Breakout Blonde
Willow Rock Brewing Company

4-pack of pint cans. Looks a little like a Hefe or a Wit: hazy yellow with a big head. Smells like a mass lager. The body is solid, and the taste is more from the malt than the hops. You can tell this isn't all adjuncts and 4-row. There's an attractive grainy flavor to it. Possibly this comes at the expense of crispness and refreshment. It's not "less filling." I like it, but not at the microbrewery price point.

neat that these guys are canning, a hockey theme to the packaging on this one, thanks to my dad for sending it. i thought i had reviewed some beers from when we visited there when they first opened, but apparently not, which i guess makes this my first from them to be reviewed. its a simple blonde, unremarkable from either a recipe or execution standpoint, but if its taste small batch yellow beer you seek on the ale side, this should more or less satisfy, refreshing with pizza that i put way too much chili flake on, palate cleansing through grease and dough and spice, good in that context. very pale blonde in color, soft and gentle looking, short white head, lots of fizz, not quite clear but not hazy or sloppy looking either. it smells noble hoppy but slightly faded, and it sort of seems built like a pils but just without lagering, simple in the right kind of way for the style, in the way that doesnt make the beer overly minimal, even though this still tends slightly generic to my palate. light hop spiciness up front, moderate bitterness for the styler later on, a little bit of grain body it but still very dry, and with an earthy cereal taste in the middle, close to clean on the ferment. this is drinkable without being too dumbed down, and it maybe just a tad amateurish to me overall, but still enjoyable, especially in the pizza context. looks like they do a few radlers with it too, i could see that really working. need to get my lips on some more from these guys. thanks dad!

 

Smells like an adjunct. Drinks like a hefe. Cool crisp beach beer