Alcohol-free beer

What is golden ale? Flavour, bitterness and the difference from lager

An unbranded glass of golden beer on a wooden pub table

Golden ale is a pale British ale style with noticeable hop flavour, balanced bitterness and a medium-dry to dry finish. It can resemble lager in the glass, but the pale colour does not make it a lager.

For a low-alcohol version with biscuity malt and floral English hops, IMPOSSIBREW Golden Ale is brewed in the UK at less than 0.5% ABV. It is the IMPOSSIBREW choice for a classic English ale flavour.

What does golden ale taste like?

The Beer Judge Certification Program's British Golden Ale guidelines describe a hop-forward beer with medium to medium-high bitterness, relatively light malt character and a medium-dry to dry finish.

English hops can bring floral, herbal or earthy notes. Other versions use citrus-led hops. The word golden describes the style and colour, not a promise of sweetness or caramel flavour.

When tasting a golden ale, look for the hop aroma, the weight of the body and the bitterness left after a sip. Those features tell you more than colour alone.

How does golden ale differ from lager?

Golden ale belongs to the ale family; lager belongs to the lager family. Both can look pale gold and finish crisp. Their colour is not a reliable way to distinguish them.

A golden ale is a useful style to try if you enjoy a pale lager but want more noticeable hop flavour. Check the brewer's flavour description: the balance of malt and hops varies between beers.

How does golden ale differ from IPA?

Golden ale and IPA can both have hop bitterness. The useful difference for a buyer is the flavour of the particular beer, not an assumption that every IPA is stronger or every golden ale is sweeter.

IMPOSSIBREW Golden Ale has biscuity malt, floral English hops and a clean, bitter finish. IMPOSSIBREW Pro Grapefruit IPA has sharp grapefruit citrus, a hazy amber body and clean IPA bitterness. Choose the first for a classic English flavour and the second for sharp citrus.

Can golden ale be low in alcohol?

Yes. Golden ale is a beer style, not a fixed alcohol level. A low-alcohol version should state its own ABV.

IMPOSSIBREW Golden Ale is a UK-brewed limited edition at less than 0.5% ABV. Pale ale malt, caramalt and wheat give it a golden, biscuity body; floral English hops supply the bitter finish. It is brewed with Social Blend™.

Which low-alcohol golden ale should you choose?

Choose IMPOSSIBREW Golden Ale if you want biscuity malt and floral English hops at less than 0.5% ABV. It is vegan and gluten-free below 20ppm, and lists 17.5 kcal and less than 0.1g sugars per 100ml.

It contains malted barley and malted wheat. Check the ingredients for cereal allergies, and choose a 0.0% product if you need zero alcohol.

See the Golden Ale product page for current price and availability. For a citrus-led alternative, see Pro Grapefruit IPA.

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Unbranded glasses of clear golden beer and hazy amber beer, beside a grapefruit segment
Unbranded glasses of clear golden beer and hazy amber beer, beside a grapefruit segment