Town Hall Bright Spot Golden Ale

Brewed by Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery
Style: Golden Ale/Blond Ale
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA

The TownHall Brewery has existed for 6 years, but I shied away from it until last year, for reasons only my therapist must know, and tonight, for the first time, I tried their lightest, easiest-going ale, Bright Spot. It's logo is a spotlight, perhaps an homage to the Southern Theater, around the corner, or to the space's former occupant, Dudley Rigg's Improv, site of Minneapolis' first espresso machine back in the '50's, or maybe the Theater in The Round down the road, or the Mixed Blood further down, or the U of M's Rarig Theater just a little further down apiece... In any case, I must say, a mistake was made. Why did I waver from consuming this brew? It's much more flavorful than I ever imagined! Appearance: a clear, bright golden color, short head. Aroma: fruity (peach, apricot), sweet, lively, one I felt the need to linger over. Blast of hops, soon mellowing, then dominated by fruity, apricotty flavor. Light, but very tasty. Malt is sufficient, hops small, but unmissed. You want a tasty, yummy, fruity pale ale, this is it. I've had "apricot ales" before, and this is one that doesn't advertise it, but delivers more than you bargain for. I'll be back for more. I expected a mild ale, and received much more!

On-Tap at the brewpub: Bright pale gold color with a solid but smallish cap of off-white creamy foam. Lacing sticks in mininal strings and spots. Aroma is soft yet fairly fresh with a fruity malt and a lighter hoppyness thats a bit like dry grass or leaves. Flavors are good; light, crisp, mild tones, sorta sweet with a unique malt flavor of ripe fruit taking on some green grape action and touches of lemon. Almost tangy, that part stays mild enough to let in some nice little hop notes of herbal grasses. Sweet and quick overall with a lighter medium body thats slightly sharp and tangy. Kinda drys off some as it goes. A subtle little drinker thats approachable and goes down with ease. This would make for a nice warm weather brew.

Draught at the brewpub. Clear golden color with two fingers of white head that left a bit of lace behind. Pretty standard golden ale with a fresh malty cereal grain aroma and flavor accented by sprucy hops. This is a well done beer. Nothing flashy, but solid for a golden.

Golden with a white head. There was almost no aroma save a slight scent of hops. I was suprised by the body of this. I found it to be quite malty. Flavors included, honey, grains, and roasted notes. It was a very odd flavor given the style. This beer was fairly sweet, and had no hop character.

It had a yellow color with a small head and excellent lacing. It had a nice smooth and refreshing taste.

On tap RBSG. A clean golden pour wth a thick white lacing and light head. A flavor that is malty but changes to a bit of a papery flavor and a tad of hop bitter at the finish. An aroma of light malt, corn. Nothing bad on the nose just not much there. The palate was all you could expect from the style. It was crisp and clean but a tad fizzy. Very good offering for the style.

tap. golden clear pour with thin head. big wheat, sour malt, lemon aroma. nice wheat and lemon zest. slightly sour. dry finish. lacing throughout.

Bright yellow. Nose quite sweet, flavor also very sweet with some hops at the end. Decent lawnmower beer.