Review Date 9/24/2005
Try? Re-buy?
They say that gentlemen prefer blondes. I’m not sure
that’s always true myself. Hey, I love blondes as much as the next guy. But
when it comes to beer, blonde ales often leave me wanting something more.
That’s because blonde ales, although seemingly popular to many non-craft
beer drinkers, don’t really offer a lot for the seasoned enthusiast.
But I’m okay with that. I know that, when a microbrewery churns out a fairly
straightforward and one-dimensional offering, it helps pay the bills so that
they can also make something that I’m really going to like. And that seems
to be the case with Red Brick Blonde.
Since its introduction earlier this year, Red Brick Blonde has become a huge
success, with reports from the brewery that they have not been able to keep
up with demand. It seems to be a bit more readily available now, and I have
seen large displays of the beer at several larger liquor retailers in
Atlanta.
Atlanta Brewing Company, makers of the Red Brick brand, have heavily
promoted the brew, with tastings and events and special variations
(including a dry-hopped version) being offered. Apparently hopes are high
that this one will take off and become a microbrewed beer that will appeal
to the non-microbrew drinker.
As an entry level craft brew, Red Brick Blonde works fairly well. It isn’t
overpowering, it won’t scare anyone away, it’s drinkable, and it’s
reasonably priced at $6 a six-pack. It doesn’t have any adjunct flavors and
you can drink a lot of it quite easily. But let’s be a bit more detailed
about it, shall we?
Red Brick Blonde pours to a pale straw color with a light head of
foam and a faint malt nose. The palate is medium to light with a bit of
biscuity malt and a crisp, clean refreshing character. As mentioned before,
there aren’t any adjuncts here and the palate is free of fruity esters.
The finish is balanced with a very light bitterness. Obviously, this beer
was intended to appeal to a wide audience. It won’t excite the beer
enthusiast, though it is acceptable well chilled on a hot Georgia afternoon
or evening. It’s a step above macro-brews like Bud and Miller, but only a
step.
Will this be a beer I’m likely to buy on a regular basis? Probably not, at
least not for myself. My beloved Barbara seems to enjoy it, and so I may
keep some on hand for her. In any case, I’m happy it’s been a success and
keeps things humming down at Atlanta Brewing. After all, they brew a number
of beers I do enjoy. And everybody has to pay the bills, after all.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft