Guinness Blonde American Lager

Dedicated as it may be to pretend my central florida vacation was timed to coincide with the launch of this craft beer. It was purely a coincidence. After a few days that being fed the tv commercials advertising this discovery series brew, I found myself in a liquor store last October, picking up a 6 pack

After a night of chilling out in the refrigerator, I poured a light golden coloured hoppy glass of Guinness Blonde and settled by the pool. The initial taste was shock... This is not the famous black stuff and couldn't be further from it. Of course it doesn't hold itself out to be, the problem sits with me and quite possibly with you. Guinness is a unique and acquired taste, not to everyone's liking. So to be faced with Arthur's name and harp logo while tasting something so far removed from what is expected proves to be a bit of a mind bender at first. 

The Lager itself is light and inoffensive. We could go into great detail on hops, yeast and palatable undertones. But this site isn't like that.. Let's set a more realistic yardstick with which to judge

Could I drink this all day and enjoy it?       Yes I probably could, it's alcohol after all

Would I spend my own money on this stuff?      Maybe if the only alternative was Heineken 

This product is designed to be solely for the American market, they stuck American in the name just to be clear. Aimed at the increasing craft beer market, it would certainly take a slight change of name to launch in Europe

With yeast imported from the Guinness Brewery in Dublin a lot of time and effort has gone into this brew.. Coming 25 years after Guinness gold was launched in the same market, Blonde American Lager has a lot riding on it in the expanding craft beer market. 

As an Irish man I can't help but feel we should keep the yeast at home for the black stuff., and while it's not something I would order in a bar,  kudos to Guinness for trying something new. Unfortunately I can't get my head around a bottle with the guiness label tasting differently than the famous stout that we cherish on this island. Aside from that there are better products on the market 

Review time 

*** it's five o'clock somewhere  

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