Coronado Brewing Co. Head Brewer Mark Theisen Talks Salty Crew Blonde Ale

We spoke with Coronado Brewing Co. Head Brewer Mark Theisen Talks Salty Crew Blonde Ale.

BC: Who came up with this beer’s recipe?
This recipe was really a team effort. When Salty Crew first approached us about working on a beer together, they had a few beer styles in mind. They ultimately wanted something that was refreshing, easy to drink, and passed the “boat beer” test, meaning you could enjoy a few in a session and still be good to go. We explored a few different ideas, and decided a blonde ale was the best fit. We also saw this as an opportunity to fill a niche in our portfolio that we weren’t currently offering our fans. From there, we began to test recipes. We probably went through at least half a dozen test batches to land where we did. We wanted a nice malt backbone with enough hop character to keep it interesting but not overly bitter. We had the Salty Crew team try several versions, and this is where we landed. The Salty Crew guys were also stoked because this blonde ale is super versatile—the guys can enjoy it straight up, or throw in a lime, or even use it in a bloody mary or michelada.

BC: What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)?
I personally love how flavorful this blonde ale is. It has just the right amount of hop character from the Nugget, Hallertau and Saaz hops. The beer is crisp and dry and finishes with a nice bready/biscuit note. I’ve noticed a lot of the guys grabbing this as their shift beer—its quickly becoming a favorite around the brewery and the Salty Crew guys have been crushing it too.

BC: Where does this beer’s name come from?
The beer’s name is really straightforward—Salty Crew Blonde Ale. We wanted to keep it simple because at the end of the day, this beer is meant to highlight our collaboration with the Salty Crew brand, so it made sense to just let the name be the Salty Crew name. For those who might not be familiar with Salty Crew, it’s a lifestyle brand founded here in San Diego by two brothers—Jared and Hayden Lane—and it’s all about old school enjoyment of the water. They celebrate authentic fishing, surfing and diving culture, and it’s that ethos that made them the perfect fit to align with our “stay coastal” way of thinking.

BC: Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less?
Perfectly balanced and light-bodied; crisp, refreshing and easy to drink.

BC: What's a good food pairing for this beer?
This beer is incredibly versatile and pairs well with a lot of different foods. Its crisp, dry finish helps cut through richer foods like pizza or burgers, and its delicate hop profile won’t overwhelm lighter fare like chicken, salads or charcuterie plates. But more than anything, we think this beer pairs perfectly with anything caught fresh off the boat—we love it with grilled fish tacos or a spicy ceviche!

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