Red Hook Blonde Ale is a light tasting American Blonde Ale with a taste that is reminiscent of American style lagers. However, the taste has significantly more character than American-style lagers from the major macro-breweries.

The Good: Blonde Ale’s hint of malt taste goes very well with the thin body. The beer starts out sweet when it first hits the tongue but finishes with a mild flavor. As an added bonus, the flavor does an excellent job of masking the brew’s relatively high alcohol content of 5.4 percent.

The Bad: Unfortunately, the brew has a strong malt aftertaste similar to that of common American macro-brewery products. The aftertaste doesn’t complement the beer very well. Additionally, the carbonation is a bit strong for a beer with such a thin body.

The Cost: $5.99 for a six-pack

The Recommendation: Red Hook Blonde Ale is an excellent alternative to the typical American macro-brew lagers. However, it is more of a beer that is intended to be savored and, if you drink too much of it too fast, the aftertaste can be a bit overpowering.

The price-point is excellent. As an added bonus, the brew is something both people who are familiar with more exotic beers and people who typically buy the cheapest beer on the rack can enjoy.

The Bottom Line: With the exception of the aftertaste, Red Hook Blonde Ale is a solid substitution for the monotony of Bud-Miller-Coors.