Crouch Vale Brewers Gold Extra

Formerly brewed at Crouch Vale
Style: Golden Ale/Blond Ale
South Woodham Ferrers, England

CASK. Golden colour with a small white head. Hoppy light sweet malty aroma and a bitter dry very hoppy taste. Medium to full body and a bitter dry finish.

A Mes rate: Cask at The Grapevine. Wow. Stands out clearly against almost anything else even remotely linked to this style. Wonderful crisp fresh hop aroma with a creamy malt hint and plenty of grape. Gold is the perfect name for this. Without doubt the most golden beer I have seen. In the mouth the hops are obviously up front but there is plenty more. Bags of lemon and grapefruit but it is really nicely balanced by some sugary malt. Bitter finish that turns gradually creamy and it has awesome length for the style. Slips down amazingly well. Palate is simply excellent. Quite simply a top class beer that will kick the ass of pretty much anything of a similar style.

Cask at the 3 judges in Glasgow. Minimal haze obstructs the light golden hue. Flowery and kinda perfumey, rather funky hops with a wild side. Not too grainy in maltiness, but slightly nondescript, letting most of the place to the hops. Fresh flavoured, bright and pretty aromatic. Limited minerals despite the light salty touch. Mellow melon undertones introduce the sandy, evolving bitterness. Tannic upon the finish that is bready and long-lasting. Good indeed, if not my favourite golden ale.

Yasssssssssssss!!!!!! is there not more british beers like this, its just so hoppy dry soo drinkable, super hop resins, pine, citrus , grapefruit everything good about a good cask ale is in here.

Cask@Chelmsford BF. In nice conditon as all the beers were at the fest. Aromatic hops in the nose, and a surprising hit of alcohol in the end, dry melon/tropical fruit and orange, dry, bitter finish, definitely more-ish, citric. Liked it very much. Re-Rate: Cask@Bedford beer Festival, like it much more this time, just so juicy, fruity and soft, wonderfully hoppy stuff.

Cask Conditioned at The Cuckoo’s Nest Gawcott, Bucks.
Beer tasting can be so subjective, many factors can supplement the way you ‘feel’ about a beer, mood, company, place, time and even the weather. So on a fine sunny Saturday afternoon we approached a highly recommended pub by a slightly eccentric friend with great hopes. As we opened the door and the light flooded into the dark interior, instinct told us that this could be a rare moment of perfection, that and the pump clip pronouncing that Crouch Vale had produced an extra version of one of the Beers of Banbury Festival. This was June and the beer is a seasonal for dark and rainy February, we didn’t ask! As I ordered (I held the kitty, a British thing I think) the radio from a far room started playing the seventies smoocheroo Barry White. [we got it together did’nt we nobody but you and me we got it together baby] Four Pints of the Crouch Vale please Landlord, I pronounced. [my first, my last, my everything and the answer to all my dreams you’re my sun, my moon, my guiding star my kind of wonderful, that’s what you are] With a touch of anticipation the first of the light brown beers filled the straight pint glass. The head cleared to a pale white smoothie, this looked good anyway. [i know there’s only, only one like you theres no way they could have made two you’re you’re all i’m living for your love i’ll keep for evermore, you’re the first my last my everything] The cool liquid was raised to my lips and a burst of fragrant hops splashed across my tongue, a crisp grapefruit tangy dry flavour filling the mouth. [in you i’ve found so many things a love so new only you could bring can’t you see if you, you’ll make me feel this way you’re like a first morning dew on a brand new day] In charges the balancing malt sweetness, but still the vital crispness holds on allowing the alcohol to add nose to the beer. This is Elysium and Paradise together and we are sharing it with Bazza. [i see so many ways that i can love you till the day i die........ you’re my reality yet i’m lost in a dream you’re the first my last my everything] Back to reality, beer tasting is subjective, I will hold off giving perfect marks but by heck it got close.

Nice yellow colour with small creamy head. Aroma is fresh and hoppy with some citrus and grass. Flavor is dominated by the hops. Palate is super.

[Cask conditioned] Deep dark golden coloured. Very hoppy aroma. Very hoppy flavour. Smooth and full bodied. Ultimate refreshment.