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Honey Ma Gold

Great Leap Brewing
China·Golden Ale
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Great Leap's most distinctive beer and the one that defined Chinese craft brewing. Brewed with local Beijing honey and Sichuan ma (numbing pepper) for a unique sweet-spicy-floral character unlike anything else in the world. Honey Ma Gold is the beer that told China's craft scene it was allowed to be distinctly Chinese: not just copying American or German styles, but creating something genuinely new.

ABV
6%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
honeyspicyfloral
honey
spicy
floral
clean
fruity
herbal
Aroma
The nose leads with floral honey notes, soft and inviting, layered with the distinctive numbing pepper character that defines this beer's identity.
also:malty
not found:hoppy,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Honey Ma Gold

◎ Appearance

Honey Ma Gold presents a pale golden hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head. The carbonation is gentle and well-integrated, creating a delicate foam collar that clings to the glass with fine lacing as the beer is consumed.

pale goldenclearfine lacinggentle carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with floral honey notes, soft and inviting, layered with the distinctive numbing pepper character that defines this beer's identity. Subtle fruity undertones and a light herbal quality complement the primary adjunct, while the clean malt base remains restrained in the background.

honey forwardSichuan pepperfloral and herbalclean malt

◐ Taste

The palate opens with honeyed sweetness and immediate numbing spice from the ma pepper, creating a dynamic and unusual sensation. The mid-palate remains smooth and well-balanced, with light fruity notes and a crisp, dry finish that prevents the sweetness from becoming cloying. Bitterness is restrained at 20 IBU, allowing the floral and herbal elements to shine.

honey sweetnessnumbing spicesmooth texturebalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately dry, with lingering honey and pepper notes that fade gradually. The numbing sensation from the Sichuan pepper persists pleasantly on the palate, leaving a distinctive and memorable aftertaste.

dry finishlingering pepperclean aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
83
Appearance
80
Finish
78
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 Honey Ma 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 honey, spicy, sweet character as Honey Ma Gold will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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