Apparently, I’m one of the few out there that appreciates Saranac Blueberry Blonde Ale. Well, among beer geeks anyway. I’ve always said it and I will say it again, but fruit beers, you see, are like the Rodney Dangerfield of beer styles. They get no respect.
And were you to hop on over to Ratebeer.com or Beeradvocate.com, you’d find that Saranac Blueberry Blonde Ale isn’t getting a lot of respect, either. On BA, the beer gets a 77-an “OK” rating. That’s much better than the abysmal 28 overall it gets on Ratebeer.
I don’t have a lot of use for such websites. These days, I think, they’re dominated by beer geeks that think the only beer worth drinking is a sledgehammer brew, a malt and hop dominated colossus of high alcohol content. I don’t agree. I love a good fruit beer, a hoppy pilsner, a soft malty Kolsch.
Saranac provides the following detail about their Blueberry Blonde Ale on their website:
Availability: 12 Beers of Summer 2012, 6 pack, 12 pack, draught, 12 pack cans
Brewers Notes:
Saranac Blueberry Blonde Ale is a traidtional blonde ale with a kick of juicy blueberry. You'll notice a light golden haze from wheat malt and oats and a low hop bitterness, which really shows off the fruit. With a medium-light body and fresh blueberry flavor, we're sure we've captured refreshment in a bottle!
Beer Style: Fruit Ale
Malt Selections: 2 Row, wheat malt and oats
Hop Selections: Saaz
Color: Unfiltered, straw
Mouthfeel/Body: Light, smooth
Food Companions: Fresh seafood, goat or mild cheeses, salads
Alcohol By Volume: 5.0%
Original Gravity: 12
IBUs: 18
I bought a six-pack for $7.99 at Sherlock’s in Kennesaw, Georgia.
Saranac Blueberry Blonde Ale pours to a hazy golden color with a thick creamy head and a soft malty, berries and cream nose. A fine layer of Brussels lace clings to the sides of the glass and descends with the liquid to the bottom of the glass. Taking a sip, I get a firm biscuit malt palate with quickly emerging blueberry fruit.
The difference here is the oats, I think. They add a creamy silkiness that works so well with the fruit. Along with a gentle, balanced hop finish, the beer is one you’ll want to keep on sipping.
Pretentious beer geeks be damned, this is a very nice blueberry ale. Try it for yourself, and make your own decisions. I think you’ll enjoy it as much as I do.
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
(G)=Growler