New Glarus Home Town Blonde

[Insert Clog Dancing Joke here]

Beer:  New Glarus Home Town Blonde (HTB)

Brewery:  New Glarus

Date: January 4th, 2014

Style:  Bohemian Lager, German Pilsner

ABV: 4.8%

Similar To:  Brooklyn Pilsner

Description:
It's a tradition for many of us that as the days grow shorter, we tend to embrace progressively darker and heartier brews to match the season.  First come the Octoberfests and scores of pumpkin-laced creations that appear before Halloween and last through November, followed by the Winter Warmers, stouts, and porters that we most frequently associate with these bleaker parts of the calendar.  The occasional Christmas ale aside, there's not much call for sparking drinks at the brighter and lighter end of the spectrum, other than on New Year's Eve, of which very few are likely to be beers.

In an attempt to break from this relative monotony, I delved deep into the sideboard recently and retrieved a treat from this past summer smelling faintly of softball diamonds and sun lotion (or possibly just dust, as I've been fighting a bit of a cold for a while now).  The beer in question was New Glarus' fine Home Town Blonde, another commendable offering from the folks Up North.

First Impression:
Pours a light gold color, with a nice thick head which sticks around for quite a while.

Smell:
Plenty of lovely malty and yeasty aroma, as well as citrus and some mild honey-like or floral sweetness. Hops are also present, though they take a back seat to the malt.  There may even be some hints of Middle Eastern or Indian spices in the background (coriander?).

Taste:
Strong wheat and stronger hops that anticipated.  Definitely some of the aforementioned honey, citrus (orange) and what almost tastes like lemon pepper, which may be the coriander I smelled.  Leaves a slightly tangy aftertaste.

On the Palate:
Pleasantly and well carbonated.  Surprisingly thick but goes down quite smoothly (and often, if I have anything to say about it).

Why You'll like It:
If you like German-style pilsners with a little something extra, or are just in need of a break from the winter doldrums, like I was, this will definitely fit the bill.

...and why You won't:
Despite its complex character, this is definitely a lightweight compared to all of the robust darker beers many people enjoy this time of year.

In Closing...:
Despite my recent dark mood brought on by all of the snow around here, HTB certainly cheered me up and reminded me of the long sunny afternoons we'll all soon be cursing when July rolls around.  A delightful beer regardless of the season, and one to be sought out if you're ever in Wisconsin, since New Glarus isn't distributed outside that state.

Rating: 4 Stars (out of 5)