Crouch Vale Brewers Gold

Brewed by Crouch Vale
Style: Golden Ale/Blond Ale
South Woodham Ferrers, England

Pours incredibly pale, almost yellow/gold pint, white head. Taste is pleasant, light and crisp strawlike hops, some fruit and citrus but not much impact and a mild bitter finish. A decent beer, but I was surprised it scores so highly.

[bottle] Hazy, pale golden colour with a short foamy white layer. Spicy and slightly flowery hoppy nose with notes of citrus and a moderately sweet malty background. Bitter flavour, light but not watery body, moderately carbonated and dry mouthfeel. Delicate malty base with a citrus-fruity, piney and slightly spicy hops character. Bone-dry and bitter hoppy and quite lasting finish. Aromatic and well-crafted brew [22.XII.08].

Cask at the Eastbourne Beer Festival, 9th Oct 2008. The Daddy of English Golden Ales, this was not in the form that I remember it in when I first tasted it in Oxford, just after its CBOB win in 2005. Farmyard funk spoils the aroma. Bright clear gold appearance. The balance in the taste is still there and the finish is just long enough but I really need to re-rate this at some point in the future.

Cask at Blackfriars. Golden in colour with a small foamy head. Aroma of citrus hops, peachy and lychee notes. Flavour is clean hoppy grapefruit witha nice balance of fruity hops. Not too overpowering. Fresh and pleasant to session. Good work for a British beer but i would prefer something hoppier

Cask in Prid. e of Spitalfields. Golden colour. Sweet with bitter finish. Good mouthfeel and you could easily sink a few of these.

Pours a rich golden yelow with moderate head. Scents of hops and citric fruits. Flavor is of grapefruit and strong hops. What a treat. Very easy drinking beer with a fantastic taste. Could do for a session. A

From cask at Charlies. Pours clear and golden yellow, bubbly white head. Solid fruity hops aroma. Flavour is sweet and fruity. Light peachy accent from the hops. Quite smooth and easy. Smooth fruity and ligh bitterness in the finish. Nice one.

Hoppy in aroma, hoppy, balanced and refreshing in taste like so many of these beers are. Absolutely nothing offensive about it at all, each pint I’ve ever had has been entirely drinkable and pleasing. I can’t seem to find anything about it that is outstanding in anyway. It’s all there, but just turning up to a final shouldn’t guarantee greatness. Some nice fruit flavours, it’s clean, it’s bright and it’s drinkable - I guess in a way I’ve answered my own question. Are these not fairly often the CAMRA guidelines for Champion Beer of Any Festival?