Na Zdravi !: Bee Line Honey Blonde Ale

Friday, August 17, 2018

Bee Line Honey Blonde Ale

The body is crisp, reminiscent of a lager. Munich and Vienna malts provide nuance, while the incorporation of Sacramento-area wildflower honey gives Bee Line its dry finish. German and Czech hops round out the flavor, with the end result being a delicate ale with hints of flowers on the nose and a subtle spice on the palate."

Crisp, slightly tart. Nice maltiness. Wonderful "back of the tongue" finish.
Very good.

ABV 5.2%, IBU 20

Na Zdravi!

A 10-second take.
Not really reviews, just my way to keep track of the beers I've tried.

My mother's family is Czech. They emigrated from Bohemia and settled in Nebraska in the mid-1800s.
They were from the region that included the town Pilzen (Pilsen) where a brewery called Měšťanský pivovar Plzeň, now Pilsner Urquell (Plzeňský Prazdroj in Czech), started brewing a uniquely Bohemian-style beer we now know as pilsner.
So, as I raise a glass in honor of my Bohemian roots ...

Na Zdravi! (to your health).

Hops?

A "hop" is the cone shaped resinous flower of the female hop plant. It is used in brewing to add bitterness, flavor, aroma, and stability depending on when it is added.

Hops are one of the 4 basic ingredients of beer although they are not esential in the brewing process. The are used simply to add flavor and complexity to the brew.
Double and even triple IPA's feature an extreme amount of hops, and an ABV to match.
Noble Hops - The traditional varieties of hops that were used to make early European beers. Medieval brewers used Hallertau, Saaz, Spalt, and/or Tettnang hops. All are from Germany except Saaz from the Czech Republic (Žatec in Czech). All are still used today.