Craft Beer Enthusiasts: Guinness Blonde Alternatives

If you're a fan of Guinness Blonde, you might be interested in other beers that offer a similar taste profile. While Guinness Blonde is no longer in production, it was known for its light gold colour, white rocky head, and a mixture of floral, light citrus, and pale malt flavours. Here are some alternatives to consider:

- Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale: This 4.3% Irish Red Ale has a copper-red body and notes of caramel and floral hops. It offers a slightly more subtle flavour than Guinness Blonde.

- Murphy's: This 4% Irish Dry Stout is brewed to have a lighter and less bitter taste than Guinness. It has been described as having toffee and coffee undertones, along with a creamy, silky smooth finish.

- Beamish: With a slight bitterness, roasted malt, subtle dark chocolate, and coffee flavours, Beamish is another Irish Stout that is similar to Guinness. It has a dry finish and a smooth and creamy taste.

- O'Hara's Irish Stout: This 4.3% Irish Dry Stout is the flagship beer of the Carlow Brewing Company. It has a robust flavour with a smooth finish and rich coffee and subtle liquorice notes.

Blonde ales are smooth, clean, crisp, well-balanced and easy to drink

Blonde ales are approachable, golden-hued beers with a smooth, rounded character. They are easy to drink and known for their simplicity, with no dominating malt or hop characteristics. Blonde ales are generally well-balanced, with moderate bitterness and carbonation, and a frothy head. They are often mildly bready, with biscuit-y pale malt sweetness and hints of toast. Blonde ales may also have a portion of wheat in the grain mix, which can be perceived in the aroma and flavour.

Blonde ales are typically low in alcohol content, ranging from 4.1 to 7% ABV. They are usually neither too hoppy nor too malty, with a harmonious balance between the two. This balance makes them highly drinkable, especially in warmer weather.

The Guinness Blonde American Lager is an example of a blonde ale. It is light gold in colour with a white rocky head. It has a mixture of floral, light citrus, and pale malt flavours, with a subtle hop character. The beer is creamy and chewy, with a smooth mouthfeel and a biscuity finish.

Blonde ales are often compared to other mild styles of beer, such as the German Kölsch and the English Pale Ale. They are also similar to Pilsners, with a lighter colour and easy drinkability. Blonde ales are an excellent choice for those seeking a smooth, crisp, and well-balanced beer that is not too heavy or overpowering.

Guinness Blonde is a light gold, American-style lager

The beer has a light gold colour, akin to weak ice tea, and is topped with a white rocky head that dissipates within a couple of minutes. The aroma is a delightful blend of floral scents, light citrus, and pale malt, with subtle hints of toast and butter. The Mosaic and Willamette hops, combined with the signature Guinness yeast, lend a subtle citrus and floral undertone to the beer.

Guinness Blonde has a creamy and chewy mouthfeel, with a satisfying fullness and medium carbonation. The flavour mirrors the aroma, with pale malts imparting a fresh grain quality and a buttery-smooth character. The hops provide a slight bitterness that lingers on the palate, especially on the swallow. The beer has a well-balanced taste, with moderate hop levels to balance the malt sweetness.

The lager is brewed in the United States, specifically in Baltimore, Maryland, at the Guinness Open Gate Brewery & Barrel House. It is crafted with North American ingredients, including Pacific Northwest hops, and the iconic Guinness yeast. This unique blend gives Guinness Blonde its distinct character, setting it apart from other American lagers.

Guinness Blonde is an excellent choice for those seeking a flavorful and well-crafted lager. It is perfect for a hot summer day, offering a refreshing and satisfying drinking experience. While it may be a departure from the traditional Guinness stout, it showcases the brand's versatility and commitment to creating distinctive beers.

It has a gentle hop aroma of citrus and tropical fruits

The Guinness Blonde is a unique beer that stands out for its subtle yet enticing hop aroma. This American-style lager is crafted with North American ingredients, including Pacific Northwest hops, and the renowned Guinness yeast. What truly sets it apart is its gentle hop aroma, which entices the senses with hints of citrus and tropical fruits.

The citrus notes in the aroma add a layer of complexity, with subtle hints of orange and other citrus fruits that complement the overall profile. This delicate aroma enhances the drinking experience, providing a subtle prelude to the flavours that follow. The tropical fruit notes further elevate the beer, adding a touch of exotic allure.

The Mosaic and Willamette hops used in the brewing process are key to achieving this balanced and enticing aroma. These hops, combined with the yeast, create a subtle dance of flavours that tantalise the nose without overwhelming it. The result is a beer that is perfectly balanced, with a delicate interplay of aromas and flavours.

The gentle hop aroma of the Guinness Blonde is a testament to the brewers' mastery and their ability to create a complex and nuanced beer. It showcases the art of brewing, where the subtle nuances of ingredients and their careful combination result in a truly exceptional drinking experience. This beer is an ode to the craft, offering a subtle yet memorable sensory journey that keeps drinkers coming back for more.

The Guinness Blonde, with its gentle hop aroma, is a refreshing departure from the typical robust and heavy characteristics often associated with dark stouts. Its light, floral, and citrusy profile makes it an ideal choice for those seeking a well-balanced and easy-drinking beer, especially during the hot summer months.

It's creamy, with a smooth and chewy mouthfeel

Guinness Blonde is an American Blonde Ale, a style of beer that is typically smooth, clean, crisp, well-balanced, and easy to drink. It is known for its mouthfeel—creamy, smooth, and chewy—with a satiating fullness and medium carbonation.

The beer has a light gold colour, a mixture of floral, light citrus, and pale malt aromas, and a grainy character with dainty butter notes and hints of toast. The Mosaic and Willamette hops used in the brewing process add subtle bitterness and a touch of spice. The flavour is true to the aroma, with pale malts providing a fresh grain quality and a buttery-smooth character. The carbonation is described as medium, contributing to the creamy and chewy mouthfeel.

The creamy texture of Guinness Blonde is a standout feature, inviting drinkers to linger and savour the moment. It is a well-crafted beer, perfect for those who appreciate a smooth and satisfying drinking experience.

While some drinkers may have differing opinions on the taste and body of the beer, the mouthfeel is consistently praised as creamy and smooth. This characteristic is a defining feature of Guinness Blonde, setting it apart from other beers in the same style and leaving a lasting impression on those who try it.

Overall, Guinness Blonde offers a unique sensory experience, combining enticing aromas, delicate flavours, and a creamy, chewy mouthfeel that makes it a memorable choice for beer enthusiasts seeking a smooth and indulgent drinking journey.

Guinness Blonde is no longer being produced by the brewery

It seems that Guinness Blonde is no longer being produced by the brewery. This is unfortunate news for those who enjoyed the unique characteristics of this beer.

Guinness Blonde was an American-style lager with a difference. Brewed with North American ingredients, including Pacific Northwest hops, and the classic Guinness yeast, it offered a unique twist on the traditional lager. With a crisp, golden appearance, it was a refreshing option for beer enthusiasts. Its gentle hop aroma of citrus and tropical fruits, combined with a clean cracker-bread malt flavour, made it a well-balanced and easy-drinking choice.

The beer was crafted by American craft brewers as an introduction to more flavourful craft beers. It had a smooth, creamy mouthfeel and a lingering malt and biscuity finish, making it a perfect balance of vibrant flavours from both sides of the Atlantic.

Guinness Blonde was a departure from the traditional dark beers that Guinness is known for. It was a light, floral, and citrusy lager that offered a unique taste experience. While some appreciated its refreshing qualities, especially during hot summers, others found it disappointing, lacking the robust flavour they expected from the Guinness brand.

With the discontinuation of Guinness Blonde, beer lovers seeking similar options may want to explore other beers in the market. Beers like Murphy's, Beamish, Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale, and O'Hara's Irish Stout are often recommended as alternatives that offer a similar taste and appearance to the iconic Guinness.

Frequently asked questions