Nick Carr on September 29, 2014 12 Comments Quick Characteristics Brewery: City Brewing Co. (in collaboration with Guinness) Location: Latrobe, PA Style: American Lager ABV: 5.0% IBU: ? Appearance: Light Gold with White Rocky Head Aroma: Mixture of Floral, Light Citrus & Pale Malt Flavor: Fresh Grain, Subtle Hops, Butter-Smooth Character with Hints of Green Apple Availability: Year Round Pairs With: Salads, Grilled Chicken, Salmon, Butterkase Cheese, Apple Cobbler I know what you’re thinking: Guinness going Blonde, what the heck’s going on? Next we’ll see snakes sprouting legs, pigs flying and Budweiser releasing a stout (Bud Black, maybe). It is interesting to note that this is not their first foray into lighter beer. Light beers in the brewery’s past include a couple pilsners and Guinness Brite lager. On a side note it’s interesting how many beers Guinness has made that never made it to America. In 1988 they brewed and launched Guinness Gold, a first attempt to corner a bit more of the American market. This beer was a little before my time (to drink at least), but it only stayed on shelves for about five years before Guinness decided it undermined the brand’s equity as “a rich, black beer.” So what has changed in the intervening years… craft beer sales. In 2013 craft beer sales rocketed up a whopping 17.2 percent (Go craft beer!!) and overall beer sales actually dropped just a hair (1.9%). Combine these numbers with the fact that Guinness sales in America have dropped around 8% in the last two years and a picture, to fill in that “why,” starts to form. The king of murk, behemoth of Irish pride, and artesian of the abyss may be nervous about their sales. This Guinness addition is brewed in Pennsylvania’s Latrobe Brewing Company. It uses the true Guinness yeast, the first time their 125 year old yeast culture has left the Irish homeland. It is also the pilot brew of a new “discovery series.” Guinness’s own answer to experimental brewing. The Pour and Aroma It pours a light gold color, something like the hue of weak ice tea. A white rocky head rises a half inch, but takes only a couple minutes to drop away. It is very clear with no residue to mare its depths. The aroma is a mixture of floral, light citrus, and pale malt. A grainy character pervades with dainty butter notes, and small amounts of toast underneath. The Mosaic and Willamette hops, combine with the yeast to create an almost hidden dance of citrus fruit and sometimes flowery undertones. Mouthfeel and Taste The beer’s shining point is mouthfeel. Leave it to a 125 year old yeast strain to perk the senses. It is creamy, chewy, with a satiating fullness and medium carbonation. Flavor stays true to the aroma. Pale malts show as a “fresh grain” quality, with a bit of diacetyl contributing a buttery-smooth character. Hops are subtle but present, bittering only slightly through mid-palate, but standing a little higher on the swallow. The grainy butter character lingers through the aftertaste where it is joined by hints of green apple. Finishing The Impression If I am completely honest I’d have to say I went into this review sure I wouldn’t like this beer. Don’t get me wrong I love Guinness. Of all the megalithic mass-market brewing companies this is the one I have a soft spot for. I’ve drank Guinness stout in a Dublin pub. I make myself a Blacksmith almost every Saint Patties day (combination of a Guinness stout and Smithwick Ale). For me it’s hard to see them shifting, especially into something as un-Guinness as an American light lager. That being said this is a beer I’d drink and enjoy, especially on a hot summer day after digging post holes or roofing a house. It’s a flavorful well-made rendition of the style and puts some of the other examples out there to shame. The creamy smooth mouthfeel is something worth lingering over, and the taste has pleasing qualities. For me, it takes a certain mood (or a lot of sweat) to truly appreciate the potential of such a beer as this. If you love your lagers, put this one on your list of those worth a try. If, you’re like me and have a hard time seeing past the monstrosity that is “Big Beer,” and the connotations that usually come with the “American Lager” style, suspend your judgment… you know, just for a sip. Cheers!
Gerald E. Cox says October 19, 2014 at 3:56 pm Just tried my 1st 6-pk of the new “Blonde” It’s a home run, a game winning basket, a “Gooaaallllll!!!! Super job–thanks!!! Reply
Jay says January 13, 2015 at 11:31 pm I’m sorry, but there’s just something rotten in that short finish I can’t stand. Burnt rubber comes to mind. I agree the mouthfeel is good though. I really wanted to like this brew as I love Guinness and absolutely adore the pull tap ales I’ve had in the UK. Just about anything made by at Bury St Edmunds is lovely. I got a sixer of the Blonde and had 5, mixed with a salty and sweet tainted palette. This brew works better with salt on the tongue, but no amount of salt moves this into the enjoyable range. Maybe I’ll try it again in the Texas heat, but I don’t hold out much hope for it. Reply
warren says February 27, 2015 at 8:01 pm Can you tell me what tap guinness blonde takes and is it only co2 not co2 nitrogen Reply
Rock Hill Farm Lubec Maine says March 20, 2015 at 12:23 pm I Think it’s fairly good, i’m having my first one as a matter of fact and mine has a slight after taste that i think wouldn’t be there if they used a few Cascade hops instead of all Willimette variety. Reply
Leroy Johnson says June 16, 2016 at 4:08 pm Bought a 12-pack. After drinking one, I thought the cap must’ve leaked air so I opened another – same awful taste. Did NOT taste hops of ANY kind, including their trademarked Mosaic (yeah, right) hops. Returned 10 beers to place of purchase for a full refund. Reply
Tim says September 24, 2018 at 10:09 am I think the author quite rightly as to your experience, certainly described this as a citrusy lager and not having much in the way of any Stronger hoppy taste as we expect in the IPAs and some pilsners. I tuned in to this review to find out what I’d be getting if I offered on an apparent BARGAIN priced $10 twelve pack. I’ll stick to the author’s suggestion where I often take some of the daughter’s Guiness leftovers and make the Black and Tan using the Corona Ultra light. I do like the Smithwicks as it is one of the few Irish beers you can buy these days actually imported from Ireland not New Brunswick CAD or Latrobe PA. The HARP is now available in most US locations in the 33cl bottles that are also actual Irish imports. Bass ale now proudly displaying on their front label “Brewed in Merrimack NH”. Beer is becoming like a box of chocolates. Sometimes you have to go to the bottom panel of a 12 pack to find out where the beer is actually brewed. Reply
Mr. alan schneider says February 20, 2017 at 3:43 pm the first time i tried this, i was really looking forward to the lawnmower/guinness combo. sorry. i was just so disappointed. not that it was BAD; it just wasn’t good enough. disappointing. back to HARP. Reply
June w says July 16, 2017 at 12:31 pm Irish hate our beers , pisswater is the term they use and this is only 5% abv. Nah I’ll skip it. Reply
Peter Pan says September 15, 2017 at 12:44 pm So, So, lager, nothing special, Guiness should not associate itself with the place, where beer was brewed. Not recommended- Sorry. Reply
Aequitas says December 8, 2018 at 3:39 pm I believe this is a very good drinkable beer by Guiness. Sorry beer snobs…. Reply
da big kahuna says October 21, 2019 at 4:24 pm Wife got two for one six packs today, so I’m trying one out. Good head each pour, nice bite and light to the taste. Not overly flavorful, but would work several miles out to sea when I’m trolling for Kings. Overall, just slightly above average, and would opt for traditional Guinness over this. Reply
MikeA says October 31, 2020 at 10:13 am I loved this beer when it was first released. In fact, it became my all time favorite lager. Then came the label change. I figured they changed the label only, as they often do with the draught. Not so. With the label change came a brew change. Instead of tasting the usual sweet, crisp and mild with a slight bitter bite I found the newly labelled beer to be highly citrusy and skunky. You had a winner Guinness. What the heck made you change it? Reply
