The Great New London Brewing Co. - Safe Harbor American Blonde Ale

Purchased From: Harvest Fine Wines & Spirits
Serving Type: 12 oz. bottle, poured into a Mark Twain pint glass


This American Blonde Ale by The Great New London Brewing Company is contract brewed by Cottrell in Pawcatuck, Connecticut. Anyone familiar with Cottrell will have an idea of what to expect. The beer pours a very hazy orange-amber with a light yellow glow. The head is large and slightly yellowed with a fluffy foam consistency. The beer's head retention is excellent and leaves delicate lacing on the glass. A strong hoppy nose places this beer's emphasis clearly on citrus with potent orange oil aromas. A sweet, but light, malt base holds up the beer underneath the hoppy aromatics.

Grainy light malts greet on the foretaste with a coarse, cracked grain texture. Velvet, rolling carbonation creates a refreshing mouthfeel to usher in dry hops. Despite a light bitterness in the hop character, huge orange notes pervade. A spray of orange oil plays up the bitterness while a dash of orange juice keeps the citrus componenet sweet. Mild blossom honey contributes further to the beer's nectarous quality. A dry crispness defines the finish.


Final Verdict: A-

Cisco Brewers - Bailey's Blonde Ale

Purchased From: Harvest Fine Wines & Spirits
Serving Type: 12 oz. bottle, marked "3/4 pint," poured into a pint glass

This brew from Nantucket pours a bleary golden blonde with diffuse wisps of floating yeast in the mellow glowing body. The slightly yellowed head is large and frothy with excellent retention. Dry citrus hops on the nose complement the fresh grainy malts. A hint of green grapes and a Champagne component keep this from being your 'every day' blonde ale.

For a blonde, the beer has a significant hop character. Some grapefruit citrus provides a moderate bitterness and plays with an almost-herbal pine. The malts are clear and clean with a fresh cracked grain character. A mild breadiness leads into the finish, which is arid with a mild, lingering, but mellow, sweetness.

Final Verdict: B

Narragansett Brewing Company - Summer Ale

Purchased From: Harvest Fine Wines & Spirits
Serving Type: 16 oz. 'Tall Boy' can, poured into a Becker pint glass

The last of the Narragansett brews for me to review, the Summer Ale is the newest. This first time run is the Summer seasonal from the re-started brewery based in Rhode Island. 'Gansett's Summer Ale pours a medium golden straw with a huge white head. The light, cloud-like, fluffy foam has solid retention as it fades with a gentle crackling. Light sticky lacing clings to the top of the glass. A musty and slightly lagery aroma is immediately apparent on the nose. The beer seems dry with a slight sweetness and a mild hoppy component, too.

The high carbonation of this beer makes it very crisp, but not fizzy, and perfect for a refreshing drink on a hot Summer day. The malts a fairly thin, but don't seem sour and hold up to the massive carbonation attack. A nice hop kick is not overly pronounced, but pleasantly clear. Overall, the beer is on the lighter side and highly sessionable. It's a refreshing Summer seasonal. Worth keeping around as an everyday type of beer.

Final Verdict: B

Thomas Hooker Brewery - Watermelon Ale

Purchased From: Harvest Fine Wines & Spirits
Serving Type: 12 oz. bottle, poured into a Hooker pint glass

Kicking off what could be a long list of interesting and diverse Summer seasonals is Watermelon Ale from Hooker. I've reviewed quite a few Hooker brews, with unflinchingly positive results. This, is, unfortunately, the glaring exception.* Supposedly employing 'natural flavors,' this beer smacks of artificiality. To be sure, there is no actual watermelon involved here (let me know if I'm wrong, but I'd be extremely surprised).

The bottle pours a very light, extremely pale, straw body with a thin airy head bearing minimal retention and no lacing. Tons of active carbonation brings the glass to life. A very sweet candy watermelon aroma dominates the nose. It's somewhere between watermelon chewing gum and a watermelon jolly rancher. A feint hint of graininess follows the overbearing candy on the nose.

A short wave of flavor rolls in up front with a super-sweet watermelon-esque candy flavoring. The sugar onslaught slowly subsides to a mild grainy twang. The grains are weak and tea-like. There's no perceptible alcohol or body. Seems more like a cooled, unfermented, wort than beer. Sweetness rises again on the finish. The beer doesn't leave your teeth feeling as sugary as other fruit beers, but there's a hint. I guess you could say it's 'refreshing,' but it's barely beer.

Much different from my modus operandi, I poured more than half of this beer out. I'd prefer to drink or review a 'malternative' than this, even if it means getting down on one knee and chugging it to my embarrassment and the entertainment of others. The only other "beer" I might put in this category is Miller Chill. But, I haven't had one in years.

Final Verdict: F*

* - Many people actually like this beer (and I use the word beer lightly, here). You may be one of them. Maybe you've never had it, maybe you would like it. I'd say: "What you think passes for beer, I just can't understand" But, you're more than welcome to drink and enjoy it. Nothing against Hooker Brewery, but man, I just can't get behind this.