Hometown Blonde - New Glarus Brewing Company

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle courtesy from Monger: Poured a bright gold yellow color beer with a nice big pure white foamy head with good retention and good lacing. Aroma of floral malt with some dry crisp hops is quite enjoyable. Taste is also dominated by some floral malt with some light sweet notes and a medium dry crisp finish which is quite enjoyable. Body is full for the style with some good carbonation. Another very good beer from a great brewer from a style that produce too much crap IMO.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2007 18:54:00 | More by Phyl21ca

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

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

This beer poured out as a clear looking yellow color with a foamy white head on top. The head retention was pretty strong on this from start to finish. The lacing wasn't much to look at other than a few scattered clumps on the glass. The smell of the beer was of fresh grains and yeast. The taste of the beer is very mild, it's slightly grassy but mostly grainy with a subtle hop spark in the finish. The mouthfeel of the beer was clean, light bodied, moderately refreshing and dry in the finish. Overall this beer was pretty good for what it is. It's not something I am all that into but it's a good beer that fits the style I think. Definitely worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 03:58:15 | More by Knapp85

emerge077

Illinois

4.6/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Golden color with a high level of clarity. Steady streams of upward carbonation. Irregular peaks of zig-zag lacing coat the glass.

Very delicate grassy aroma, floral hops, and apples. Reminds me of a picnic outdoors with nature all around.

Apples and grassy, herbal hops and seem to take charge of the taste profile. Spritzy carbonation keeps things lively. A light pale malt breadiness balances things out, with a residual raw honey malty aftertaste that becomes dry.

Quite a light-feeling Pils, but still flavorful and balanced. There was no question about having another one. The epitome of a hot weather session Pilsner.

Trying to convert your macro-fixated friends? Hand them this beauty.
Wish I had a case of this...

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2007 23:12:27 | More by emerge077

tempest

Pennsylvania

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

Picked up a single at Casanova in Hudson, WI. It's dry, crisp, and hoppy, what a nice example of a German pilsner. The aroma is a little hoppier than a beer straight from the motherland, but that's by no means a bad thing. The hops are herbal and grassy upfront with mild kicks of lemon and grapefruit. The malt jumps out from behind the hops, with mix of doughy and toasty bread notes. A delicious beer, it reminds me of a more traditional (and more drinkable) version of Victory's Prima Pils. The finish is biting and a little rough, like you'd expect from a healthy helping of Euro hops. I'd have another.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 00:31:58 | More by tempest

Jason

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz brown bottle with no freshness date

LOOK: Bright deep golden hue, lovely lacing

SMELL: Fresh grass, grainy, faint grape skin, fine herbal hop, floral, bready

TASTE: Very smooth, crisp pop, moderate sized body, malty, grainy, grassy, bready, herbal, lemony hop, slightly bitter, clean, spicy, nutty, dry finish

Spot on, I would not expect anything less from New Glarus though even with that said ... they really nailed it here. Close to perfection for the style. Puts many of the imported counterparts to shame.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 02:34:34 | More by Jason

mdfb79

New York

3.58/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bought this last weekend at the brewery. 12 oz. bottle poured into my 2012 New York Giants Super Bowl Champions pint glass.

a - Pours a somewhat transparent straw yellow color with one finger of fluffy white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of grains, wheat, bready malts, biscuit, dough, light earthy notes, apples, and some light sweet corn. Not bad but not a ton going on.

t - Taste follows the nose pretty closely. Tastes of grains, bready malts, toasted malts, wheat, dough, biscuit, apples, light fruity malts, earthy notes, floral hops, and sweet corn. Again, nice but nothing too special.

m - Pretty light body and moderate carbonation. Very easy to drink beer.

o - Overall a slightly above average pilsner. Not bad at all, but not a ton going on to be honest; kind of surprised by the high score. Easy drinking and better than most light beers, but otherwise nothing special. Probably my least favorite NG beer to date.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 03:24:58 | More by mdfb79

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.38/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle obtained via trade with kmpitz2. Thanks for the opportunity.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1/4" white head over the cloudy golden amber brew. Head is quickly down to a skim of teensy bubbles, with average slow-falling lace. Aroma is minimal, with pale malt sweetness trying to take a stand. Taste starts with the pale malts, goes a touch fruity in the middle, and then closes with a slight bitterness. Mouthfeel is pretty smooth, and definitely sedate, and drinkability is not bad either. This beer seems to be trying to fly under the radar, not too much standout, but nothing bad either.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2008 22:49:25 | More by ppoitras

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.4/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This crystal clear gold beer throws a nice frothy head that has some retention. Aroma is of noble hops and very slight perfume. Nicely carbonated. Pretty bitter. I like a pilsner with some bite. The 4 varieties of hops used work nicely together. (Tettnager, Saaz, Styrian Golding and Strisselspalt)
There's a nice pilsner malt backbone. Good take on a German-style Pilsner.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2002 14:25:34 | More by Bighuge

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.75/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Color is a cloudy pale yellow with a nice medium strength white head that stays kinda puffy thick eventually settling to a skim always present and very tiny spots of lace. Smell is quite unique, smells like fruity pebbles, with nice light fruits of berrys and a light dried bread or cracker-like backing with a trace of hops that lends some notes of mustyness and herbal quality. Taste is quite complex and very interestingly yummy. Straight up easy and soft bready malts up front, so smooth and soft its just a pleasure to let it touch the tongue. Oh so very nice. A touch of fruitish berries hinting with very light grains of wheat and the hops are so pleasingly balanced in with nice even herbal/grassy notions thats very nice on the palette. Very steady and mellow balance with a super nice finish that is a bit like saltine crackers with a light drying with a dash of bread salts like that of dry pretzels. One excellent taste'n Pils!! Feel is a solid medium body with a small kick in the middle, mellowing smooth, lightly crisp and drying finish with lingering saltish drying that sticks around on the sides of the cheeks. Yum, yum,yum, Home Town Blonde in my tum. One very fine German Pils. Another keeper by N.G.!

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2003 02:34:12 | More by tavernjef

ZAP

Minnesota

3.15/5  rDev -21.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Looks the part...a very clean, clear gold with a frothy white head on top...European style hops on the nose and the buds...pretty good maltiness, but the hops are this beers calling card...a husky hop bite with long lingering bitterness on the finish.

This isn't my type of beer, but tastes pretty close to what I envisioned a beer billed as a german style pilsner to taste like..

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2002 22:20:57 | More by ZAP

dirtylou

Washington

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

12oz single, leftover from a 6 pack snagged at sadhanna's for some light summer drinking

appearance: pours into a Sweetwater pint glass a clear straw-golden colour with lively carbonation and nice pillowy white froth, pretty nice lacing

smell: nice aromas...dry malt, grassy, touch of lemon, fair amount of hops noticeable...smells pretty great

taste: i didnt know anything about this beer when i bought it and i figured it was a blonde ale. turns out its a very refreshing pilsner, that i wish was on tap in more places. great lemongrass throughout, juicy, well hopped but not overpowering...nice, simple malt structure

mouthfeel: nice carbonation, lively

drinkability: very high

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2007 02:25:18 | More by dirtylou

cokes

Wisconsin

4.53/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I am rerating this since I am not sure what I was smoking when I intially reviewed it(gave it a 3.4). This is a class pils.

Pour a dilluted pale golden with a frothy, decently retained white head.
Big time hoppy and bizarre nose. Getting notes of creole spices (jambalaya), as well as spicy marinara sauce. Nothing off-puting...just eccentric pleasantries.
Taste begins like caramel flavored saltine cracker. Lightly sweet and very dry. Some likeably odd sun-dried tomato hints. Hops enter next with a variety of spices and grasses. Turns hay-like and slighly musty (again, from the hops). Sweetness creeps in and adds some (lightly) vanilla-flavored communion waffers. Dry at the finish.
Light-medium bodied. Low carbonation for the style, but it doesn't matter.
Just a classic, well-hopped pilsner with some unique traits.
I am somewhat surprised to admit that this is one of New Glarus' best offerings (and maybe their best "regular" year-round product).

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2002 22:33:15 | More by cokes

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

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

12 oz bottle poured into a pilsner glass.
4.8% ABV, 2152 on neck in black.

Thanks for this awesome brew D-Train!

A - Home Town Blonde is a shimmering, well, blonde color that shines brightly with fantastic clarity. A frothy cloud white head billows above the beer, sustained very well. Clumps of thick lace clutch the pint with might!

S - The lovely aroma wafts out with gentle potency and spot-on composition. Mineral water hardness laces the wonderfully floral hop attributes which don't play second fiddle to the malt; certainly a good pale and pilsner base, however.

T - A delicate blend of floral and herbal hop notes combines for a symphony of flavor that softly blankets the lightly sweet pilsner malt and grainy pale malt. Again, mineral water emerges, stronger in flavor than the nose but not overpowering.

M - Medium-light in body, Home Town Blonde is a crisp and dry pilsner with mild sweetness and moderate mineral water. This really lets the German noble hops shine for a clean bitter finish and lingering satisfaction.

O - It shouldn't come as a surprise that New Glarus' remarkable take on a classic German Pilsner is but a few shades away from pure perfection; after all, brewer Dan Carey DID serve his brewing apprenticeship just outside of Munich, Germany. This golden beauty is loaded with German noble hops for a floral and bitter balance to the crisp and extremely drinkable medium-light bodied beer. It's a shame lagers are under-appreciated; this is one damn fine tasting beer I wish I had my hands on all summer!

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2012 21:58:44 | More by BeerFMAndy

alexgash

Connecticut

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

Almost hazy golden lemon body with a small, gauzy, off-white head. Honey and biscuit malt with peppery, spicy, Saaz-y hops. Nice. A flash of noble hop bitterness gives quickly gives way to honey-dipped biscuit malt and cookie dough. Spicy, herbal bitter hops in the finish. Moderate body with a smooth, soft feel. An excellent German-style pilsener.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2007 23:55:35 | More by alexgash

kmpitz2

Tennessee

4.5/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle. This brew pours a slightly oranged yellow color with a half finger of loosely packed bubbles over top that is maintained by a healthy stream of carbonation through the column of very clear liquid. The aroma is lightly honey-sweet, with a mild and crisp grain character bolstered by the spiceyness of a healthy dose of noble hopping. This one really smells nice with the contrasts between the light sweet and crisp hop and grain. The flavor hits with a grassy hop and moderate bitterness initially. This moves to a more grainy roughness that is polished with the sweetness I associate with pilsner malt. It finishes with a second wave of moderate bitterness that maintains itself on the sides of my tongue and spicey and slightly herbal hop notes. This one seems to be showcasing noble hops, with a bit of the grainy and sweet hop character sandwiched in between. Mouthfeel is moderate with a moderate carbonation of very fine bubbles. I like the somewhat heavier-than-expected quality of this one, as it really makes me want to slow down a bit while drinking it. I find this brew to be very approachable. The hops are prevalent, but not obtrusive. This is one to sit down and savor on a warm day as a refresher, in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2007 02:34:36 | More by kmpitz2

sweemzander

Illinois

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

12oz. bottle poured into a tulip.

(A)- Pours a clear yellow color. Produced a nice cap of white foam. Good retention and lacing too.

(S)- A sharp grainy hay and biscuit with its of a honey, lemon peel sweetness.

(T)- Similar to the smell. A sharp grainy maltiness with a subtle honey sweetness.

(M)- A good carbonation level and balance. Subtle sweetness and dry grainy balance as well.

(O)- Overall, its always great to be able to depend on a brewery like New Glarus to deliver a solid to great beer. Highly drinkable and sessionable while still providing good flavors and smoothness.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 20:07:56 | More by sweemzander

Chaney

District of Columbia

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

I just sampled the #8 ranked German Pilsener (based on BA) right before this one. Now, thanks to BeerFMAndy, I have the honor of drinking the #6. Thanks Andy!

Served in a shaped glass.

A: Sort of on the darker side of the orange spectrum, with quite a bit of haze considering the style, along with an icky, sticky white head.

S: Lots of white pepper with a very Germanic, moth-ball-esque, classical hop profile that is just about perfect.

T: I've always considered Victory's Prima Pils to be the pinnacle here, and since I've had that beer more than just about any beer in the whole beer rep, I'll compare it to that one: Not nearly as bitter on the front or as back, more honey-like in its sweetness, with the stamp of the Deutschland in spades.

M: Prickly carbonation, peppery (as opposed to hoppily bitter), crisp, but with a super-duper sourdough bread disposition. A little greater than moderate in the lacing department.

O: Even better than Victory Prima Pils. My new favorite in this style class.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 04:59:06 | More by Chaney

JDV

Texas

3.43/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Bottle courtesy of IowaHerkeye. Thanks!
Pours rich golden into a pilsner glass with a nice bubbly and foamy white head giving good lacing. Smell is nice light malt, a bit lemony, tangy yeast and nice fresh breadiness. Taste is a touch thin, but nicely crisp, a hint lemony and very refreshing with a nice neutral bitterness. Easy to drink with no off flavors and a uniqueness to it. Simple but nice.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2008 00:35:57 | More by JDV

orbitalr0x

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours into my Sam Adams glass a clear yellow orange hue with a half inch of light bubbly white head on top. Aromas start with crisp pilsner malts that have a nice fresh graininess to them. Herbal, spicy noble hops are there in abundance with a fresh green snap. A bit of a fruity sweetness in there as well. Lovely.

First sip brings smooth, crisp lightly sweet pilsner malt upfront that has a bit of a grainy aspect to it. It flows across the tongue with a bit of fruitiness followed by just the right smack of herbal, spicy noble hops. Finishes with just a touch of bitterness on the back of the palate. This is a great pilsner!

Mouthfeel is smooth and easily drinkable with a nice creaminess to it as well. Very refreshing, this is just a perfect example of what a pilsner should be and I wish I would've picked up more of this. This one stacks up with the best of 'em. Another wonderfully brewed beer from New Glarus! Grab some if you still can.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2007 02:34:33 | More by orbitalr0x

brewcrew76

Wisconsin

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

A - Pours a slightly hazy yellow with a thin white head with a skim of lace left on top.

S - Sweet malt with grassy, floral hops. The hops were much brighter earlier in the summer.

T - Herbal and grassy hops with some slightly sweet bready malt.

M - Light, crisp and clean with a nice amount of carbonation and a dry hoppy finish.

D - I have gone through a case already this summer. It seems to loose a little of the hops as the summer passed but a tasty everyday drinker none the less.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2007 18:47:05 | More by brewcrew76

KTCamm

New Jersey

4.23/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served from a 12 ounce bottle into a pint glass.

Pours gold, fizzy, bubbles, thick white head. Active. Translucent. Retention and lacing. Big pilsy smell. Quite german, and minerals too. Crisp taste, light lemon. Balanced hop. Refreshing. Great pils, nails the style. Bursts with flavor, but simple and drinkable. Spot on.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 16:30:26 | More by KTCamm

DaPeculierDane

Wisconsin

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

Classic Pilsner. Clean, clear, bright light gold with loads of carbonation and a thin white, bubbly head. Aroma of noble hops, grass, floral perfume, and light malts. Herbal and grassy flavor with nice lightly spiced floral hops in the finish. Initially damp and sweet flavor gives way to a lingering dry, hoppy finish in each sip. Light to medium bodied. Very representative of the style. Well done and definitely drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2007 15:41:43 | More by DaPeculierDane

birchstick

Missouri

3.63/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a golden yellow stalk like color. Nose is sweet cereal malts with a nice caramel malts and a bit of grassy hops. Taste starts off with citrus lemon. These move on to a grainy malt flavor and are finished off by some spicy, grassy hops. Like most of their beers, really soft mouthfeel, smooth and full taboot. Overall, this is a nice, lightly hopped pilsner. Props to NG for brewing a really nice pilsner.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 05:20:49 | More by birchstick

Westsidethreat

California

3.23/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to JeffKrenner for this beer.

A: Vivacious golden rod color with thousands of scurrying bubbles vortexing too and fro. Head is quite spectacular, full and creamy made up of tight off white bubbles. So far so good.

S: Noble hops, aluminum, grass clippings and corn pops.

T: Begins very metallic. Transitions to soft green fruits; pear, grape and apple. Some really minor honeysuckle, clover and melon. Finishes mildly bitter with more metallic tastes.

M: Medium body and soft

D: Not bad. Not a huge fan of the flavor that my wife likes to refer to as the “yuck, coins” flavor.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2007 03:20:10 | More by Westsidethreat

TexIndy

Texas

3.53/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Got in trade with jeffkrenner - thanks! Poured from a 12oz bottle with no dates by notches on label. The color was a slightly cloudly golden yellow. It had a couple fingers of white head that slowly settled to a constant film. Decent lacing. The smell was typical pilsener - wet grass clippings and noble hops. The taste was good but pils is not one of my favorite styles. Not bad but they have an aftertaste that is very off-putting. Overall a decent beer and worth trying if you can easily get your hands on. (3.5, RB, T, O)

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2007 01:32:33 | More by TexIndy