Blue Frog Blonde Frog Ale

Brewed by Blue Frog Grog and Grill
Style: Golden Ale/Blond Ale
Fairfield, California USA

Sampled May 2007; Labeled Blonde frog Ale and as a Pale Ale
Pours with a brilliantly clear, full gold color and is topped by a frothy, just barely off-white colored head. The aroma has a thin, grassy hop note to it. This is joined by a green apple aroma and some notes of melon. Really this has quite a weak aroma.

The taste is quite weak as well. The beer is fairly dry, with a touch of malt sweetness to it. The beer finishes with a light hop bitterness that adds a hint of a bite. A light grassy, herbal hop note is perhaps the most dominant note, but there is also significant flavor that reminds me of a washed out macro-beer.

What a sad beer, it is not quite as bad as my disappointment, but the label on the beer specifically states "This aint no peroxide bottle blond beer. If you’re not careful this pale ale will give you a run for you money". What a load of B.S.; this is quite weak over all. Though to be fair, at least there are not any significant off flavors.

Aroma is alcohol and sweetness. Smells like a Belgian Golden without the spices. Pours Gold with a thick one inch head that stays the whole time. The flavor really is dominated by the alcohol even though it isnt too high. I get sweet malt, a Duvel like alcohol flavor, followed by a pleasant grainy and bready finish. Mildly crisp on the palate. I think it feels heavier than it is due to the alcohol presence. I wouldnt search this out to drink again, but it was relatively enjoyable.

Starts of as a nice blonde ale. Lots more flavor than most blondes, good malt and a bit sweet. But as the glass wears on the sweetness starts to get to me, it’s too much. Becomes cloying.

Bottle from BevMo, La Mesa. Pours a dark golden color. Sweet fruity aroma with a hint of tartness. A few hops as well. Grainy flavors along with a fairly bitter bite. Average.

22oz Bottle labeled as "Blonde Frog Ale", I’m guessing this is the same beer although the bottle reads; "OG 14.5 Plato, 28 IBU’s, 6.75% ABV" which differs slightly from the description here. Clear, light and very bright copper color with a white head that diminishes quickly to leave a bit of white lacing. Light banana esters, with a floral hoppy note. Very lightly flavored with a light maltiness and a good but balanced hoppiness. Finishes dry. A very pleasant beer.

Clear dark straw (wouldn’t really call it a bonde myself) with faint, creamy head. Initially hoppy aroma - tropical fruits and perfume - which is quite intense. Fairly dry yet creamy body with hints of doughy malts and more fo the fruity/floral hoppiness (Summit?). Finishes with a fairly intense bitterness - I have a hard time believing that this is only 19 IBU. Quaffable.

4 ounce sample on tap at the brewpub 12/16/06. Very aromatic, floral, lightly spiced hoppy aroma. A light graininess is also there. This beer is nice and aromatic for the style. Surprisingly quaffable. Transparent yellow body with a small fizzy white head. Spicy, bitter hoppiness to start. Turns more cereal-like in the middle with some nice maltiness. Finishes dry, highly hopped with some noble hoppiness. There are also some floral hops present in the finish as well. Quite hoppy for the style and damn tasty. A pleasant surprise!

Bottle. Aroma of malt and a bit of hop. Light apricot gold color with a slight, white head. Starts a bit uncertain, malt, but not very sweet, then after a bit some strong hop, finishing with some malt to balance the bitter. All in all it’s an impressive finish for under 20 IBU. Whoops - something’s changed. The bottle says 28 IBUs - no wonder it seemed impressive for under 20!