Robin Shepard
It didn't take long for the patrons of Next Door Brewing to let brewmaster Bryan Kreiter know they liked his blonde ale better than his two new pilsners. For the past few weeks, Kreiter has been listening closely to his mug club members and other loyal customers as they compared notes over which of his latest brews should become the brewery’s next bottle release. The pilsners captured a lot of initial attention; they’re the first lagers offered by Next Door. However, the blonde ale won out in the end. Kreiter says he’ll have it out in six-packs by the early May.
What is it? Blonde Ale from Next Door Brewing.
Style: The blonde ale is an American style that emerged as alternative to premium U.S. lagers. It’s really a catch-all category of light-bodied, light-colored ales (styles like the cream ale and kölsch loosely fall into such a description). As the name indicates, the blonde ale is clear golden to straw color. It’s crisp and light- to medium-bodied. Expect low hoppy bitterness, often around 15-25 IBUs (International Bitterness Units). It may be slightly malty, sometimes described as being slightly sweet and perfumey, but overall it should be a balanced beer that’s clean. The golden ale will range in strength from 4% to 5.5% ABV. The style is considered a standard introductory ale to American craft beers.
Background: Kreiter says he was a little surprised that the blonde ale won out over two pilsners. All three beers were featured at Next Door’s inaugural mug club party on Feb. 25. I attended that party as a mug club member and when the evening was over I was all prepared to write about Pilot Pils #1 and extol its virtues as a crisp, sharp, well-made lager. However, a preference emerged for the blonde ale. The German Hüll Melon hops and Munich and Vienna malts give it a solid backbone. “It’s balanced, different, and it’s been popular,” Kreiter says.
Selecting a blonde ale for the brewery’s next bottle release also is intended to give Next Door a beer on local store shelves that’s an alternative to the large number of bold, hoppy and strong beers that seems to be the standard requirement for a craft brewery. “This is an underserved market,” says Kreiter. “I think there are a lot of people who want to get into craft beer and are frustrated with the many hop-forward, highly bitter and strong beers.”
Next Door makes nearly all of its beers in-house for the brewpub’s taps; bottled products are made with the help of the Potosi Brewery. By the time it’s released in six-packs, Next Door’s newest blonde ale will have an official name. However, right now, Kreiter isn’t saying what he’ll call it because he hasn’t received trademark or label approval yet. The beer finishes at 4.5% ABV. It currently sells in the brewpub for $5/pint.
Tasting notes:
Aroma: A light, yet firm, floral malty nose. There’s just a hint of citrus and melon-like hoppiness.
Appearance: Clear, bright golden-copper color. Very effervescent. A medium to thick head that’s light tan in color.
Texture: Light- to medium-bodied.
Taste: A light maltiness in the beginning with an enticing background of citrus-melon hoppiness. There is a subtle floral-sweetness to the hop character.
Finish/Aftertaste: Clean, crisp and balanced.
Glassware: Next Door serves the blonde ale in the Willi Becher glass, a preferred way to appreciate its bright golden color, effervescence and aroma. Make sure to drink it very cold to bring out its crisp, clean flavor qualities. Like most blonde ales, this is a beer that is intended to be enjoyed fresh, much like its lager cousin, the pilsner.
Pairs well with: This blonde ale goes well with lighter foods, sandwiches, fish and poultry. It can be overwhelmed by spices and heavy sauces.
The Verdict: Next Door’s blonde ale is a pleasant middle-of-the-road beer that offers solid flavor while remaining crisp, clean and well-balanced. What surprised me most were the Hüll Melon hops,w hich lend a unique, albeit faint, hint of melon and strawberry in both aroma and flavor. That ends up giving the beer a softer, slightly sweeter hoppiness. If you’re familiar with Next Door’s Bascom Blonde, a beer that been on and off of the brewpub’s taps for more than year, this new beer isn’t quite as hoppy, yet it’s cleaner and crisper, with a firm dry finish (a trait that one looks for in a well-made blonde ale). Brewing a blonde ale does require skill because any flaws are noticeable in the light body and flavor. That’s certainly where Kreiter shines with this beer, given how crisp, clean and balanced it is. In the end, this is a nice beer that doesn’t require too much thinking to appreciate.
