Mike brewed an American Blonde Ale with Citra hops for something light, crisp, and easy to enjoy. He wanted an ale that could work well during the warmer months, especially around the Fourth of July.

This beer had a clear golden appearance, a rocky head, and a clean fermentation profile. The goal was simple enough, but the Citra hops became the biggest variable in the recipe.

In this video, Mike walked through his American Blonde Ale recipe before we tasted the finished beer.

American Blonde Ale with Citra Hops Recipe

Here is the recipe from the video:

Batch Size: 3.5 gallons

Water Profile:
Balanced chloride to sulfate ratio

Grain Bill:
82% Pilsner malt
12% Crystal 10 malt
6% white wheat malt

Hops:
12 grams Citra at 60 minutes
60 grams Citra at flameout
72 grams Citra total

Yeast:
1 packet of Lallemand House yeast

Mash Schedule:
145°F for 30 minutes
152°F for 30 minutes
168°F mash out for 10 minutes

Fermentation:
Fermented around 68°F for about a week and a half

Other Process Notes:
Whirlfloc was added near the end of the boil

Our Hot Takes On This Cold Beer

The beer cleared well on its own, even with the small amount of wheat in the grain bill. That wheat likely helped the beer produce a persistent, rocky head that stayed around in the glass. The aroma had a big punch of Citra, with a clear citrus character coming through first. The flavor followed the aroma, bringing a light citrus quality that made the beer refreshing.

There was a small oniony and resiny note from the hops, but it stayed in the background. Overall, the Citra worked better than expected, especially for hops bought from a local homebrew shop. Mike thought he got lucky with this package, since hop freshness can vary quite a bit.

Overall, this American Blonde Ale with Citra hops showed how well this variety can work in a lighter, cleaner beer style. The beer had enough malt support from the Pilsner, Crystal 10, and wheat without becoming heavy. The clean yeast character kept the focus on the crisp body and citrus hop expression. For warm weather, this beer fits well as an easy-drinking alternative to a lager. If you feel that you can’t brew lagers, a blonde ale like this is a good style to keep around. The Citra hops were the biggest risk, but they helped make this batch bright and refreshing.

BREW ON!