Knockout Blonde - Lawson's Finest Liquids

TMoney2591

Illinois

2.98/5  rDev -25.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Served in a Bruery snifter.

Thanks to cbeer88 for this bottle!

Reviewed blind as part of Blind BIF 7. It pours a mildly hazy goldenrod topped by a finger-and-a-half of cream-white foam. The nose comprises light orange zest, mild brett-like funk, light wheat, and a smidgen of bold banana. A strong whiff of lemon zest wafts up as the beer warms. The taste holds notes of waxy lemon rind, light brett-ish funk, dirt, and a vague but sharp bitterness that pervades the finish and malingers a bit. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a dry finish. Overall, I found the odd bitterness to be too much to overcome here, especially considering the style. Not my cup o' tea.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 04:02:04 | More by TMoney2591

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Big thanks goes out to beeruser for sharing this one at a recent tasting! Served from bottle into a Boulevard tulip. Poured a golden yellow with a half finger white head that subsided to a minimal amount quickly. Maintained nice lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, earth, earth hop, and fruit. The flavor was of sweet malt, earth, earth hop, fruit, and wheat. It had a light feel on the palate with medium-high carbonation. Overall this was a decent brew. While this was fairly nice for the style, nothing on it really stood out from anything else I’ve had. I really wish it would have been a little more complex here if I am completely honest. The earthy characters going on here were definitely the dominate aspect going on. Worth trying if you get the chance, but personally I wouldn’t go out of my way to do so.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 10:59:25 | More by thagr81us

merc7186

New York

3.55/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bomber into snifter.

A: Golden Straw Hue, Passes Some Light, White Head, Great Lacing

S: Citrus, Wheat, Mildly Malty

T: Orange, Wheat, Mildly Malty

M: Great Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Mildly Drying

Overall, pretty nice but I wish I had this fresh on tap and not 7 weeks later in a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 04:17:48 | More by merc7186

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

3.58/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle purchased fresh on July 20th. Poured in to Bruery tulip. ABV listed at 5%.

A - Golden yellow with one finger of bright white head.

S - A light hop aroma up front with some lemon and earthy notes. A fairly big malt backbone contributes bready aromas and provides good balance.

T - Moderate bitterness up front with lemon, grassy and floral flavours. The malts provide some bready flavours and a good sweetness that balances this beer out well.

M - Medium body with a good chew. Moderate carbonation.

O - Not what I expected from the label, which listed cascade and centennial hops but I go no aroma or flavour from them. Perhaps they were used just for bittering. This beer was true to the style.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 17:28:12 | More by TheSevenDuffs

aasher

Indiana

3.6/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This bottle was courtesy of the infamous Adam Jackson. Thanks Adam!

Knockout Blonde pours a light bodied, bright honey gold in color with a one finger bright white head. It looks great. The nose is pretty bland and average for the style, just pale malts and honey. The flavors are somewhat dry and bitter. It features pale malt, an ever so slight touch of honey, and a prominent bitterness perhaps from the hops. That said, it certainly isn't hoppy. It drinks light and dry and is really a pretty mellow beer. I wouldn't necessarily buy this if I saw it but it wouldn't be a bad beer to open after a hot day ate pool or in the yard.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2012 02:06:18 | More by aasher

womencantsail

California

3.78/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Todd who sent this one as an extra in our most recent trade.

A: The beer pours a clear golden color with a big, fizzy white head and some mild lacing.

S: This is a rather hoppy blonde ale, but it all seems to be European hops. Intensely floral and earthy with some mild spice and herb notes to it. A decent maltiness which provides some sweetness and a little bit of bread.

T: Herbal and floral hops provide a strong flavor initially and throughout the sip. Pale malts and a light bread character give the sweetness to the beer. Just a hint of bitterness is present on the back end.

M: Medium in body with a moderate to high level of carbonation.

O: Definitely a different take on the blonde ale, and certainly for the better.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2011 21:57:01 | More by womencantsail

ehammond1

California

3.78/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle (2012)

Acquired via trade
Thanks, whartontallboy!

Hazy golden with a small near-white head that leaves the glass extremely messy with sticky lace.

Appropriate and pleasurable aroma, with a good amount of floral and earthy hop character for a beer of this style. There's pronounced breadiness as well, which I would expect.

The flavor is nice, though simple. Floral and earthy hops, bready, and a touch of sweet cracker come together nicely. Moderate bitterness for the style. Exceptionally drinkable.

Medium bodied with moderate to high carbonation.

A very nice, tasty blonde.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2012 13:17:45 | More by ehammond1

tobelerone

New Jersey

3.78/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A pale gold bodied beer with a small cap of white foam that settles slowly and good lacing. Aroma is fairly mild, some tropical and citrus fruit hoppiness, traces of floral notes, pine resin and pale malt.

Tropical fruit, lemon, orange hop notes in the flavor; somewhat muted, with a bit of aggressive bitterness overshadowing the subtleties to some degree. Floral and herbal notes also emerge. Moderate pale malt sweetness, with some grain and breadiness. Not bad, but perhaps a little bland. Certainly comes off unexciting in comparison to Lawson’s other fantastic hoppy beers like Double Sunshine and now, Three Penny Especiale.

Medium-light bodied, medium carbonation, crisp and dry. A good beer but not the apex of the Lawson’s portfolio.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2012 17:32:56 | More by tobelerone

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.85/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed on tap at the Black Back Club. A tasty blonde, funk in the taste, a funky dirty blonde. Nice hops, piney and a little citrus. A sipper. Lace sheet.Complex and something I would have on a regular basis, as it would yield different flavour profile each time

Serving type: on-tap

08-17-2012 12:58:54 | More by northyorksammy

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle picked up at The Warren Store. Batch 164, Bottle 24.

Pours a golden color with a hint of peach. There is a one-finger white head with some spotty lacing. The nose brings some grains and quite a bit of fresh hops. There is a bit of light Amarillo-like hops. Fresh and a bit of green hops. There are also some light pine and floral notes. Definite fresh hop flavor with some floral and herbal notes. Light to medium body and quite drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2010 00:38:14 | More by Thorpe429

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

3.88/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from bottle purchased at the coop. Pours a nice clear golden with thick foamy head. Really great hop aromas, citrus and pine. Taste is a bit blah...it has very little personality and is super dry. Well...blonde ales in general are usually pretty lacking in flavor and personality, so I guess when compared to most blonde ales, this has way more to offer...including abv. Nice brew and somewhat superior blonde, but when it comes to overall drinking experience, Lawson makes better brews than this.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 00:43:54 | More by DrinkSlurm

rpstevens

New Hampshire

3.9/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Purchased at the Warren General Store during a beer raid of Vermont. Batch 168, bottle 55, poured into a Hill Farmstead pint glass. The beer pours a hazy straw yellow with a bright copper center. The pour produces a thick two finger paper-white head that fades slowly, leaving bubbly lacing on the walls of the glass.

The smell is crisp crackery malts, hay and earthy hops. Very simple, very clean, somewhat muted but nice.

The taste is much hoppier than the smell. Light citrus, earthy hops and faint orange peels introduce the flavors. The crackery light malts make another appearance before a nice bitter piney hops finishes this one off.

The beer is light bodied, well carbonated and has a nice bitter, dry finish. The 6% abv is well incorporated into the flavors, this one is very drinkable, I was I had more than one bottle.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2010 21:45:29 | More by rpstevens

CaptainNomihodai

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours light a light translucent orange. The keyword there is translucent, light passes through but there isn't really any clarity to speak of. Mostly hop bitterness on the nose, nothing terribly exciting here. First thing I detect is a bready flavor, but the hops come through at the finish. Ultimately there doesn't seem to be too much going on with this beer, but that's fine as nothing about it offends the palate. Really, I feel like I could keep drinking it all night... too bad I've only got one.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2011 02:05:11 | More by CaptainNomihodai

jaasen64

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle picked up in Vermont about 2 weeks ago. Poured into pint glass. Bottle says 5% Alcohol not 6.1%.

A- Pours translucent golden with about a quarter finger of white bubbly head that quickly recedes, slightly below average carbonation. Leaves nice layered lacing. Looks good for a blonde ale, except it could have used a little bit more carbonation.

S- Hops, wheat, light caramel malts, about average aroma strength, fairly appealing smell for a blonde.

T- Hops, some light caramel malts, some wheat, finishes a little bit bitter due to the hops with a tiny bit of pepper. A little bit of a hoppy wheat aftertaste that lingers for a little while. A little bit different for a blonde, but definitely interesting.

M- Fairly full bodied for a blonde ale, but slightly lighter then your average beer, average carbonation, slightly oily and juicy, easily drinkable.

O- This was an interesting blonde ale. I'm usually not a huge fan of blonde ales, but this one wasn't bad although definitely not my favorite Lawson's offering. I recommend trying it if you like blonde ales, but definitely not a must have.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 21:39:30 | More by jaasen64

craytonic

District of Columbia

3.93/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Very cloudy golden-straw-yellow pour, thick white head and good lacing.

Aroma: Honeysuckle sweet, very floral

Taste: Again, a bit sweet, honeysuckle, with some grapefruit pith and perhaps a too-agressive bitterness. Not sure I would call this a "blode ale," over-hopped for the style

Mouthfeel: medium body, good carbonation. Smooth.

Overall: Good beer that could easily be lost in the sea of IPAs and double IPAs.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2011 03:29:08 | More by craytonic

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

3.93/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On draft at Prohibition Pig in Waterbury, VT. Served in a Lawson's Finest Liquids snifter. Classy. The beer appears crystal clear and light orange hued with an inch of foamy white head. The aroma is mild, offering a touch of hops, bready malts. The flavor brings notes of citrus, followed by sourdough bread and a bitter hop finish. Light bodied and flavorful. A solid example of the style.

Serving type: on-tap

07-15-2012 00:55:04 | More by Huhzubendah

rudzud

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up a few bottles of this at the Warren Store in Warren, VT. Poured into my Duvel tulip.

A - Pours an awesome crystal clear light gold with a nice almost two finger creamy white head that leaves lots of good, sticky side lacing.

S - Lightly hopped with some faint honey. Fair amount of biscuit and grains with this. I was expecting a bigger hop profile.

T - Taste is much better with more of those biscuity malts and grains along with some nice honey sweetness. Fair amount of floral hops on the pallet, with a touch of earthyness and a nice light bitter finish.

M - Mouthfeel is pretty nice for a blonde, super drinkable, crisp, nice light bitter finish.

O - Overall this is a fairly solid blonde from the boys at Lawson's Finest. That said, theres better blonde offerings out there in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 21:34:28 | More by rudzud

DefenCorps

Oregon

3.95/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thank you, Michael.

Light golden orange with a dense, white head with no real retention or lacing. The nose is enjoyable with a grainy, bready malt character upon with a citrusy and fruity hop aroma is layered. Clean and nice, this is quite refreshing. The palate opens lightly bready, a little watery and with a moderate hop flavor with citrus, honey and toast. Mildly bitter, this beer is bready and grainy on the finish, clean, a little grassy and moderately hoppy. Thoroughly enjoyable. The alcohol is well-hidden, but I think this batch was labeled 5.1 % or so.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 03:27:47 | More by DefenCorps

Kinsman

New Hampshire

3.95/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Blonde ale? More like a light IPA. Nice orangy blonde color with a beautiful creamy white head. Nice balance of hop notes with some grapefruit notes and a healthy dose of pine.

An aptly named beer with the hops packing quite the punch. Bitter and fruity with just enough malt to keep things in line. Pretty light mouthfeel but finishes nice and crisp.

Overall, a excellent easy drinking hop-forward beer. Nothing really blonde about it, just doesn't quite have the heft to make it a pale ale I guess.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2012 23:46:29 | More by Kinsman

grub

Ontario (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

MasterSki shared this one. thanks alex!

22oz bottle topped with gold foil. bottle #2 of 90. sampled july 1/2010.

pours hazy golden yellow with a big fluffy off-white head. the head drops slowly and leaves lots of chunky lace.

aroma is good. tons of hops. grapefruit and orange. bit of tangerine. earthy. bit floral. whole wheat bread. bit of biscuit. light alcohol. caramel and honey.

taste is nice. juicy citrusy hops. grapefruit. bit of orange and tangerine. biscuit and whole wheat bread. light alcohol. caramel and a bit of toffee.

mouthfeel is good. medium body. medium carbonation level.

drinkability is good. nice balance. big malt and hop profile. good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2010 22:49:16 | More by grub

bbenvenuti

New York

3.98/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

batch #164, bottle #39

Slightly darker than your typical blonde ale. The hop character does not jump out in the smell, but is definitely present when you take a drink. I typically expect (and love!) lots of hops in the Lawson's beer but this one is more mellow. Overall a nice take on a blonde ale, very refreshing beer with a nice balanced hop/malt profile to it. Would love to have a stock of these available during the summer months.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2010 22:21:06 | More by bbenvenuti

sholland119

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Pour is a hazy golden straw with a massive, rocky white head. Big lacing.

S-Bready malt, floral and citric hops, not overly done.

T-Very nice flavors, with a nice bready malt base and good crisp bitter hoppiness. Not what I expect from an American blonde, to which I say "thank God!".

M-Light to medium bodied, moderately dry.

O-A nice take on a blonde, aggressively hopped for the style to add interest, nice base beer underneath.

HV

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 02:21:25 | More by sholland119

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-hazy orange yellow color with a nice white head and good lacing

S-citrus, herbal notes, hints of pine

T-light caramel malt, citrus, pine, grassy herbal flavors, nice hoppy character

F-light to medium body with nice carbonation, crisp

O-an interesting blonde ale, easy drinking

Serving type: on-tap

09-15-2012 17:02:54 | More by MDDMD

scottg

Vermont

4.03/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a pint glass at American Flatbread in Burlington, VT.

Pours a hazy gold color with a one finger white head with good retention leaving patchy lacing. Aromas of lemon, biscuity malt and wheat. Light malty flavors with noble hop flavors with a lemony bite to it. High carbonation, light body there is a clean crisp mouthfeel with an extra dry finish.

Serving type: on-tap

11-20-2009 02:32:33 | More by scottg

puboflyons

New Hampshire

4.03/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From the 22 ounce bottle that was part of the 2012 batch. Sampled on June 2, 2012. The pour is a slightly cloudy straw-pale yellow with a fizzy, foamy white head that settles down eventually. The aroma is full of earthy, piney hops with a little zesty citrus, grainy malts, and some yeast. The body is in the medium range but kind of acidic. The taste begins grainy with a moderate to bold bitter hop note on the end. But with each taste the hop flavor warms and grows. An enjoyable beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 00:01:33 | More by puboflyons