Summer Brew Review Thread - Golden Ale

[Alastair70]

Looks like the first beers are starting to land so time to get the thread open.
Post reviews, recipes and any thoughts on the style here.
13 people are swapping a total of 39 brews so there should be plenty of chat.

 

[dave_77]

I'm kicking off the reviews as one of the 2 Golden ales that @Nottsbeer kindly sent seemed to have leaked through the cap and I was worried about oxidation.
First beer was Exmoor Gold style 3.9%.

Firstly good news oxidation doesn't seem to be a problem. Carbonation is on the high side(saison like)so I think it may have compromised the cap in transit with a bit of shakey shakey but helped keep the 02 out

Straw/ light gold colour -looks the part with a fluffy head that stuck around to the end.fairly clear, been in the fridge for 24 hours.
Aroma was bready with a light honey note from the malts with a

Spicy floral mild hop aroma.
Bready/cracker flavours from the malt almost lager like in profile but with a little more body. Hops give a light lemon flavour with spicy floral flavours. It had a light/medium body and the carbonation was definitely drying.it has a bitter edge maybe slightly out of balance but ok for me as I like a dry bitter beer.
Thanks for sharing overall very nice beer.

 

[pilgrimhudd]

I am also starting with @Nottsbeer exmoor gold style beer. I pretty much agree with @dave_77 review above. Without wanting to copy everything I also found it a little too bitter for my taste, but it's to the style and I still enjoyed it. It has a very lemony taste and pleasant aroma, straw coloured and very refreshing, a lovely beer to sit out in the sun with post cycle commute home! Thanks for sending!

 

[Nottsbeer]

@pilgrimhudd and @dave_77 thanks for your reviews. Glad you both enjoyed them despite the cap mishap and high IBUs. I do like bitter beers and find it hard to reign in the hops on brew day thinking of making this brew for my Dutch relatives, but will have to lower the biterness a bit for them.

 

[pilgrimhudd]

2nd (and last) of the day was @dave_77 golden ale. A very different if very similar looking brew to the last. This one is straw coloured and perfectly carbed, not much on the nose initially, though as it warms you get an mildly tropical and peppery aroma. Taste similar to the aroma, again quite light when cold but you get more as it warms. I think as appose to the last one this could do with just a touch more bitterness. It's light and very refreshing though conversely it gets tastier as it warms (and thus less refreshing). Two very different but great beers, thank you very much for sharing both!

 

[pilgrimhudd]

@pilgrimhudd and @dave_77 thanks for your reviews. Glad you both enjoyed them despite the cap mishap and high IBUs. I do like bitter beers and find it hard to reign in the hops on brew day thinking of making this brew for my Dutch relatives, but will have to lower the biterness a bit for them.

For me the high bitterness wasn't so much a criticism just my taste, I'd have been very happy with being served that in a pub.

 

[Alastair70]

Trying my first beer, ‘Meteor’ from @Stu's Brews.
Carbonation and clarity are both excellent. The aroma leans towards bready malts with lemony hops in the background.
The mouthfeel is soft, malt flavour is light allowing the hop flavours to stand out, mostly lemony citrus with some floral notes. Bitterness is just right, the finish is dry and the fermentation is very clean.
This is a very well planned and well executed brew. Thank you for sharing it.

 

[dave_77]

2nd (and last) of the day was @dave_77 golden ale. A very different if very similar looking brew to the last. This one is straw coloured and perfectly carbed, not much on the nose initially, though as it warms you get an mildly tropical and peppery aroma. Taste similar to the aroma, again quite light when cold but you get more as it warms. I think as appose to the last one this could do with just a touch more bitterness. It's light and very refreshing though conversely it gets tastier as it warms (and thus less refreshing). Two very different but great beers, thank you very much for sharing both!


View attachment 73902

Glad you enjoyed mate, think it was around 35ibu which was on the lower side.for me

 

[Stu's Brews]

Trying my first beer, ‘Meteor’ from @Stu's Brews.
Carbonation and clarity are both excellent. The aroma leans towards bready malts with lemony hops in the background.
The mouthfeel is soft, malt flavour is light allowing the hop flavours to stand out, mostly lemony citrus with some floral notes. Bitterness is just right, the finish is dry and the fermentation is very clean.
This is a very well planned and well executed brew. Thank you for sharing it.

View attachment 73903

Glad to hear you enjoyed it! First time using Ernest hops and I've been really impressed with the flavours from them.

 

[pilgrimhudd]

Glad to hear you enjoyed it! First time using Ernest hops and I've been really impressed with the flavours from them.

Ahh mines ernest too, I think it's a great hop! Looking forward to trying yours even more now!

 

[dave_77]

Glad to hear you enjoyed it! First time using Ernest hops and I've been really impressed with the flavours from them.

Ooooo..like a bit of Ernest

 

[pilgrimhudd]

T

Glad you enjoyed mate, think it was around 35ibu which was on the lower side.for me

Two new hops for me dave, really enjoyed it. I'll be using godiva in a britpop (buxton) clone soon.

 

[Fazzer]

I can't wait any longer, so I've cracked open @Stu's Brews Meteor golden ale.
Pours very clean with perfect carbonation and a small white head that lasted the whole pint.
Pale straw colour.
Citrus and fruity aromas.
Picking up both aromas in the taste. Very light bodied with a hint of bitterness.
Very easy to drink. Went down waaaaay to quickly!

Thanks for sharing.

 

[dave_77]

T

Two new hops for me dave, really enjoyed it. I'll be using godiva in a britpop (buxton) clone soon.

I really like some of the newer English and German hops ..find them interesting when you go heavy with the hopping in some styles as there is some.nice flavours just need a little more than the US hops.

 

[Stu's Brews]

I can't wait any longer, so I've cracked open @Stu's Brews Meteor golden ale.
Pours very clean with perfect carbonation and a small white head that lasted the whole pint.
Pale straw colour.
Citrus and fruity aromas.
Picking up both aromas in the taste. Very light bodied with a hint of bitterness.
Very easy to drink. Went down waaaaay to quickly!

Thanks for sharing.

Cheers! It's definitely an easy drinker

 

[pilgrimhudd]

I really like some of the newer English and German hops ..find them interesting when you go heavy with the hopping in some styles as there is some.nice flavours just need a little more than the US hops.

Yes there's some great ones around.

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

I’m trying my first guest beer tonight from @pilgrimhudd. This is of course a Golden Ale and in this case it’s 5.5% so on the strong side for a golden ale (like I’m upset about that ).

The bottle was well behaved on opening and the pour was clean with a good white airy head. The head quickly settled to a foam over the surface and then stuck around, eventually withdrawing to a ring around the glass as it emptied.

Carbonation was good, colour was spot on, clarity was good (most of the haze in the picture is condensation).

The aroma is quite distinct with Ernest hops and is very clean. Not much aroma from the grain but the beer is cold at this point. After a while as the beer warmed a slightly sweet biscuit grain aroma developed.

The flavour is initially cracker malt and is beautiful, after a moment some citrusy fruit comes through and then a spicy white pepper flavour builds and lingers. Bitterness is smooth and well balanced. There are no off-flavours.

This is a really nice well made beer and better than my own I’m sad to say. I really enjoyed it and would be very happy to enjoy several more. Thank you pilgrim!

 

[pilgrimhudd]

I’m trying my first guest beer tonight from @pilgrimhudd. This is of course a Golden Ale and in this case it’s 5.5% so on the strong side for a golden ale (like I’m upset about that ).

The bottle was well behaved on opening and the pour was clean with a good white airy head. The head quickly settled to a foam over the surface and then stuck around, eventually withdrawing to a ring around the glass as it emptied.

Carbonation was good, colour was spot on, clarity was good (most of the haze in the picture is condensation).

View attachment 73909
The aroma is quite distinct with Ernest hops and is very clean. Not much aroma from the grain but the beer is cold at this point. After a while as the beer warmed a slightly sweet biscuit grain aroma developed.

The flavour is initially cracker malt and is beautiful, after a moment some citrusy fruit comes through and then a spicy white pepper flavour builds and lingers. Bitterness is smooth and well balanced. There are no off-flavours.

This is a really nice well made beer and better than my own I’m sad to say. I really enjoyed it and would be very happy to enjoy several more. Thank you pilgrim!

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it, I had one on Saturday but I had a stinker of a cold so couldn't taste it!

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it, I had one on Saturday but I had a stinker of a cold so couldn't taste it!

Oh no! You should have sent it to me, I’d have properly enjoyed it.

 

[Jim Brewster]

5.5% Golden ale from @samale

Highly carbed bottle conditioned
Colour - golden, light haze
Aroma - floral and slight sweet smell
Flavour - earthy hops, slight herby, but nice!
Medium bitterness.
Very light malt flavour
Medium body with a dry finish

Very drinkable indeed. I can tell it's quite strong. My preference if I'm being picky would be a little lower ABV then I could have another pint right after, but that's individual preference.
I'd give it a 8/10 good beer - many thanks.