When someone mentions “craft beer”, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Super hoppy IPAs, bright sours, and pastry stouts have dominated the craft beer scene for years. Beer lovers flock to craft breweries in search of exotic beers & rare flavors, so it only makes sense that they reach for the wildest options. Unfortunately, that means consumers often overlook some of the more “standard” beer offerings that their favorite breweries put just as much time & effort into producing. Today, we pay tribute to one of those beers: the delicious Feisty Blonde ale by HopFusion Ale Works.
Who is HopFusion Ale Works?
HopFusion Ale Works was founded by Macy Moore & Matt Hill and officially opened its doors in 2016. Both founders started out as home brewers who had the bright idea of starting their own brewery after a cold winter bike ride together.
The two were able to turn a rundown lot into an artistic brewery after years of work. Much of the bar & art that adorns the taproom was produced by themselves (with some help of some awesome friends of course). Both are avid bicyclists, so you can expect a few bike-themed decorations as well.
HopFusion prides itself in democratizing their brewing process. Instead of a single brewmaster dictating the brewery’s recipes, this brewery allows all of their employees to influence the beer brewing decisions. With such a wide variety of preferences among the staff (Macy is an avid fan of lighter ales while Matt is passionate about darker beers), HopFusion cultivates the perfect environment for brewing a diverse range of craft beer.
Where is HopFusion Ale Works?
HopFusion Ale Works opened its brewery doors in the Southside neighborhood of Fort Worth. Both founders spent time in the area and wanted to build something special there, so they converted an old industrial building into an urban sanctuary for lovers of craft beer.
The unique taproom is perched above a street corner that beckons patrons with its exposed patio to venture on in. Inside you will find graffiti covering the walls illuminated by string lights hanging in between bicycles that are suspended from the ceiling. A chain link fence featuring planks that show what’s on tap serves as the menu. Picnic tables line the interior & exterior of the building to allow groups to congregate and get to know one another.
The taproom experience is important for HopFusion. They want their guests to feel welcomed & comfortable under their roof, but even more important is making sure people wholeheartedly enjoy their beers. The on-tap menu features a spectrum of offerings, so you can be sure to find something you like whenever you wander into their Southside location.
What’s so special about HopFusion Ale Works’ Feisty Blonde?
This is not your run-of-the-mill blonde ale. The folks at HopFusion took a beer classic recipe and tweaked it to produce this popular & award-winning beer: the Feisty Blonde won back-to-back silver medals at the 2017 & 2018 U.S. Open Beer Championship.
In an effort to produce a blonde ale like nothing you have ever tried before, the recipe includes aromatic orange blossom honey along with brown sugar & Mexican vanilla. HopFusion brews this blonde unpasteurized & unfiltered which gives it a slight tinge of haze in the glass. Together, the recipe & brewing process create a rich, smooth, and extremely enjoyable blonde ale that packs a punch at 8.27% ABV (16.6 IBU).
How does HopFusion Ale Works’ Feisty Blonde taste?
You should absolutely recommend this beer to friends who enjoy blonde ales; just expect them to never look at a blonde the same way ever again.
The pour is a honey gold (credit to the founders for making the color of HopFusion beer just as important as the taste) that is closer in color to apple juice than the bright yellow can of the Feisty Blonde. Poured from a can, the little head that began on top of the brew quickly dissipated.
The orange blossom honey aroma is instantly evident on the nose, and it is coupled with hits of candied sugar. The sweet and floral notes greets you as you plunge your nose into the glass.
The classic blonde ale taste is there to welcome you in, but it is quickly followed up with flashes of fruit before you taste the vanilla to round out the flavor profile. Each sip takes you on a journey that ends with an incredibly smooth & slightly sweet finish. The honey & vanilla flavors here combine for a lingering richness that clings to your taste buds in a way that isn’t cloying at all. Don’t let that scare you though; this is a well-balanced sweetness that pairs well with nearly anything.
Final Thoughts
HopFusion Ale Works has been producing exciting beers in Southside Fort Worth for some time now, and they have earned their recognition. The unique brewmaster-less approach, the eye-catching can art, and the well-curated taproom are all deserving of praise.
The Feisty Blonde is one of their most popular beers for good reason: this honey blonde ale is approachable enough for the newly initiated craft beer drinkers and complex enough to satisfy even the most hardcore beer geeks. If you love this blonde ale, you should try their hibiscus cherry version appropriately named the Feisty Redhead. HopFusion has built on those two beer’s success by releasing a Feisty Brunette (aged with blueberries & blackberries) and a Skinny Blonde (with a more sessionable 4.5% ABV).
Beyond these two blonde ales, HopFusion has plenty of exciting beers to choose from. Their Tejano Lager, a Mexican lager-inspired beer perfect for pairing with tacos & tex-mex, just took home a gold medal at the Best of Craft Beer Awards. One of my favorites is their Coco Anejo imperial milk stout which has won countless awards for its roasted coconut aging process.
As great as those beers are though, I don’t think anything HopFusion produces will top the success of their Feisty Blonde ale. If you are in the area, swing on by their taproom and decide for yourself. What’s your favorite blonde ale? Let us know on Instagram by tagging us in a pic!
