Knockout Blonde - Lawson's Finest Liquids

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.35/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Bomber into a Duvel tulip. Big thanks to vonschplieffen for sharing.

A: Crystal clear pale amber body with a fairly thin, frothy white head. Mediocre retention, spotty lace. Ok.

S: Hop-forward but balanced, with really light, bready, butterscotch malt behind strong, primarily floral hops. A touch of citrus, too. Great.

T: Follows the nose, but with a bit more emphasis on the citrus, with some lovely lemony hoppiness ahead of the dry, biscuity malts and clean, mildly bitter finish. Crisp, tasty, refreshing.

M: Light, bubbly, light-carbonated. Ok.

O: Excellent beer, particularly for the rather weak style. It's far from the most exciting beer the brewery produces, but it's well worth trying.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2012 23:50:10 | More by woosterbill

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

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A-Pours a bright orange/gold color. Head is quite foamy. This is a great looking beer. Body looks illuminated. Light to medium lacing.

S-A very well hopped Blonde. I get some cracker and grain and even a bit of honey in the nose. Hop forward but where is great balance.

T-This beer packs quite a bit of hoppy bill of flavor. The hops are quite piney and moderately citrus-driven. The hops are predominantly pine. This is a bold Blonde Ale.

M-Oh, I could drink this for days. Lighter bodied and plenty of bubbles. Finishes quite dry and the flavors of grass and pine linger and linger.

O/D-I love extravagantly hopped interpretations of generally non-abrasive beer styles. This is a vixen in a bottle. She has her ass-kicker boots on too. Very tasty but very easy drinking. Memorable. Surprised to see this clock in at over 6% ABV; feels like a 5%er.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2012 22:46:41 | More by VelvetExtract

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

dashmartino

Pennsylvania

4.6/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Excellent representation of the style. Split one with my girlfriend With the first sip it is s weet, then the hops come on, with a smooth, non-lingering finish. Very enjoyable. Could drink a few of these quite easily! Best "blonde ale" I've ever had!

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 01:24:11 | More by dashmartino

drabmuh

Maryland

4.13/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

At the time of this review, this is #2 on the "Top Beers - American Blonde Ale" on beeradvocate.com. A long time want and a top 5 beer for the style, very excited about this. Overall I really enjoyed this beer. The ABV is a little on the high side but it is a great beer, mildly hoppy, nice finish.

Beer served in a snifter. Beer is amber and clear with a soft white head of small and medium bubbles, some lacing, moderate retention, nice carbonation.

Aroma is malty with hints of pine hops.

Beer is medium to light in body, wet finish, no after taste, a moderate bitterness on the back end, a very enjoyable beer. I'd definitely have it again.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2012 15:24:55 | More by drabmuh

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

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

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

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

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

So this appears to be Lawson’s version of an easy drinking blonde ale that will be easily accessible for a non beer geek crowd. I know my wife loves it and it’s clearly a quality brew.
Pillowy/fluffy bright white head is about a finger thick. Beer is a bright/clear brass color with a bubble or two escaping. Light sudsy lace.
Aroma is light, slightly sweet and mostly of lightly toasted grains.

Very balanced flavor and an enjoyable flavor. Bready and just beyond doughy in it’s flavor. Bitterness comes in at the end and it balances nicely with the initial sweetness and bread flavor. Mid palate there is sweet fruit that reminds me of light peach.

Light, refreshing and quaffable.

Nice representation of the style.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2012 22:56:00 | More by Reagan1984

Duhast500

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the tap into a pint glass.

The color is yellow/orange with two fingers of foamy white head and some nice lacing left on the glass

The smell is hoppy with some nice citrus aroma. There is a touch of apricots among the bitter spicy hops here in the nose.

The taste is malty with some honey mixed in that I was not quite expecting. The hops are fruity and have some touches of grapefruit and lemon. There is some bitterness here but nothing to striking just a small poke at the end with a nice juicy fruit flavor to wash off some of that hop flavor so it doesn’t come on too strong.

The feel is smooth and goes down easy. This has a good medium body and was just about right for the hot day I am drinking this on

Serving type: on-tap

06-15-2012 14:06:19 | More by Duhast500

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

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

JChristopher

Vermont

4.53/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

The Knockout Blonde is a nurturing ale. Living up to its vivacious name, it is a fine beer to look at in the glass and its scent is attractive and fetching. Imagine the light, airy, yeasty aroma of bread in a hearth coasting through the air on a summer's day. Take that bright, light malty tone and imagine the staccato notes of grapefruit and pine from a lingering hop presence. The taste is exactly like the scent. It is a perfect summer beer to me. The mouthfeel is spectacular. It leaves a pleasant thickness at the back of the mouth and finishes a bit dry with the hops. This is a spectacular ale and another wonderful accomplishment by Lawson's.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2012 04:45:42 | More by JChristopher

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

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.68/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

i found a blonde ale I liked! the style has always been my thorn in the side, but this i loved!

golden in color with a medium level of haze and cloudiness to it that obscured a bit of the sunlight poking through. Nice head of white capped the top and settled down smoothly and evenly,

Aroma was light, but nice and complex with light hops, Light notes of peach and light grain really come through right now. Warming brought a smidge of citrus to it, and really let the light fruit notes pop,. Crisp, clean flavor though with light hints of clove and heather that sat on top of a base that resembled mostly light fruits and hints of grain. Smooth, light body was not overly carbonated but rather a bit silky and left just the right amount of dryness on the tongue

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2011 18:03:14 | More by mikesgroove

Soonami

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Shufon for sending me this bottle of LFL Knockout Blonde.

It's hard to imagine that blondes and cream ales were created by the microbrew movement as an alternative to light and pale lagers. This beer is a huge departure from these beer in the taste department. Knockout is BMC pale with a nice sticky head. Crisp hops and slightly sweet malt decorate the nose. The beer is super bitter with a nice crisp mouthfeel and a dry finish. Very good, I wish this were easier to get here in Philly because this would be a great BBQ beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2011 03:29:16 | More by Soonami

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

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

gford217

Georgia

4.4/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Conor for this one.

Pours a hazy golden yellow with a short-lived white head that recedes to a soapy cap and leaves delicate lacing.

Aroma is pretty hopped up for a blonde with some light lemony citrus hops as well as bready malts. There are hints of juicy citrus like pineapple and grapefruit but they're muted.

The taste starts with the light lemon zest and floral hops. But they're extremely light with some bready malts underneath. The finish is clean and dry.

The mouthfeel is light bodied, crisp and highly carbonated, close to perfect for the style.

As a blond ale, this one is fantastic. To be fair, it's really hopped up for the style, but it still doesn't feel out of balance and I could drink this all night long. Possibly the best blond ale I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2011 03:31:25 | More by gford217

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

yourefragile

District of Columbia

4.1/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle, batch #184. Poured into a nonic.

Pours a clouded golden orange color, darker than expected for the style, with a small creamy head. Head quickly fades to a thin film and leaves behind thick rings of lacing.

Aroma is crisp and bready with a mild ripe fruit and grassy hop finish. Very green and fresh.

Medium thick body, sharply carbonated with a grainy and citric hop finish. Flavor has a strong biscuit and bready malt body with a smooth, though not particularly bitter, green hop taste. More of an APA than a Blonde, the hops though well balanced by the malt body are still potent and aggressive. A solid all around offering, but not quite as exciting as Double Sunshine is.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2011 01:04:34 | More by yourefragile

kingcrowing

Vermont

4.22/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz bomber poured into a weiß glass.

Pours a cloudy amber/orange color with a small but really nice and creamy white head that billows over the top of my glass. The nose is almost wheaty with some really nice earthy herbal grassy notes.

Taste is awesome, generally I find blonde ales to be pretty 'meh' but this is very well done, the C hops really give this something to work with, it's bitter and sweet while still being very easy drinking and smooth. The mouthfeel is spot on, a bit thick with light carbonation, theres a bitter finish that rounds it out well.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2011 20:31:20 | More by kingcrowing

Hopstamon

New Jersey

4.58/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Scored this beauty in a trade. Poured into one of my favorite imperial pint glasses... and it was game on.

Poured out in a wonderful golden color with a nice fluffy head. Crisp,fresh,light citrus hop character that search for.

A very refreshing beer with a nice balanced hop/malt profile to it... in fact I'd like to have another right now.

Will look to score it again when available.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2011 19:32:58 | More by Hopstamon