Stone Coast Sunsplash Golden Ale

Brewed by Sunday River Brewpub and Restaurant
Style: Golden Ale/Blond Ale
Bethel, Maine USA

I’ve had numerous six-packs of this over the past year (2006) as it has been distributed in MA recently.
Medium amount of white head shows moderate retention, light lacing. Bright, honey-golden body shows plentiful carbonation and a high clarity.
One (at least) batch has been unintentionally infected with wild brett. That one smells of medium-tart pear and apple skins, with a little bit of peachiness from the malt combo. The brett version shows more attenuation and a more dry nose, obviously, but is quite fragrant. I believe the beer is hopped with styrian goldings or hallertauer. It gives a tremendously grassy, herbal and highly aromatic nose. Touch of light breadiness on the finish.
The infected cans are deliciously ripe with brett. I’ve honestly had bottles of Orval that taste worse than these. The combination of the noble hops, which are mostly flavor/aroma additions, with only a light bitterness produces a charming recreation of Orval. Somewhat sweeter, and the non-infected bottles are much sweeter, but still very well-attenuated and with plenty of spiciness from the hops to cut the sweetness. Furthermore, I found the carbonation and mouthfeel to be the best I have yet encountered in a canned beer. Lower levels of carbonation do not pester the palate. No alcohol apparent, no flaws that I found.
Easily the best canned beer I’ve had and probably my favorite readily available drinking beer. This must be exquisite fresh on draught. Too bad I’ve never found it in my many travels through Maine.

this was a good beer, I was very impressed with stone coast. They seem to be headed in the right direction. This was a good beer - went down smooth

Pours gold with a white head. Smells of some fruit, floral hops, dry pilsner malt. Tastes of toasted malt, some crisp hoppy notes and a floral finish.

12 oz can. Sweet label design, which is why I bought it without knowing or caring if it was good or not. Stone coast usually makes some pretty solid beers, so I figured this would be nice. Not to be the case however. Pours a nice cloudy straw yellow, kinda like a wit or hefe- nice fluffy lasting white head and good lace. Aroma is actually slight brett character- possible infection? Lemony and grassy aroma with light straw, malty hints and spicy hops. Flavor is more light brett, wild yeast, hay, grassy and herbal hints and a tart lemony finish. Mouthfeel is fizzy and high carbed- possibly from infection. The more I dirnk it, the more sure I am that this has to be infected- although I kinda liked it toward the end. Weird golden ale.

Clear pale yellow w/ little head & no lacing. floral fruity aromas. Thin palate. Light & malty upfront but a little watery. Nice crisp, hoppy finish.

Light and fruity. Citrus, but not in a hoppy way. Reminds me a lot of the rind of a citrus fruit. A little bubble gum. Actually more bitter than I would have expected. Has some sort of harsheness that I can’t place. Really a strange beer that I can’t make up my mind on. It’s light and refreshing, but somehow that harshness prevents it from being an easy drinker.

Sampled in Maine this summer. Had a nice pour with a thin head. Appearance is dark amber brown. A nice summer ale as the after taste is light and easy on the pallet. Worth a try, but hard to find.

Can! @ KSBF:06 after fest party! Thanks Paul (Dickinsonbeer) ! Poured a small, white head, OK retention and some webby lacing. Lightly hazy gold/blond appearence. Spicey, citrusy nose, light yeastiness. Body is light, crisp, slightly tart. Light citrus flavors, lemony, light maltiness, bready,gentle frutiness. Dry, spicey finish. Kewl can!