GOLDEN ALE
The recent Whitehaven Beer Festival featured a number of beers described as ‘Golden Ales’. There has been a growth in beers brewed in this new
style, which developed in the 1980s partly in an attempt to lure younger drinkers away from lager brands. Exmoor Gold and Hop Back Summer
Lightning were the first beers brewed in this style, which is marked by the use of pale malts and, unlike most bland mass produced lagers,
generous hopping. The resulting beer is thirst quenching, with fruity, often citrus flavours. Often thought of as summer beers, they are
best drunk cool.
The style is exemplified by the 2005 winner of CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain competition, Crouch Vale Brewer’s Gold. The beer is described
in the 2005 edition of CAMRA's Good Beer Guide as, ‘Striking grapefruit nose leads to a beer of generally citrus hoppy character, underpinned
by a perfumed sweetness and an aftertaste of orange wine gums.’
As beer writer Roger Protz commented, Golden Ale is a rapidly growing style of beer and one that will appeal to younger drinkers and women as
well as real ale aficionados.
Golden Ales featured at Whitehaven Fest:
Barngates,
Westmorland Gold 4.2%
Crisp, with a citrus zest. Distinctly fruityvhoppy nose. A sun-golden ale, with a bittersweet palate.
Derwent,
Late Summer 4.0%
Light golden colour fruity bitter hopped with Fuggles & Goldings addition of Brambling Cross.
Hesket Newmarket,
Haystacks 3.6%
A pale coloured zesty beer, hopped with Pioneer hops to give a hint of grapefruit.
Lancaster brewery,
Lancaster Blonde 4.0%
A pale and bitter beer using pale malt and Saaz hops in the boil.
Marble brewery,
Gould Street Bitter 3.8%
A pale late summer thirst quenching beer, very pale and hoppy rather than bitter.
Robinson’s
Lighthouse 4.3%
A golden autumn ale specially brewed for fullness and flavour, with an interesting blend of toasted biscuit and mellow citrus flavours, perfectly
balanced by a subtle hop aroma.
W&D Jennings,
Yellow Earl 3.6%
Golden in colour with a fullness derived from a balance of residual malt and Golding hops.
Yates,
Solway Sunset 4.3%
A pale bitter, slightly sweet, well balanced with a floral aroma.