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Genesee 12 Horse Ale

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First introduced in 1933 after the repeal of Prohibition, this ale returns periodically from the brewery's archive at the request of its drinkers. It is brewed with two-row barley malt, Yakima Valley hops and a top-fermenting ale yeast brought from England in 1933. It pours a clear golden colour with a white head. The aroma is of bread crust with a slightly floral touch, and the palate is gently sweet and malty with a hint of honey and fruit, low bitterness and a dry finish.

ABV
5.1%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceA Few

AWARDS

Silver · 1988
Great American Beer Festival
Blond/Golden Ales
★Silver — Great American Beer Festival (Blond/Golden Ales)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
maltybreadyfloral
malty
bready
floral
honey
fruity
hoppy
Aroma
The nose leads with a pronounced bread crust character, warm and inviting with subtle cereal notes from the two-row Malz.
not found:juicy,caramel,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Genesee 12 Horse Ale

◎ Appearance

This ale presents a bright, clear golden hue with excellent transparency and a clean white head that settles into a thin, persistent collar. The carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, creating a soft, uniform foam structure with fine lacing on the glass.

bright goldenclearwhite headfine lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with a pronounced bread crust character, warm and inviting with subtle cereal notes from the two-row Malz. A delicate floral undertone emerges, likely from the Yakima Valley hops, adding refinement without dominating the composition.

bread crustfloralcereal maltclean

◐ Taste

The palate opens gently sweet with a soft, malty foundation and a light honey note that carries through the mid-palate. The bitterness remains low and restrained, allowing the subtle fruit notes to develop, before concluding with a clean, dry finish that prevents any cloying sensation.

gently sweetmaltyhoneylow bitternessdry finish

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately dry, with a brief but satisfying aftertaste dominated by light grain character. No sharp edges remain—just a soft fade leaving the palate refreshed.

dryclean aftertaste
75
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
75
Appearance
78
Finish
72
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 Genesee 12 Horse Ale

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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 malty, dry, bready character as Genesee 12 Horse Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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