Drakes Blonde Ale

Brewed by Drakes Brewing Company
Style: Kölsch
San Leandro, California USA

A- Clear golden straw hue, head is three fingers of soapy white foam, minimal lacing S- Mostly light and crisp grain malts, subtle hops T- Taste is dominated by refreshing pilsner-esque grain malts with a nice accompanying lemon citrus hops, finishes dry M- Light-bodied, watery texture, high carbonation D- Pleasantly surprised by this Kolsch style beer, very easy to drink and in the session range, feels like a more balanced and hoppy Heineken, not bad at all

Decent Kolsch, if not too exciting overall. Pours a hazy golden color, white head lingers. Slightly sweet pale malt with mild hops on the finish. Almost pilsner-like. Crisp and refreshing but not too complex.

Tap at 21A. Pours a translucent golden with a medium creamy white head. Aroma of cereal grains, lightly toasted malt, citrus and light spicy hop notes. Flavor of lemon, light hop bitterness, bready, citrus, cereal grains.

Decent sized white head of fine bubbles. Weak aroma. Light toast and cereal with some potato water. Appearance is a hazy golden orange. Light malty and grainy flavor. Little bit of dryness from the hops. More light roasted flavors, some citrus and rice. Finishes light and malty. A bland but unoffensive brew.

12oz bottle. Pours a hazy, effervescent golden color with a sunny orange color; fluffy off-white head with great retention and mixed-bubbled lacing, coating the glass; a great pour. Toastiness, lemon and lime and overripe citrus in the aroma; reasonably crisp and quite pleasant fruitiness. Medium mouthfeel: nicely crisp at the perimeter, with chewy floral and fruit core: lime, citrus, and basic dense candy sugar (and dried orange peel) present; nicely generous and well-balanced while staying quite drinkable; maybe not a standard kolsch interpretation, or at least not my interpretation of a standard kolsch interpretation, but really nice. Medium finish: lots of toastiness, crackers, and lingering citrus and floral notes; nicely dry at the far end.

12oz bottle. Pours a cloudy dim yellow. Head is a thin but attractive layer or white cream and lace. Aroma is muted but there is some citrus and dough. The flavor is much the same. This is a good clean beer with good flavor. Easy to drink.

From a 12 oz bottle that came from a six pack the cost me $8.99 at BevMo in Vacaville, CA this poured a light yellow with a huge white foamy head that looked like whipped cream. Why some people get a head and others don’t is a mystery. After a long wait for the head to settle the nose on this was malty with a touch of grassy hops. Medium mouthfeel. Flavor is of floral hops, and a citrus finish. Quite drainkable.

Poured a golden yellow, with a thick white head. Typical ale flavoring (very malty with strong hops). Pretty smooth. Nothing special. Boring, decent beer.