Blonde ales gain fans with refreshing flavor

The craft beer world has been dominated for years by India pale ales, bourbon-barrel-aged stouts and sour beers. These brews get all the hype, consumers’ attention and fanfare — for good reason. They are some of the most flavorful and aggressive beers out there. But even with all the attention on these sexier versions, the American blonde ale has become an increasingly popular beer style that breweries are furiously trying to produce to meet demand.

At first pass the blonde ale isn’t the most exciting beer. It’s light in color, straw blond to golden. It has no particular dominant flavor; both hops and malt are moderate and balanced. It’s actually a relatively simplistic beer.

But what the blonde ale lacks in razzle-dazzle, it makes up for in superb drinkability and refreshment. As more people drift away from their everyday light lager, they seek out new brands and styles, and the blonde ale’s lightness and approachability make it a great transition beer.

In Hawaii’s heat, blonde ales are a perfect thirst quencher year-round thanks to their low alcohol content; soft, grainy flavors; and crisp, clean finish. Many breweries that had not released a blonde ale are now coming to market with versions that they hope will capture consumers’ growing thirst for easy-drinking yet flavorful light beers.

Here are a few:

>> 805 from Firestone Walker Brewing has quickly risen in popularity; in fact, it’s become one of Firestone’s best-selling beers. The soft, crackerlike malt is balanced by a gentle hop bitterness that allows just a touch of sweetness to linger after each sip. The 4.7 alcohol-by-volume blonde ale is clean and refreshing, the type of beer you want to have at a barbecue or the beach. This selection isn’t one that will blow the mind of a craft beer enthusiast, but it’s not meant to be that kind of beer. Sometimes you just need a beer to taste really great and not have to think too much about it. 805 does just that.

>> Aloha Beer Co., which just reopened in Kakaako, has a fantastic locally brewed blonde ale that could become one of its flagship beers. Brewers Dave Campbell and Kaiao Archer crafted an easy-drinking offering that’s also completely satisfying. This blonde ale has a soft, fragrant citrus hop aroma that works perfectly with the breadlike malt flavors. It’s going to be a go-to all summer long.

>> A slightly hoppier blonde ale has just been released by New Belgium. The Dayblazer Easygoing Ale is a golden/blonde ale that’s light and refreshing like most other versions, but it also has a bit more hop flavor and aroma. Its levels of hops and bitterness don’t come near those of a pale ale or IPA. Rather, the hops come through as citrus and pine flavors at the end of each sip. This subtlety keeps it dry and crisp, making for a highly refreshing beer.

>> Finally, be on the lookout for Bonito Blonde from Ballast Point, which will land in Hawaii in March. It’ll be another light option to choose from in the sea of IPAs.

Tim Golden, a certified cicerone, shares his obsession with all things craft beer monthly. See his blog, “Beer in Hawaii,” at beerinhawaii.com.