Peninsula Brewer's Reserve
Kenai River Brewing Co.

really lackluster blonde ale here, and to brand it as pbr is a little bit of a weird choice, but i guess its good to get into some alaska beers when in rome right? this is a little richer in color than it needs to be, doesnt hold much head or sustain much carbonation, and it didnt seem particularly fresh to me either. smells a little strange on the ferment, an american blonde should be minimal, this is bready and almost english, not stressed or phenolic or gross, just out of place in the style. there are lightly herbal hops on the back end which give this some slight intrigue, but it seems heavy for what it is, the proportions are weird, and the toasted grain character is a little much. the flavor follows, more yeast than i want to taste in this, more malt too, but at least its not too sweet. it seems not real well designed or executed, and some recipe tweaks and even process refinements are in order, this was a one and done for me in a style that should have made it a ripper, especially with fresh seafood. i liked their rice lager that i had in close proximity much better, this left quite a bit to be desired.

 

 

 

Reviewed from notes. The appearance has a hazy golden yellow colored body with a slim half finger white foamy head that must die within thirty seconds. Some carbonation is seen rising through the hazy at a steady pace with its lacing that tries to cling but slides after a good minute. The smell has some sweet maltiness, a little bit of corn adjuncts and just a tad of fruitiness, light spice. The taste seems that the flavoring is a bit different as the previously mentioned flavors that are there, as the spice is right there in the flavoring (spicy malt, interesting?), but there is no aftertaste or finish. The palate is light, and fairly sessionable. Carbonation seems pretty smooth for the style and for me, good feel for an American Blond Ale. Overall, with the corn adjuncts coming through in the smell, this is a borderline AAL/Light Lager or something to the effect, yet the spice that comes through helps it keep its edge.

 

 

When poured this beer his a bright white head to it. Very small head. Aroma is malty with little to no hop aroma. Appearance is cloudy seems to be a bit of a chill haze.( I am use to Blonde ales being crystal clear). Very similar to a bud light or coors light. Not really impressed.

 

There was nothing that separated this from the cheap beer that it emulates. It wasn't terrible. It just wasn't worth paying craft beer prices for it.

A very good blonde. Really nothing special about it but compared to most and to mainstream brew this is above average. Pours a cloudy gold with white head. Smells of wheat or slight grass. Same comes through in taste but finishes clean. This is a great "go to" brew.

 

 

I had this in a pint glass.
The appearance was a semi - hazy yellow color with streams of carbonation seen rising to feed a one finger white foamy head that dissipated within about a minute leaving some light stringy lacing here and there.
The smell had a light sweet corn.
The taste was mainly just the sweet corn.
The mouthfeel was soft and light all around.
Overall, average blonde ale but fairly decent to have on a hot summer day.

 

 

 

Poured into a New Belgium tulip glass:

A - Little less then a finger of head with a hard pour that then fades. Light coating on top of the liquid. Some steady carbonation rising from the center. Light orange in color. Noticed this is a bit unfiltered with some suspended specks floating in the beer.

S - Slightly fruity in nature.

T - Mild taste with almost no hop bitterness. A touch of citrus. Finishes dry with no aftertaste.

M - Light feel with almost no noticeable carbonation in my mouth. Very smooth.

O - If handed a pint without know what it was and just tasted it, it would taste similar to some mainstream lagers at first. But where they would leave a aftertaste, this finishes clean. It's mild sweetness comes off more citrus then corn. Not a style I look for but it would have been a good beer to have on a warm day on a patio.