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Buyer's Guide for Beer Lovers

British and North American Styles

The Changing Definition of Style

American Golden Ale

These brews are golden to light copper in color with a more subtle overall character and lighter body than typical pale ales. English ale fruitiness will probably not be observed. However, the most important qualification is that they are brewed domestically and will have less body and hop and malt character than a pale ale from the same brewery.

Interpreting the 100-point Scale

Consumers can translate the point score to the following quality bands:

Point Range Quality Band
96-100 points Platinum
90-95 points Gold
85-90 points Silver
80-84 points Bronze
Less than 80 Not Recommended
Legend
  • = Brewpub
  • ABV = Alcohol by volume
  • Date denotes the date on which the beer was tasted

93 420 Extra Pale Ale, Sweetwater Brewing Co. (GA). 5.6% ABV (3/12)

Golden amber color. Aromas of lemon-peach soufflé and creamy polenta with a supple, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a crisp, hoppy pepper grilled citrus and root vegetable finish. A fantastically refreshing pale ale.

88 ALAMO Golden Ale, Alamo Beer Co. (TX). 5.1% ABV (3/11)

Golden yellow color. Toasted nut bread, starfruit and crusty corn pudding aromas, with a silky dry-yet-fruity medium body and a crisp, buttered lemon scone and light earthy, grassy hop finish. Very refreshing and balanced.

88 Fish Tale Organic Blonde Ale, Fish Brewing Co. (WA). 4% ABV (6/11)

Golden color with a light hazy. Corn bread toast, white bean paste and faint plum and citrus aromas with a crisp, round dryish medium body and a savory, toasty root vegetable and grass finish. An interesting food-affined take on the style.

88 Summer Ale, Narragansett Brewing Co. (RI). 4.2% ABV (6/11)

Deep old gold color. Aromas of peach marmalade on rye toast with a faint hint of stewed okra and peppers. Supple and frothy with a dry, medium body and a floury, doughy, mossy stone-accented finish.

87 Sum’r Organic Summer Ale, Uinta Brewing Co. (UT). 4% ABV (9/10)

Golden yellow color. Aromas of roasted corn husk and baked lemon. Crisp and round with a dryish, medium body and zippy, grassy earth finish.

87 Kayaker Golden Ale, Pagosa Brewing Co. (CO). 4.7% ABV (2/12)

Lightly hazy golden color. Lovely aromas of honeyed, toasted Hawaiian bread with a supple, dryish medium body and a crisp jicama, Brazil nut and kiwi-accented finish. A super lawn mower beer.

86 American Blonde Ale, Frankenmuth Brewery (MI). 4.75% ABV (12/11)

Old gold color. Aromas of orange cake and almond brittle with a supple, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a grain and pepper finish.

86 Big Island Blond Ale, Excelsior Brewing Co. (MN). 5.8% ABV (2/13)

Golden color. Mild grainy toast aromas with a crisp, dryish light-to-medium body and roasted corn and a salted nut-accented finish. A nice golden ale that goes down easy.

84 Celts Golden Ale, Moylan’s Brewing Co. (CA). 5% ABV (3/11)

Deep old gold color. Bold aromas of grilled romaine, oily nut butter and fried root vegetable chips with a round, chewy dryish medium body and a savory and vegetal cauliflower purée, kettle corn and mushroom quesadilla finish, with lettuce and okra-like hops. Different and interesting.

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