Guinness to introduce Blonde American Lager
New beer is first in new Guinness Discovery Series
London-based Diageo plc’s Irish beer brand Guinness announced plans to launch a Blonde American Lager this fall.
Brewed in Latrobe, Pa., Guinness Blonde American Lager marks the brand’s first beer to be brewed in America with Irish craftsmanship, according to Senior Brand Manager Jonathan Urch. The 5 percent alcohol by volume beer uses American hops and Guinness’ 125-year-old yeast to intertwine Guinness and American brewing traditions, the company says.
"From sports bars in Texas to truck stops in Iowa to backyard barbeques in Montana to trendy Manhattan bars, Guinness Blonde American Lager brings the taste, color and character of great American beers and fuses them with the heritage and artistry of the Guinness tradition begun in 1759 by Arthur Guinness," said Doug Campbell, Guinness brand director, in a statement.
As lagers continue to gain favor among beer drinkers in the United States, Guinness master brewers in Dublin have collaborated with brewing experts in the United States to create a one-of-a-kind taste in American lagers, the company says. Guinness Blonde American Lager is a complex, flavorful lager with a floral, hoppy aroma that is a combination of Mosaic, Willamette and Mount Hood hops, it says.
"It was great to be a part of the legendary Guinness brewing team for the creation of a unique-tasting American lager and be able to add some of my American influences throughout the brewing process," said Joe Gruss, an American brew master who is a member of the Guinness Blonde brewing team. "In the end, we were able to combine Guinness artistry and American brewing techniques for a crisp and refreshing-tasting beer."
Guinness Blonde American Lager is the first release in the Guinness Discovery Series, the brand’s new concept showcasing a range of new “fusion brew” beer options, all to be released under the Guinness trademark. The brand plans to release two seasonal beers each year as part of the series but expects Guinness Blonde American Lager to be a mainstay, according to Urch.
"Beer drinkers' tastes are evolving, and people are looking to try different flavors and styles, and we're excited to show what Guinness is capable of beyond the traditional dark stout with Guinness Blonde American Lager," Campbell said in a statement. "The beauty of this beer is that we're able to produce a characteristically American-style lager while fusing the standards of quality and taste expected of Guinness with a taste profile and color characteristics long loved by traditional American beer drinkers."
Guinness Blonde American Lager will be available nationwide beginning in mid-September in six-packs of 12-ounce bottles for a suggested retail price of $8.99. It also will be available on draft at select locations in sixtels.
Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!
