How To Brew British Golden Ale: Britannia Rules the Ales, Royal Guide to UK’s Brightest Brew

British golden ale is a hop-forward, highly drinkable and quite refreshing beer.

Thanks to numerous wars, government regulations, altered consumer palates, industry trends adjusting, and corporate meddling, Great Britain’s brewing traditions have changed considerably over the years.

British golden ale goes by many different names. Some call it English golden ale, summer ale, British blonde ale, golden bitter, summer bitter, and more likely many other similar names.

A History and Geography Lesson

Technically speaking, Great Britain is the land mass that contains England, Scotland, and Wales.

The country is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (or simply the UK). The groups of islands containing Great Britain and Ireland are those lands, along with other colonial assets.

This little history and geography lesson gives a better understanding of the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) choosing the names for certain beer styles and categories.

Influences of the Style

The British golden ale was a modern take on the English pale ale. It was developed as a response to an increase in consumer demand for pale lagers.

A more modern reason for this style might suggest the influence of the American pale ale. Afterall, American pale ale was developed from the English pale ale.

British Roots

British golden ale is a thirst-quenching refreshing beer that pairs well with warmer weather, but certainly can be enjoyed year round.

Pale in color and hoppy, this golden ale showcases its British roots with its hop and grain selection.

Style Profile for British Golden Ale

Appearance

Color is straw to golden. Good to brilliant clarity. Low to moderate white colored head that may be low due to low carbonation.

Aroma

Hop aroma is moderately low to moderately high. Use of English hop variety will impart floral, herbal, or earthy hop aroma.

Citrusy American hops can be common as well. Little to no malt aroma or caramel. Medium-low to low fruity aroma from the hops but not from esters. Little to no diacetyl.

Mouthfeel

Light to medium bodied beer. Low to moderate carbonation. Some stronger versions have an alcohol warmth, but never too high.

Taste

Medium to medium-high hop bitterness. Hop flavor is moderately high, with citrus hop flavor being increasingly more common.

Medium-low to low malt character, usually bready with a slight biscuity flavor. Absent of any caramel notes. Pronounced hop bitterness. Low esters. Medium-dry to dry finish.

Food Pairing

Smoked chicken, smoked bacon with a summer salad pairs perfectly with a British Golden Ale. Pasta pairs well since the beer will not overpower the dish.

A nice paella at your favorite Spanish restaurant can be a real game changer for your palate.

Tips for Brewing your own British Golden Ale

Grain

English ingredients are the real star here. Some argue that Maris Otter will make the beer overly biscuity.

Cutting Maris Otter with something such as American 2-Row, Pilsner, or Vienna may be the way to cut through that biscuit overload.

Golden Promise is an underrated favorite that could be considered, even at a high percentage.

The use of adjuncts should actually not be ruled out. Flaked corn and sugar can be considered. Crystal malts should be avoided, at a high color. A low color crystal malt can help with color adjustment, but should be kept low.

Hops

A hop-forward beer demands quality hop choices. English hops that are citrus forward, usually orange-like, can be selected.

Such hops would be Admiral, First Gold, Progress, and Pioneer. Some German noble varieties such as Hallertauer, Tettnanger, Saaz can bring out nice floral/spicy notes.

American citrusy hops and New World fruity hops are all the rage these days and have even made their way into a British Golden Ale. Hops such as Amarillo, Citra, Galaxy, Mosaic, Cascade, and Centennial are all possibilities.

Hops additions should include all three of the following: bittering hops, flavor, and aroma.

Yeast

Yeast utilization does not play an integral role when brewing a British Golden Ale.

Some British yeast strains can be neutral and others can be more estery, others ferment dryer, and some leave some residual sweetness. You want to stay away from any yeast that will impart high esters. Some yeast to consider include:

Wyeast 1275 Thames Valley Ale, Wyeast 1318 London Ale III, White Labs Burton Ale WLP023

British Golden Ale By the Numbers

• Color Range: 2 – 6 SRM
• Original Gravity: 1.038 – 1.053 OG
• Final Gravity: 1.006 – 1.012 FG
• IBU Range: 20 – 45
• ABV Range: 3.8 – 5.0%

British Golden Ale Recipe

Grain

• 50% 5 lbs Maris Otter
• 40% 4 lb 2-Row
• 10% 1 lb White Wheat Malt

Hops

• 1.5oz Fuggle Pellets – Boil 60 min
• 1oz Target – Boil 10 min
• 1oz Target – Dry Hop

Yeast

• 1.0 pkg London Ale III WYeast #1318

Directions

1. Mash at 152°F (66°C) for 60 mins
2. Boil for 60 mins

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a British Golden Ale?

A British Golden Ale is a type of beer that originated from the UK, known for its appealing golden color, refreshing taste, and moderate alcohol content. It’s a pale, highly attenuated, hop-forward, drinkable ale with a crisp character, and often showcases a fruity hop aroma and flavor.

How does a British Golden Ale differ from an English Golden Ale?

While both ales originate from the UK, the terms are often used interchangeably. However, some might argue that the distinction lies in regional brewing traditions and nuances in flavor, aroma, and appearance.

An English Golden Ale may have a slightly different hop or malt profile compared to a British Golden Ale.

What are the key ingredients needed to brew a British Golden Ale?

The core ingredients for brewing a British Golden Ale include pale malt as the base malt, some form of crystal or caramel malt for a touch of sweetness and color, and traditional English hops for bitterness and aroma.

Yeast is also a fundamental ingredient, with English ale yeast being a common choice due to its clean fermentation character and ability to highlight the malt and hop flavors.

How does the golden ale recipe provided differ from a typical blonde ale recipe?

The golden ale recipe shared is specifically tailored to highlight the characteristics of a British Golden Ale, with a more hop-forward and crisp character.

On the other hand, a typical blonde ale recipe may lean towards a balanced or malt-forward profile with a lighter hop presence. The choice of malt and hops, as well as the brewing process, may vary to achieve the desired flavor and aroma characteristics unique to each style.

What are some recommended variations or experiments one could try with the given British Golden Ale recipe?

For those looking to experiment or tailor the British Golden Ale recipe to personal taste, several avenues could be explored.

Altering the types or proportions of hops, experimenting with different yeast strains, or even incorporating additional malt varieties can significantly impact the flavor, aroma, and appearance of the beer.

Additionally, trying out different brewing techniques or equipment can provide a deeper understanding and potentially enhance the brewing process to achieve a more personalized or improved British Golden Ale.