale providing a refreshing summer drink with its high carbonation, dry finish, and light hopping with an ABV of approximately 5% and an IBU between 8-20.
This beer presents a hazy (i.e. cloudy), pale straw to deep yellow in color. The flavors of the witbier provide a pleasant bready, grainy malt flavor, often with a honey or vanilla character and can have a moderate zesty, orange-citrusy fruitiness. Any herbal-spicy flavors, which may include lemony coriander and other spices, are common but should be subtle. Their aroma provides the same moderate bready maltiness, with light notes of honey or vanilla, sometimes
with an orange-citrusy fruitiness and often with a complex herbal, spicy or peppery note in the background.

Witbiers are typically brewed with coriander and sweet orange peels, however secret spices are rumored to be used in some versions of witbier. In addition to wheat, some wibiers may use up to 5-10% raw oats or other unmalted cereal grains. A mild fruity spiced Belgian ale yeast is typically used to accentuate the character of this beer.

Some commercial examples of witbiers are: Allagash White, Blanche de Bruxelles, Celis White, Hoegaarden White, Ommegang Witte, and St. Bernardus Wit. The descriptions and information from this articles were provided by Beer Judge Certification Program.

Make sure to go out and try a witbier or two and enjoy!

Article Written by SMASH Member, John Kovacs

Beer Style of the Month (April 2022)

Flanders Red Ale

The beer style of the month for April 2022 is Flanders Red Ale. Flanders Red is a sour ale historically brewed in Flanders, Belgium. It is co-fermented with other organisms, typically Lactobacillus, to produce its characteristic sour flavor. As the name implies, Flanders Red typically has a burgundy to reddish-brown appearance with a pale tan head. Malt and hop flavor and aroma are usually very minimal, giving way to fruity esters and lactic bitterness.

“Malty flavors range from complementary to prominent, and often have a soft toasty-rich quality”

The Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) describes the flavor as, “intense fruitiness commonly includes plum, orange, black cherry or red currant flavors. A mild vanilla and/or chocolate character is often present. Spicy phenols can be present in low amounts for complexity. Sour flavor ranges from complementary to intense, and can have an acidic bite. Malty flavors range from complementary to prominent, and often have a soft toasty-rich quality. Generally as the sour character increases, the malt character blends to more of a background flavor (and vice versa). No hop flavor. Restrained hop bitterness. An acidic, tannic bitterness is often present in low to moderate amounts, and adds an aged red wine-like character and finish. Prominent vinegary acetic character is inappropriate. Diacetyl is perceived only in very minor quantities, if at all, as a complementary flavor. Balanced to the malt side, but dominated by the fruity, sour, wine-like impression.”

A few fine examples of Flanders Red Ale…

While I could find a couple hundred examples of Flanders Red Ale available around the world, below are a few authentic, commercially available examples:

  • Cuvée des Jacobins Rouge
  • Duchesse de Bourgogne
  • Rodenbach Grand Cru
  • Rodenbach Klassiek
  • Vichtenaar Flemish Ale

It’s probably safe to say that Flanders Red Ale may not be suitable for everybody, though if you’re a fan of sour beers this style will certainly be appealing. I personally like that the sour flavor isn’t the “funky” variety you might find in a saison or farmhouse style, but it’s also not overly fruity like the kettle sours that have exploded in popularity. Sometimes it’s nice not to drink an alcoholic smoothie in a can and a Flanders Red Ale fits the bill nicely!