Today I’m tasting the Apollo Blonde Ale by Neff Brewing in Tulsa Oklahoma. This American Blonde Ale is packaged in 12 ounce yellow cans that are consistent with the brand’s space designs. I’m not sure how far they get distributed outside of Tulsa, but the brewery is fairly new, so if you’re in-state but don’t have distribution access yet…let them know you want it!
Neff Brewing is the only dedicated gluten free brewery in the state of Oklahoma (and those surrounding it), which makes this brewhouse pretty special. Like finding water in the middle of an endless desert. Right there in Tulsa.
The Apollo Blonde Ale is brewed on a malt base of millet, buckwheat, rice and quinoa, which makes for a delicious grain bill! It has a 5.5% ABV and 30 IBU. If any of you out there have had the Apollo on draft, I’d love to hear how it compares to the canned version. (Drop your notes below!)
First, lets take a look at the beer pour video for the most recent review of Neff Brewing’s Apollo American Blonde Ale…
The 2022 Taste Test
Apollo American Blonde Ale
Neff’s gluten free blonde ale pours with a honey yellow hue and a generous head that bubbles down extremely slowly. It’s still there, in fact. Once I pour the full can in to the glass, it has a slight haze to it. The aroma is full of biscuit malt and very lightly hopped.
The taste of the Apollo Blonde Ale is crisp, clean, and light. When the gluten free blonde hits your lips, you take in the carbonation texture and the malt flavors first. The combination of millet, buckwheat, rice, and quinoa create a bready malt character and a smooth body that drinks very light. There’s a gentle background of hops as the blonde ale moves through the palate, and a little honey-like sweetness at the back.
My favorite part of this Apollo Blonde Ale is the incredibly well balanced flavor profile and texture experience. It is interesting, refreshing, flavorful and light, and the body is perfect for a light craft beer. Blondes can be boring for me sometimes, but this one is not. Even half way through the brew, there’s still a frosty layer of foam at the top of the beer.
This 5.5% ABV gluten free blonde ale would make a great daily drinker and would be perfect as a summertime happy hour beverage. I think my one request would be that it be packaged in 16 ounce cans…just a personal preference of mine for light beers.
I have a half a dozen other Neff Brewing beers to review in the days/weeks to come, so keep checking back to learn more about this gluten free lineup, brewed with utmost gluten free care over in Tulsa Oklahoma. I am so glad you exist Neff! Oklahoma is a lucky state to have you!
The 2020 Taste Test
Apollo American Blonde Ale
The Apollo Blonde Ale is a beautiful beer. Mine poured with an enormous head that took its time at the top of the glass. The most notable visual aspect is definitely the carbonation. It’s doing a beautiful dance around the glass. It looks just like a swarm of swallows as they move through the sky morphing into various collective shapes.
The Apollo is a perfect shade of blonde. It’s light yet vibrant, and incredibly revealing due to its crystal clear nature. I get a bit of sweetness on the nose, but other than that, its aroma is pretty clean and unassuming.
My first sip of the Apollo revealed a similar quality in the flavor profile. First off, this beer is as light as it looks. The flavor is gentle and I love the malt background. The 4 grains play so well together, and provide such a mellow backdrop to this blonde ale. The quinoa and rice keep the body light, while the the buckwheat leaves mild texture and the millet imparts some biscuit flavors.
The Apollo Blonde Ale also has a gentle honey sweetness in the flavor, but overall, is not a super sweet beer. It’s light in all ways really. My favorite part is still the carbonation character. It doesn’t feel as strong as it looks, but it offers the perfect amount to compliment the beer’s mouthfeel.
It’s also worth noting, this blonde isn’t nearly as fruity as many of the other gluten free blondes on the market. It’s easy-drinking and clean. Not the most interesting, but would play nice in just about in any drinking situation. In my opinion, it’s a fantastic staple among Neff Brewing’s flagship beers, and would be a great choice for those of you who like your beers light-bodied and low on the fruit scale.
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