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Exmoor Gold

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Fresh grassy and floral hops meet soft, caramel-tinged malt on the nose. The palate balances gentle grainy malt against floral, citrusy hop fruit. The finish is bittersweet, with citrus weaving in and out. Pale gold, 4.5% in cask and 5.0% in the bottle. Brewed from a single malt in 1986, it is regarded as the first modern golden ale.

ABV
4.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceSession

AWARDS

Gold · 2015
Champion Beer of Britain (regional, South West)
Golden Ale
★Gold — Champion Beer of Britain (regional, South West) (Golden Ale)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
grassyfloralcitrusy
grassy
floral
citrusy
hoppy
malty
caramel
Aroma
The nose opens with fresh-cut grass and herbaceous hop character, layered beneath soft, rounded caramel undertones from the malt.
also:clean
not found:juicy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Exmoor Gold

◎ Appearance

Pale gold in color with excellent clarity and a bright, inviting hue. The head forms readily and clings to the glass with fine retention, leaving delicate lacing that marks each sip. Carbonation is visible and lively, contributing to the beer's overall freshness.

pale goldbright clarityfine lacinglively carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with fresh-cut grass and herbaceous hop character, layered beneath soft, rounded caramel undertones from the malt. Floral and citrus notes emerge on closer inspection, creating a complex but balanced aromatic profile that invites repeated sniffs. No yeast-driven or adjunct aromas intrude; the beer presents a clean, hop-forward expression.

grassy, herbalfloral, citrussoft caramelclean hop-forward

◐ Taste

The palate strikes an immediate balance between gentle, grainy malt sweetness and floral, citrusy hop fruit. Mid-palate remains light and crisp, with the malt providing backbone without heaviness. Bitterness emerges steadily toward the back of the palate, finishing bittersweet as citrus notes weave through the final taste sensations.

balanced malt-hopcrisp, clean palatecitrus bitternessrefined grain

◑ Finish

The finish is medium in length, bittersweet and refreshing, with citrus character lingering pleasantly into the aftertaste. The beer fades cleanly without astringency, leaving a dry, hop-inflected impression that encourages another sip.

bittersweetdry citrusclean fade
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
82
Appearance
81
Finish
80
Serve at 7–10°C

Serve at 7–10°C. Light and refreshing — serve cold to keep the delicate hop and malt balance intact.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Exmoor Gold

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About Golden Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Golden Ale?

Golden Ale is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Golden Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same grassy, floral, citrusy character as Exmoor Gold will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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