Coronado Brewing did not set out to build another blonde ale. It built one because a men’s ocean-lifestyle apparel brand wanted a beer with its name on it, and the two companies liked each other enough to keep the collaboration going for six years and counting.
At a Glance
| Brewery | Coronado Brewing Company, San Diego, CA |
| Style | American Blonde / Golden Ale |
| ABV | 4.5% |
| IBU | 12 |
| Malt bill | Two-row, wheat and pilsner malt |
| Hops | German Hallertau and Czech Saaz |
The Story Behind the Can
Salty Crew is a men’s fishing and surf apparel brand founded in 2013 by two brothers who grew up on the water. Coronado Brewing partnered with them in 2019 to brew a beer built around the same lifestyle: something crisp and low-key enough to hand around on a boat between casts. The beer won a silver medal at the Great American Beer Festival that year, and Coronado turned what started as a one-off release into a long-term partnership in 2020.
Coronado markets it as a “boat beer,” built with what it calls a blank-slate flavor: crisp enough to drink straight, but plain enough that you can throw in a lime, spice the rim, or turn it into a bloody-beer without fighting the base flavor.
Tasting Notes
This is a session-strength blonde ale in the true sense: light body, firm carbonation, and a clean, mild finish with barely any bitterness at 12 IBU. The Hallertau and Saaz hops add a touch of noble-hop spice rather than any real citrus or pine character, and the wheat and pilsner malt keep it pale and easy-drinking rather than bready.
It reads on the higher end of the blonde ale spectrum for carbonation, with a slight carbonic edge that keeps it from feeling flat next to a cooler full of ice. If you already lean toward IPAs and stouts, this will feel thin. If you want something you can hand to anyone on a dock without an argument, it does that job well.
“The flavor was crisp, mild and refreshing. If you’re a fan of heavy beers like IPAs and stouts, this isn’t the brew for you. But if you’re looking for a light easy sipper that you can enjoy while fishing, this is a solid choice.”, On The Water
- Easy, low-ABV session beer that works with a lime, spice or plain
- GABF silver medal winner, not just a marketing collab
- Widely available in 6-packs and single 19.2oz cans
- Very little hop character if you want an actual IPA-adjacent flavor
- Mostly a West Coast release, though it does ship further via delivery
If you like your session beers with a beach theme, our Landshark Lager review covers Jimmy Buffett’s take on the same idea.
FAQs
What is a “boat beer”?
It is Coronado’s own marketing term for Salty Crew Blonde Ale: a crisp, light, low-ABV beer meant to be easy to drink on or around water, with a neutral flavor that takes well to a lime or a spiced rim.
What is the ABV of Salty Crew Blonde Ale?
4.5% ABV, with 12 IBU, making it one of the lighter, less bitter beers in Coronado Brewing’s lineup.
Is Salty Crew a real beer brand or just apparel?
Salty Crew is primarily a fishing and surf apparel company. The beer is a collaboration brewed and distributed by Coronado Brewing Company, not a beer brewed by Salty Crew itself.
Where can I buy Salty Crew Blonde Ale?
It is sold in 6-packs of 12oz cans and single 19.2oz cans at retailers carrying Coronado Brewing products, and through delivery services like Saucey in areas Coronado distributes to.
