Carolina Platinum Blonde

Brewed by Carolina Beer Company
Style: American Strong Ale
Mooresville, North Carolina USA

Tap. Very hazy and cloudy and blonde in color. Smell of fruit and malts. Tastes very similar to Carolina Blonde. I call it a Blonde on Roids because of the kicked up abv.

Sampled this brew at the Carolina brewery in Mooresville NC. The staff said that this brew was originally produced as a mistake. One of the brewers doubled the bill for malt them doubled the hop bill to make up for it. This is likely the lightest colored American strong ale you’ll come across. Its flavor profile is exactly like the regular Carolina Blonde except amped up with a significant alcohol kick. Its not unlike some of the eastern European strong lagers out there, but with a slightly more floral nose. I really liked it because it was a departure from any style I was familiar with. At 10%, it is surprisingly quaffable.

Hand numbered bottle. Smooth and sweet, seems to hide the alcohol pretty well, with some fruityness but generally lacking much flavor. Not really very good.

650 ml bottle, #1888. Beautiful, hazy amber-burnt orange with a thick creamy head that lasts. Nice frosty lacing as well. Aroma is slight grain, crackers, ammonia and alcohol. Taste is alcohol, a touch of dried lumber, slight orange zest and resin. Medium body is sorta smooth, sorta frothy and finishes dryish. Such promise in the look of this beer, but alas the beauty was only skin deep.

bottle from brawleys (limited #1884 batch). stated on bottle that ABV is 8.5%. large off white creamy mostly dissapating head into clear golden body with okay lacing present. aromas of ripe fruit, a touch of honey, and a bit of metal. Wait where are the hops? flavor is moderate to strongly sweet a minimal touch of bitterness comes through in the finish. watery texture. moderate finish duration. average carbonation. okay but not sure this is really an Am strong.

Growler that my friend brought me back from the brewery. Thanks. Brown color, light yellow in a way, no head until beer is poured, white head comes through, sort of. There isnt much to the smell of this one, what is there? Corn perhaps? Alcohol - for sure, anything else? Not really.. Taste is smooth and fairly easy to drink for what it is. A drinkable beer, but I think that is about it, nothing to rant and rave over. Not really much balance, where are the hops?

numbered bottle shared during charlotte beer week. deep golden yellow with a light frothy head. faint aroma of lemon and grass with hint of malt. flavor was similar. light and clean. alcohol was greatly hidden (8.5%).

Date: 02/02/2008
Mode: Growler
Source: Tasting

Appearance: clear dark gold, wispy head,
Aroma: sweet malt aroma with lots of peppery spicy hops,
Body: big body,
Flavor: big sweet candy malt flavor, light balancing hops, light bitter finish,

Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 11/20
Rating: 2.8/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4