Papelblonde Ale
Lawson's Finest Liquids

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From:
Lawson's Finest Liquids
 
Vermont, United States
Style:
American Blonde Ale
ABV:
5.4%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.92 | pDev: 7.91%
Reviews:
10
Ratings:
14
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 03, 2013
Added:
Jul 26, 2008
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  0
Light in color, yet big in flavor, our blonde ale is part of a tribute to our favorite New England baseball team! It offers a bright clean flavor and crisp finish, but packs a hoppy twist.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.75 by VTBeerTrade from Vermont

Oct 03, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by InspectorBob from New Jersey

May 08, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by nathanjohnson from Vermont

Nov 18, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by ElGallo from New Hampshire

Nov 15, 2011
Photo of Bubba83
Reviewed by Bubba83 from California

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Kegatron sent it.

I poured it at 50 degrees into a tulip. It looks great. Kind of a dark yellow color with some chill haze and topped off by a good sized egg shell white frothy/creamy/fluffy looking head. Retention is great and lacing is really good too.

Smell-wise we also have quite a nice American Blonde. There's a nice up front breadiness, but plenty of fruit in there too. Apricot, pear, peach, that kind of thing, and then eventually citrus - orange blossoms, lemon rind, grapefruit pith, pine, and some good floral character to boot.

I was hoping for a little more out of the taste since the nose was so good. I think there's a lack of sweetness up front to counter balance the hops. Those fruity flavors aren't really coming through, nor is the breadiness. So the front end seems a little bland, and then a nice kick of hops props up and shows some biting citrus and pine. Still a very nice hoppy flavor here.

I like how it feels, it's got this really fluffy feel to it and is quite alive with carbonation. The carbonation doesn't get in the way of the feel though, because the bubbles are super tiny and have a kind of massaging effect. Finishes bone dry.

Drinks very easy, and has a bit of a refreshing nature to it. It's got a pretty abrasive finish with the pine and the dryness which holds it back a little in this department. Overall, a very nice beer that I think could be out of this world with a little bit better malt/yeast flavor balance.
Nov 11, 2010
Photo of dirkchivers
Reviewed by dirkchivers from California

4.1/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A half finger bright white head, good cascade of bubbles, straw yellow. a bit hazy.
S big citrusy cascade but not overwhelming, no malt aroma
T super tasty, clean and dry, citrus is the dominant flavor. overall pretty simple but refreshing.
M light body, clean and crisp, almost no aftertaste
D very! would definitely get it again.
Oct 19, 2010
Photo of Kegatron
Reviewed by Kegatron from Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
22 oz gold foil topped bomber into a tulip glass. Rare Batch # 155/Bottle #2.

Pours a hazy gold with 1 ½ fingers of foamy bright-white head. This retains with a rich ½ finger of froth, which throws a big creamy cascade of sticky lacing all over the sides of the glass. This actually clears up really nicely after the yeast has settled down, leaving a nearly clear looks to this. Good appearance here. The aroma fresh and bright smelling, with fruity notes of zesty lemon wedge and orange rind. There is a gentle spiciness present that works blends in effortlessly with the floral tones while lightly toasted bread sweetness in the back works work with the those citrus flavors. Well balanced nose on this.

The taste has a crisp bite of bitter citrus rind up front that stretches the whole way through, with even a little bit of grapefruit showing itself on the tail end. Some sweeter fruit character and the sugary breads of the malt keep this nice evened, before this finishes with lingering bitterness, spice, and a good bit of yeasty dryness. The mouthfeel has a lighter medium body on it, being crisp on the tip of the tongue but then gliding over the rest of the palate with a smooth creaminess. There is just enough heft to the feel to add some extra presence to the flavors but this still stay quite easy and drinkable over all.

This was nice. An American Blonde Ale with some well balanced hoppy attitude that stayed quite refreshing and approachable the whole way through the bottle. Lawson's just isn't all about the big and bold, as I've really been enjoying these well crafted and more sessionable lower ABV efforts as well.
Oct 08, 2010
Photo of ffejherb
Reviewed by ffejherb from Pennsylvania

3.41/5  rDev -13%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
22oz. bomber on 11/15/09, courtesy of Deuane.

A - Poured a slightly hazy, pale golden body with one-finger bubbly white head that retained quite well and yielded strands of lacing around the glass.

S - Aroma is subtle overall, combining citrusy hops with a slight soapy character and plenty of sweet malt.

T - Initial flavor is surprisingly hoppy for a blonde ale, albeit a bit undefined. Some citrus notes are apparent, as well as a mild perfumy character. Malt is sweet with hints of caramel.

M - Medium bodied with a light syrupy texture and moderate carbonation. Finishes with a mild lingering bitterness on the palate.

D - Decent blonde ale with a notable hop presence, but ultimately not too terribly memorable overall.
Nov 19, 2009
Photo of akorsak
Reviewed by akorsak from Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Thanks to Deuane for sharing this bottle. I didn't note the batch or bottle numbers, unfortunately.

A: The ale is a hazy golden color, weizen-like in its cloudiness. Not much of a head and what did bubble up disappeared without lacing.

S: The nose has a nice hoppy kick, with citrus and pine sharing the limelight. The malts seemingly support the hops only, very little contribution from that end.

T: The ale is deceiving. It looks like a run of the mill blonde ale but the hop kick is a dealmaker. The blnode malts, as you'd expect are rather demure. They allow the hops to do all of the talking. Those hops are spicy, lending citrus and pine flavors, along with a faint mintiness. The hops aren't IPA-strong, they are just present and upfront, dominating all aspects of the taste. The ale struck me as the Crack'd Wheat equivalent in the American Blonde Ale family.

M: The hops are divine, bitter and full but not too sharp. The bottle had a few months under its belt and still pumped out a strong flavor.

D: My first from Lawson's and I am fast becoming a fan.
Nov 16, 2009
Photo of mountdew1
Reviewed by mountdew1 from New Hampshire

4.2/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Bomber poured into an imperial pint glass. Color was a very slightly cloudy amber, with a thick froathy white head. Aroma was hoppy, with a small hint of mint. Taste was predominantly bitter hops, had some small fruity lemony undertones. Felt great in the mouth. Coated just right, nicely carbonated in the mouth. Very, very, easy to drink. Seemed a bit higher ABV than really was, but a very pleasant drink.

Batch:70 Bottle:72
Sep 25, 2009
Photo of kingcrowing
Reviewed by kingcrowing from Vermont

4.47/5  rDev +14%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
22oz Bomber poured into a stein.

A nice cloudy blonde color with a big fat fluffy head. Smell is amazing! nice and sweet and very hoppy. Citrus and pine notes. Very appealing and aromatic.

Taste is slightly dry and a little earthy. Sharp on the carbonation with a a flavor that lingers. A very good blonde. Overall and awesome session beer.

Keep 'um coming Sean!
Jul 23, 2009
Photo of ClockworkOrange
Reviewed by ClockworkOrange from Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to brothercannon for bringing this rare treat back from VT. A 22 ounce gold foil topped bomber bottle. Batch # 50, Bottle # 51. Tim tells me he picked this up at the Warren General Store for around $7ish. Poured into my Ithaca shaker glass. The ale appears a hazed bright greenish yellow with an inch of pillowy bone white foam. The foam ebbs down to a half inch thick layer, leaving behind some lace on my glass. Smells and tastes of mild pine, citrus, mainly bitter lemon, light bread notes, grassy and biscuity with a touch of malt. Yeah, it's wicked crisp, with a medium body and just about the right amount of carbonation. Pretty damn drinkable as well. I'm looking forward to trying more from this very low volume brewery. Thanks again Tim!
Jun 23, 2009
Photo of SaintPeter
Reviewed by SaintPeter from Colorado

3.16/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
22 oz. bottle, The ABV is 5%, as the dot matrix printed label informed. Rare Batch 43, Bottle 17, signed by Sean (he must be the brewer!)

After a hard pour, a huge fluffy white three finger head emerges, dies slowly leaving intricate lacing. The color is deep amber yellow.

The piney hops are intense and aggressive, up your nose and in your face! I picked up a strong lemon scent that was amazing identical to Lemon scented Pledge. Not sure how I feel about that. It reminds me of an artificial scent, but it does quite well in the beer. Could be construed as lemon balm.

The taste is strong in pine hop and bitter. Like drinking pine sap. It is different than any other beer I have tried. Pretty nice. Almost too piney, however, with an overwhelming bitter aftertaste. The mouthfeel is medium bodied.

It is a difficult beer to drink with all the finishing harshness. The hop burn is like a fire in the back of your throat.

Not sure I would call this a blond ale, I would call it a double IPA with the amount of hoppiness that is in it. This reminds me of a homebrew, a good one, but still some kinks that need to be worked out. Unbalanced and out of control. It is definitely unique, though, that can be said about it.
Apr 26, 2009
Photo of plaid75
Reviewed by plaid75 from New York

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured a medium straw hue with a half finger foamy white head. There was good retention and lacing.

The smell featured a grainy malt and an aggressive citrusy hop - cascade and centennial.

The taste consisted of a light husky malt with what seems to be this brewery's signature cascade and centennial citrus. Good doughy finish.

The mouthfeel was of average fullness for the style.

Overall a very good and easy to drink blonde ale. To be clear, I cannot stand the Red Sux, but really like this beer.
Jul 26, 2008
Papelblonde Ale from Lawson's Finest Liquids
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 14 ratings