Dayblazer, the easygoing ale from New Belgium is one of their more recent releases and I found this blonde ale to pretty much be just that. The beer for me proved to be light to medium in body and was able to be consumed rather easily. The ABV of this ale is 4.8% and with an IBU of 13, the beer was balanced well and pretty smooth. I found some of the tones in aroma and taste to be that of a citrus nature with this golden straw color beer, making it a nice one for spring and summer for sure. My Untappd rating for Dayblazer was a 3.5 and check out my video to see my other comments about this one from New Belgium.
Brewer Notes:
A deliciously refreshing golden ale, at 4.8% ABV, brewed with the finest malts and hops giving a sweet, crisp citrus finish with just a hint of honey. Available in 12-oz. and 24-oz. cans.
VISUAL Blond color with uniform medium haze. White foam and light lacing.
AROMA Low overall aroma built on malt in the form of corn chips, cereal, vanilla and honey; balanced with some flinty sulfitic, isoamyl acetate, and herbal grassy hop aroma.
FLAVOR Light initial sweetness followed by a subtle hop bitterness; neither overpower.
The Golden Monkey from Victory Brewing is a Belgian-Style Tripel and my latest beerventure. This Tripel has an ABV of 9.5% and IBU of 25, and carries the characteristics that we have come to know and love about Belgian ales. It poured a great golden color and the aromas jumped out of the glass highly reminiscent of what was expected. The taste proved to be smooth as the sweetness of the malts and was in good balance against the hops and the yeast, and had the little spice kick that is also common among this style of beer. This one was definitely a treat now as it was my past experiences. My Untappd rating on this one was a 4.25 and check out my video below to see more of my thoughts about this ale.
Brewer Notes:
Experience the sweet, sensual aromas and flavors of our famous Belgian-style tripel. Immerse yourself in rich notes of fruit and spice and savor its dry finish.
Nose is loaded with Belgian yeast character. Banana, clove, isoamyl. Body is equally fruity with light earthy hop character. Boozy with a dry finish.
Food Pairings
Sheeps' milk cheeses and seafood
Serving Suggestion
Serve at 45° F. Tilt bottle slowly into glass making certain that pour is sufficiently vigorous to raise a foamy head. Try to avoid pouring the last dregs as the yeast sediment is not the most favorable part of this beer. Savor the experience slowly as the ale warms.
Availability
Available year-round in 12 oz. bottles, 12 oz. cans, and 750 ml caged-and-corked bottles as well as on draft.
The Prima Pils from Victory Brewing is a 5.3% ABV German Pilsner that I found to have nice crisp and refreshing quality. It poured out a nice golden color, although the head was a little lacking and thinner than expected. Aromas were decent and the hops balanced well as they were also able to be noted in the taste as well. My Untappd rating on this lager was a 3.5 and check out my video below if you would like to see more notes on this one.
Brewer Notes:
Prima! It’s a German exclamation of joy. It’s a recognition of accomplishment. It’s what escaped from our lips the first time we sampled this mighty pilsner recipe. With heaps of whole flower European hops and fine German malts, we achieved the bracing herbal bite and smooth malt flavor that we sought. Prima… an exclamation of Victory! Prost!
Loads of earthy, herbal noble hop character with subtle malt complexity in the aroma. Flavor is very hop forward with ample bitterness. Balanced malt and clean fermentation.
Food Pairings
Seafood, burgers and pizza
Serving Suggestion
Serve at 42 F pouring carefully. Drink quickly not allowing the beer to warm very much.
Availability
Available year-round in 12 oz. bottles, 12 oz. cans and on draft.
Another beer and another beerventure as this time, I took a look at Blue Point Brewing’s Toasted Lager. This American amber red lager comes in at a decent 5.5% ABV and 28 IBU. Malt forward? Yes indeed it is, and the 6 malts used blend nicely forming a good malt backbone in balance with the hops. Refreshing and tasty for sure…in fact, toasted fits nicely in its name. The beer itself while not considered craft now based on the definition applied, is still a pretty good one in my opinion. Of course, we will see if this changes over time, but as for now I would say give it a try. My Untappd rating on this one was a 4.5 as it does well hitting the style for which it is aimed. Check out my video below if you would like to see more.
Brewer Notes:
Toasted Lager was originally named for the “toasted” characteristic of our original direct-fire brick kettle. Our World Beer Cup gold medal winning flagship brew is brewed with a blend of six specialty malts for a flavor as rich and unique as the town it’s from. Toasted Lager’s balanced flavor of malt and hops makes for easy drinking and our special proprietary lager yeast produces an exceptional, long-lasting smooth finish.
From Victory Brewing and the Blackboard Series comes their Cream Ale With Cold Brew Coffee (No. 5), cream ale infused with coffee. This coffee blonde brew comes in at an ABV of 6.5% along with 18 IBU, and the coffee aroma does dazzle nicely and the taste and flavor follows right along. This proved to a pretty solid beer overall for me and also poured nicely on the appearance. My Untappd rating on this one was 4.25 and it is one that I would definitely drink again. Check out my video here to see other characteristics that I liked about this one.
Brewer Notes:
Blackboard #5 – Cream Ale With Cold Brew Coffee. Fragrant coffee aromas surface from this smooth cream ale. Cold-Brewed coffee adds rich, roasty notes to this medium-bodied and effervescent brew.
Clean blonde brew, unassuming. Coffee aromatics surprises the nose. Smooth roasted flavor all derived from the addition of cold brewed coffee on a lightly bready base.
Availability
Available in 12 oz. bottles and on draft from February through May.
The Grandes Lagos from Great Lakes Brewing is a North American Adjunct Lager that is described by the brewery as a Mexican style lager that uses Hibiscus flowers in its brewing. The beer does pour out a brilliant color that I would best describe as pink or blush, and pretty wine like. Clarity is very nice on this one but as far as I know, all of the beers are at Great Lakes as they filter them all before going to bottle. Not too heavy at all, this 5.5% ABV beer is one definitely well suited for spring or summer as it doses deliver a nice refreshing quality. The head proved to be a little thinner than I expected but what wasn’t thin was the texture which was nice. While this one didn’t knock me back as much, it definitely has a spot to be enjoyed. My Untappd rating on this one for those that may be counting was a 3. Find out more of my thoughts on this beer by checking out the video here as well. Cheers!
Brewer Notes:
Colorful hibiscus flowers bloom against a picturesque malt backdrop in this refreshing cerveza from south of the border (of Canada, that is).
FLAVOR: A breezy getaway accented by beams of golden malt and a tart, pink-tinged hibiscus sunset
PACKAGING: 6-pack, 12-pack bottles, Draft
ABV: 5.4%
IBU: 20
PAIRS WITH: Shellfish, fruit desserts, and spring break
