Spinnaker’s Brewing Co. – Ortega Blonde Ale

Spinnaker's Ortega Blonde Ale 2014

Rating

3.7 out of 5
Aroma
3.9 out of 5
Appearance
3.6 out of 5
Taste
3.4 out of 5
Palate

Total

3.7
3.7 out of 5

Overview

  • Brewery: Spinnaker's Brewing Co.
  • Beer Style: Blonde Ale
  • Pros:

    Unique blend of Blonde Ale and BC Wine traditions

  • Cons:

    Somewhat cider-like, not your typical craft beer.

  • Conclusion:

    A unique and bubbly blend of a blonde ale and white wine grapes.

Spinnaker's Ortega Blonde Ale 2014

Spinnaker’s Brewing Co. – 2014 Ortega Blonde Ale Review

The Spinnaker’s Brewery has a tendency to wax dip beer styles that you may not expect. If you were not sure, wax dipping a bottle helps to seal the beer from oxygen seeping through the beer’s seal. This is important when cellaring a beer or storing it for consumption several months or even years into the future. The Ortega blonde is a relatively mild 5% alcohol but is brewed using Ortega grapes. Collaborating with the Muse Winery this is an amalgamation of beer and wine styles into something truly unique. From the wax-dipped bottle this wine-inspired beer pours as a light, golden-straw colour topped with two thick fingers worth of head. This head settles rather quickly and without a trace. The Ortega Blonde smells similar to a traditional blonde ale but with a bit of a white-wine like grape kick. The beer’s aroma is not overly fruity but does have a defined wine like grape-scent to it.  The beer has a very strong carbonation which sizzles on the tongue. An almost cider-like body of blonde ale-ness and a slightly sour grape flavour is very unique. The high carbonation and a slight ffruitinessmore closely resembles cider than wine but still retains it beer characteristics with a mild hop bitterness which comes in for the finally. For the champagne lovers out there and those that want a unique but rather light twist to craft beer the Ortega Blonde melds industries to make a creative and uniquely BC craft option.

Alcohol – 5.0%
IBU – 24
Size –650ml bottle
Price – $8.50 (Craft retailer)
Spinnakers.com

 

Spinnaker's Ortega Blonde Ale 2014

Spinnaker's Ortega Blonde Ale 2014

Categories: Beer Reviews

About Author

Dustan Sept

Dustan Sept is the founder of Beer Me BC. His passion for craft beer drove the creation of beermebc.com in 2012. To learn more about the beermebc.com editorial team visit beermebc.com/the-beer-me-bc-team/.

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