I seem to have a theme going these days. Apparently I have a need to admit embarrassing things and re-think long held views on things. My most recent CBC column is a case in point. I, like many beer fans, don’t spend a lot of energy on blonde ales. Yes, they can be very nice beer and quite enjoyable in the right circumstance, but when I am in a pub or my favourite liquor store I generally can find something more in my league. As a result, I don’t drink a lot of blondes.

But recently I have been re-thinking that attitude. A number of months ago I tasted Harviestoun’s Bitter and Twisted and found it to be a singularly remarkable beer, worthy of ordering at any time. And since a number of blonde ales have come in a shipment of British craft brewers (most are readily available at Sherbrooke) that are both flavourful and refreshing. Which prompted the CBC column.

Peter Brown does find a way to have some fun with my mistaken choice of words at one point of using both “blonde” and “naked” in the same sentence. That is why I love working with the man. He is so quick and witty. It is a fun column and a nice mea culpa from someone who can be seen as something of a snob from time to time.

My goal was to have us sample a Bitter and Twisted, but sadly it was sold out in Edmonton at the time. So I went for an old faithful in Fuller’s Honeydew. A softer, sweeter version than some of the newer ones around, but a nice beer nonetheless.

You can listen to the CBC column here. And then go out and try one of the new blondes available. They might pleasantly surprise you.