Hometown Blonde - New Glarus Brewing Company

tapman

Illinois

3.8/5  rDev -5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appears to be very standard and, well, blonde. Thin, quickly receding head over a light, golden body. Pretty average so the score is thus a 3.

Malts smell of a thin bscuit, typical pilsner maltyness. Hops are noticeable enough to give it that 'beer' smell.

Here is where the beer shines and proves its craft reputation. Tastes like Pilsner-style malts and hops blah blah blah, but it all just tastes better. I drank MGDs for a while and its as if this beer is 50 of them condensed inot one beer. The malts are fuller and richer, the hops less stringent and sweeter.

Feels like 50 MGDs, also. Texture is fuller and the carbonation is much less biting than other pilsners.

Very drinkable. It's not my prefered style of beer, but if this was the only craft brew in the joint then you won't find me complaining. Its nice to have a beer that does its style well, een if its not your favorite.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2007 00:10:57 | More by tapman

GeezLynn

Minnesota

4/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Bright straw color with great clarity. Head is on the small side with good retention.
S: Nice fresh aroma, a bit of malty sweetness and a grassy, floral (almost tangy?) hop character.
T: Initial impression is an assortment of different hop flavors. Floral, grassy, and citrus flavors all part of the lot. Plenty here to dissect. Malt is a pretty simple pilsner base with a touch of sweetness. Finish is crisp, and slightly dry with a soft bitterness.
M: Body is medium with moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel as a whole is on the softer end of the spectrum relative to widely available commercial examples of this style. I tend to prefer a bit more prickliness.

This is a great fall beer for me and a reminder of how much the style has to offer when it’s done right.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 06:30:16 | More by GeezLynn

Pauly2X

Wisconsin

4.47/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Deep, slighty hazy, yellow. One finger head faded to a wisp.

S- Complex spicy/crisp hop aroma.

T- Very malty with great hop flavor and nice hop nibble in the finish.

M- Smooth great carbonation, can't complain.

D- Would make a great session beer while retaining complexity.

I really enjoy this beer as its so hard to find a good light (as in color) beer. This one is spot on, nice work New Glarus!

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2008 04:00:07 | More by Pauly2X

steveh

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

First review of the new re-release -- 4 years since this has last been reviewed!

12 ounce brown bottle, no dating to find, $8 a sixpack.

A -- Clear, bright golden with a sudsy, long-lasting, off-white head.

S -- Mellow crackery malt and spicy hops. DMS in that refreshing mode you can get from a fresh beer.

T -- Good breadiness up front, spicy hops in the middle, and a crackery finish. Spicy bitterness in the aftertaste with a mild touch of citrus.

B -- Body is light to light-medium with a crisp to lightly dry mouthfeel.

O -- A wonderful drinker for those looking for a US-brewed, German-style beer. A great take on the style, glad it was brought back.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2012 21:10:01 | More by steveh

RoamingGnome

Wisconsin

4.15/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle poured into pilsner glass. Served chilled...

A) Nice clean/clear golden straw colored brew. A good two finger head, with nice retention and a fair amount of lacing.

S) Light malt, grain, corn, light spice and a little herbal aroma. There is also a nice grassy hop scent.

T) The four hop varieties really work well here with the malt. A very nice balance. This has a really nice grassy bitterness, and just a light sweetness. More of fruit sweetness than sugar. Nice clean aftertaste too.

M) Light and crisp refreshment await your palate. Perfectly carbonated. This is smooth easy drinking. Slightly dry finish, but as mentioned above, no negatives on the aftertaste.

O) Thanks for bringing this one back NG. A top notch pilsner for sure. If you have access to this brew, you should definitely try it. The more I drink this, the more impressed I have become. Glad to recommend....

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 18:34:23 | More by RoamingGnome

trevorwideman

Manitoba (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle traded to me by demcorhip. Thanks man! Poured into a pilsner glass.

Pours an unfiltered deep straw colour with a hint of orange. Big 1 1/2 inch of fluffy head off a pretty vigorous pour. head retention is great, carbonation is mild in the glass, and there's some nice, sticky lacing. Aroma is earthy, nutty, and lightly spicy and floral. Typical pils aroma, but very nice.

Taste is lightly spicy off the top with a peppery note, then some more floral sweetness, then some nutty malt and a lemon sourness. There's a surprisingly hoppy bitterness here, and it's welcoming and flavorful. This is a very tasty pilsner, and very dry, it keeps you wanting more. Carbonation is just zippy enough, and the body is medium-light. Great all around flavourful pilsner.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2008 19:51:36 | More by trevorwideman

uwmgdman

Wisconsin

4.35/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a snifter, this Pils pours brilliantly clear deep golden/light copper color with a moderate bright white head that lasts nicely and leaves beautiful lacing. The aroma is a burst of spicy, floral hops and bready malt, a perfect marriage of malt and hops...a very welcoming nose. The flavor is sweet, bready malt and spicy hop flavor. The bitterness is moderate and helps to dry the finish slightly, perfectly balancing the sweetness from the malt. A long lasting subtle malt/hop tango lasts on the sides and back of the tongue. The body is medium and carbonation appropriately medium/medium-high. Overall a very well made beer; it shines from the initial pouring to after the last swallow is gone.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2012 02:25:11 | More by uwmgdman

jeffmonarch

Maryland

3.9/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle in a pilsner glass.

A - Slightly cloudy golden yellow with a little white head.

S - Very little sweet hoppy smell.

T - A little sweet with good hop flavor. The rest of the flavor is very complex. There's a lot going on but I can't make out the individual flavors.

M - Light bodied with good carbonation.

D - Good beer with a complex flavor that keeps you drinking and wondering what is that taste, in a good way.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2008 07:02:17 | More by jeffmonarch

scaliasux

Wisconsin

4.73/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Appearance - Medium yellow. A little hazy. Short white persistent head.

Smell - Light pale malt. A little bread. Light grassy hops.

Taste - Initially bready. Not overly sweet. Nice complex dose of hops. Mostly citrusy - orange and lemon, but some unobtrusive grassiness there too. Excellent balance. Crisp.

Mouthfeel - Medium.

Overall - This is a damn fine beer and mad drinkable to boot.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 04:44:38 | More by scaliasux

bound4er

Wisconsin

4.43/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A. Dark straw to light amber appearance with a nice, two finger white head.

S. Freshly milled grain, biscuit, grass, hint of lemon - textbook.

T. Classic graininess and biscuit flavors initially followed by a building hop presence of flowers and grass. Lingers nicely without turning bitter.

M. Light to medium bodied with no rough edges. Perfectly carbonated.

O. This is a top-notch Pilsener that is so damn drinkable - maybe the best I have had from an American producer. Not a style I go out of my way to purchase but this will be in my fridge until the snow flies.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2012 01:29:49 | More by bound4er

SMark

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer was poured into a pint glass from a 12 ounce brown bottle at 42º which resulted in 1½ fingers of puffy, white foam. I had to slow down the vigorous pour to get it all in the glass. Lacing was evident with this pale golden blonde colored beverage as was a considerable amount of carbonation. No date information was present on the bottle.

Hops and a honey like sweetness were first sensed. Malt aromas were evidenced later in the floral bouquet.

There was a crisp cleanness with the very first sip. Good hop flavor balanced with the malt results in a flavorful and somewhat forward pilsner.

Nice structure and a palate pleasing pilsner. I like the clean refreshing taste which lasts into the next sip.

This was a good pilsner and could be consumed in quantity. It would be a real good beverage to sit down with on warmer days when you could probably pick up different nuances. This one is also enjoyable through the colder days as it could remind you of the warmer days although it could be après ski also. What the heck, I guess you could drink this all year and be happy.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2007 22:28:58 | More by SMark

Jparker37

Wisconsin

3.4/5  rDev -15%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a pilsner glass.

A - Medium sized white cap of tight head. Light golden in color with good clarity. Good lacing on the glass.

S - I'm finding a little bit of noble hops but this beer seems to be slightly light struck. There are some husky grain smells also.

T - Very quick and light malt to a good grassy hop flavor mid palate. I get some of that skunkiness mixing it up with the hops throughout. Crisp feel to its finish with a grassy hop that lingers for a while.

M - Nice carbonation to the beer helping accentuate the hop flavors. Light body, very dry.

O - Great appearance. I'm disappointed in the condition of the beer although it wasn't completely ruined. Flavor wise the green bottle character somewhat mimicked, to an extent, the hops.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 01:56:23 | More by Jparker37

abents

Wisconsin

4.3/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Pours a crystal clear yellow with big white head that's fairly thin, but laces well. Smells very bready some fruity notes and fruits. Tastes very good, yum. Bery bready, malty characteristics, but with an interesting sweetness to it. Some fruits noted in the taste as well, with great hoppy smoothness. This brew has medium ammount of carbonation and it feels great going down. An easier drinking beer with a huge ammount of taste, this is a pretty good brew. Great beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2004 01:49:30 | More by abents

TheSSG

Illinois

4.7/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a Big, soft, white head with surprising resiny persistence and lacing. Grassy hop aroma dominates, with notes of floral citrus, and a nice biscuit backbone. Staw-gold color. Flavor starts off with a soft hop grapefruit bitterness and builds into a medium bitterness which is clean and dry. Then, the malt takes the reigns and drives in a few miles of smooth malt biscuit, with the hops still riding shotgun along the route.

This bier seriously reversed my viewpoint of Pilsners. I had always accepted them for what they were, but I'd never truly loved one.
I love this. I buy this on purpose. I pass up buying hop bombs, IPAs, Pale Ales, and all sorts of elaborate brews to take this home. And, it still never disappoints.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 04:47:17 | More by TheSSG

ChiSox05

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Quickly frothed up and then dissipated mostly to leave a layer of foam and some nice lacing. Very little rising carbonation, only come to life after a sip. Deep yellow, quite clear.

Smell is fresh, floral, hoppy, slight grain, bit of lemon rind hanging in, some sweet malt as it warmed.

Hops are noticeable, bitter, slightly green tasting. Finish is where malt shows up and pulls it together, so this beer has character without going in one single direction. Hops are bitter, bright, floral, slightly metallic.

This beer is so smooth, easy to sip that it goes down fast without being boring. Carbonation is there, as the beer is drank carbonation opens up on the palate and its foaminess complements the medium-light body. Aftertaste left some dryness.

Great drinkability. Medium-light body, tasty, enough hop character to make it interesting, smoother on the finish. Need to find this on tap somewhere.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2007 03:08:42 | More by ChiSox05

wiscokid920

Wisconsin

4.29/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

12oz bottle poured into Snifter

A- Hazy golden orange with lots of fizzy bubbles. Nice 2 finger sticky white head

S- First waft picked up Pale malts and wheat, bready notes. Also featured coriander, honey, yeasty, and wet grass hoppy notes

T- Great combination of wheat, and biscuity flavors combined with malty bready sweetness, pepper, citrus, and honey which fades into grassy hoppy finish.

M- Medium bodied, peppery zest, crisp, and highly carbonated. Smooth with a dry finish.

O- I am not much of a Pilsner connoisseur but I would have to say that this take is the most balanced, and delicious take on the style I have had to date. Extremely well balanced. A delicious bready pilsner featuring sweet malt flavors and an excellent hop backbone.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 03:06:22 | More by wiscokid920

logansboat15

Wisconsin

3.78/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

An American take on a German Pilsner, New Glarus Brewing's Home Town Blonde is a big step up from the standard Joe-six-pack pilsner. Pours a golden amber with a light foam head and no lace. Smells lightly hoppy with a hint of fresh figs. Nice sweet taste that finishes to a slight hop bitterness. Very well balanced and moreish. Substantial mouthfeel and highly drinkable. Great as a marinade with steak, bratwurst.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2007 09:20:50 | More by logansboat15

mecummins

Illinois

4/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- it poured a lightly hazy golden yellow with a two finger fluffy head. Wonderful sticky lacing

S- I could smell pale malts, bready yeasts and some mildly bitter hops. A little honey sweetness was there as well.

T- I could taste the bread and wheat notes right away. Some sweetness from the malts and a bit of honey. There was a bit if citrus there as well. The hops came in towards the back. Well balanced and really enjoyable

M- crisp & dry with a good amount of carbonation. Moderate mouthfeel with a medium finish.

O- I'm not really big on pilsners, but I could drink this all day. Really well balanced and just plain enjoyable

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 20:04:24 | More by mecummins

DubbelTrubbel

Iowa

3.88/5  rDev -3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle into New Glarus Signature Pilsner

A- Golden-yellow, two and a half finger white head.

S- Light hops, slightly funky malt aroma

T- Moderate hop bitterness, very pleasant carbonation, delicious fresh malty flavor.

M- moderately thick

O- excellent, well bittered pilsner, but still with a "backbone" of malt, as the bottle says. A great, relaxed drinker from New Glarus.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 00:26:52 | More by DubbelTrubbel

FakeDeniro

4.55/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A: Golden yellow beer and about 2 fingers of white head with some lacing
S: Bready malt with some spice in the aroma
T: malty and bready with a spicy after taste. a light german hop finish
M: Light to medium bodied goes down nice
O: great beer this is what a Pilsener should be! I could drink this all day long

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 13:37:49 | More by FakeDeniro

felsenpils

2.3/5  rDev -42.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Overall, I like this beer. It is a very solid example of American micro pilsener. The bottle says "German-style brew", but there is nothing in Germany even close to this. The ample addition of caramel malts is the first problem, the use of dry hopping the second. The cloying mouthfeel and the aromatic hop oil aftertaste scream American micro. If you like Samuel Adam´s Noble PIls or Victory`s Prima Pils, you will like this one. If you like Bitburger and Warsteiner, you will not.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 02:00:24 | More by felsenpils