Curveball Beer: Where To Buy And Enjoy This Brew

Curve Ball Blonde Ale is a Kölsch-style beer brewed by Pyramid Breweries, Inc. in Portland, Oregon. Inspired by the traditional Kölsch beers of Cologne, Germany, Curve Ball has a clean, crisp, slightly herbal taste and a light body. While it is an American blonde ale with German malts, some reviewers disagree with the classification of Curve Ball as a Kölsch. If you're interested in trying this beer, you can use BeerMenus to find local businesses that serve it.

Where to buy Pyramid Curveball Blonde Ale near me

Pyramid Curveball Blonde Ale is a seasonal golden summer ale with a crisp, clean, slightly herbal taste and a light body. It is brewed by Pyramid Brewery in Seattle, Washington, and is inspired by the traditional Kölsch style beers of Cologne, Germany.

You can purchase Pyramid Curveball Blonde Ale at various locations in Seattle, Washington, as this is where the beer is brewed. Some specific locations in Seattle where you can find it include the Martin City Brewing Company Pizza & Taproom and Untappd at Home.

In addition to being available in Washington, Pyramid Curveball Blonde Ale is also available for purchase in other states, such as Montana, Arizona, and Vermont. For example, you can find it in Montana at a location visited by SamuelMiller for a review in June 2016. In Arizona, it is available at a location visited by jwc215 for a review in May 2017. And in Vermont, it can be purchased at a location reviewed by Lone_Freighter in August 2019.

You can also try finding Pyramid Curveball Blonde Ale at Total Wine & More, which offers in-store pickup in Vancouver, Washington. However, please note that beer is not eligible for shipping to California. To confirm availability near you, you can check the Total Wine & More website and enter your address details.

Beer reviews of Curveball Blonde Ale

Curveball Blonde Ale, a craft beer from Pyramid Breweries, Inc., is a Kölsch-style blonde ale. Inspired by the traditional Kölsch beers of Cologne, Germany, Curveball is brewed in Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington. It boasts a clean, crisp, and slightly herbal taste, with a light body. The beer has a sporty packaging and is often recommended as an accompaniment to summer grilling and ballpark outings.

> ""Fishy, skunky, pissy... Not good at all. Basically, Budweiser in a cooler bottle. One of my least favorite beers of all time." - q33jeff from New Jersey, rated 1.2/5

> "Pours golden with a thin head that slowly becomes a lasting ring. Thin lacing sticks. The smell is of honey, bread, [and] faint floral notes. The taste is of bread/yeast with a honey-like sweetness. Floral dryness in the finish (with a vague hint of citrus). It has a smooth light body. An easy-drinking inoffensive basic blonde ale." - jwc215 from Arizona, rated 3.44/5

> "Look: 3.75, Smell: 3.5, Taste: 3.5, Feel: 3.5, Overall: 2.75. [...] This is actually not a kolsch, not a German kolsch. It's an American blonde ale with German malts in it that displays some odd 'German' maybe a variant of 'off' but not necessarily 'true kolsch' characteristics." - Lone_Freighter from Vermont, rated 3.37/5

> "Appearance is a slightly hazy golden hue. Tastes of caramel, grain; highly carbonated. Not much head to speak of; lacing is halfway decent. [...] It’s a little expired; not sure if it’s affecting the beer in any way or not. This has always been my least favorite beer from Pyramid. It’s not tasting too bad tonight, however." - SamuelMiller from Montana, rated 3.71/5

Characteristics of Curveball Blonde Ale

The Pyramid Breweries' Curveball Blonde Ale is inspired by the traditional Kölsch-style beers of Cologne, Germany. It has a clean, crisp, slightly herbal taste and a light body. It is an American blonde ale with German malts, boasting a smooth, light, and easy-drinking character.

The beer has a golden colour with a thin head that settles into a lasting ring, leaving thin lacing. It has a honey-like sweetness, with bread and faint floral notes. The aroma is lemony, with hints of grain and light crackers. Curveball Blonde Ale has a slightly cloudy nature, which some attribute to the presence of refreshing wheat. It has a well-balanced character, with subdued hops that add a smooth feel and taste.

The beer is a seasonal summer beer, perfect for hot summer days and pairing with grilled foods. It is a good choice for those who enjoy a drinkable ale without overwhelming hoppiness. Curveball Blonde Ale has an ABV of 5.0% and approximately 160 calories.

Some reviews describe the beer as having a "wet watery taste" that simulates a generic light beer, but with a premium taste. It is also described as having a "smooth light body" and being "inoffensive,' making it a sensible and easy-going choice for those who enjoy a mild beer.

History of Pyramid Breweries, Inc

The history of Pyramid Breweries, Inc. begins with Hart Brewing, which was founded in 1984 in Kalama, Washington, by Tom Baune and Beth Hartwell. The company was a pioneer of craft brewing in the Pacific Northwest, with its signature beer, Pyramid Pale Ale, followed by Pyramid Wheaten Ale in 1985. In 1994, Hart debuted the Apricot Ale, a fruit beer that quickly became its most prominent brand.

Hart Brewing went public in late 1995, selling two million shares of its stock and netting $34.2 million. The proceeds were used to expand production capacity in both the Seattle and Kalama breweries. By the end of 1996, the Kalama facility's annual capacity had increased from 10,000 barrels to 95,000 barrels, and the Seattle brewery's capacity was boosted from 40,000 to 98,000 barrels.

Riding on the success of its Pyramid line, Hart Brewing changed its name to Pyramid Breweries, Inc. in 1996. The company continued to market its Thomas Kemper products under the original name. Despite strong revenue growth, Pyramid Breweries remained a regional brewer, with most sales coming from Oregon and Washington.

In 1997, the company expanded outside of Washington, opening a new brewery and alehouse in Berkeley, California. This new facility was within walking distance of the University of California, Berkeley campus, and included a 260-seat alehouse/restaurant with an annual production capacity of 80,000 barrels.

Over the years, Pyramid Breweries, Inc. offered a range of beers, including ales, lagers, weizens, ciders, porters, and IPAs. They also had seasonal offerings like Curve Ball Blonde Ale, Oktoberfest, and Snow Cap Winter Warmer, along with seasonal variety packs and limited-release beers. The company had a strong presence in Washington, Oregon, and California, selling its products through a network of independent distributors in over 30 states.

In 2004, Pyramid acquired the Portland Brewing Company, but changes in ownership started in 2008 when the company was purchased by Independent Brewers United. In 2012, the parent company was acquired by Cerveceria Costa Rica, a subsidiary of the Costa Rican company Florida Ice & Farm Co.

Unfortunately, the Seattle Alehouse, one of three brewpub restaurants run by the company, permanently closed in 2020 due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2021, the Portland Brewing Company also ceased all operations, marking the end of Pyramid Breweries, Inc.'s brewing journey.

Other beers by Pyramid Breweries, Inc

Curve Ball Blonde Ale by Pyramid Breweries is a beer inspired by the traditional Kölsch style beers of Cologne, Germany. It boasts a clean, crisp, slightly herbal taste and a lighter body.

Pyramid Breweries, Inc. was a defunct brewing company that produced beer under the Pyramid brand name at two breweries and several brewpubs in Washington, Oregon, and California. The brand name is currently owned by North American Breweries, a subsidiary of the Costa Rican company Florida Ice & Farm Co.

Hefeweizen

A year-round beer with a clean, crisp, and slightly herbal taste. Hefeweizen is a traditional German-style wheat beer that is typically light in body and colour.

Apricot Ale

A fruit beer first introduced in 1994 that quickly became the company's most prominent brand. Apricot Ale is also available year-round and has a sweet, fruity flavour.

Thunderhead IPA

One of the company's year-round offerings, Thunderhead IPA is a classic example of an American India Pale Ale, featuring a strong hoppy flavour and aroma.

Outburst Imperial IPA

Another IPA from Pyramid, this time an Imperial or Double IPA, meaning it has a higher alcohol content and a more intense hop flavour than a traditional IPA.

Seasonal Beers

In addition to their year-round offerings, Pyramid also produced several seasonal beers, including Oktoberfest, a hearty marzen-style lager, and Snow Cap Winter Warmer, a dark and malty beer perfect for cold weather.

Frequently asked questions