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Summer Lightning

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Floral honey and dried orange aromas meet a fresh hoppy aroma, an intense bitterness and a long, dry finish in this straw-coloured summer ale, built on East Kent Goldings aroma hops. First brewed in 1988 and billed as the original of its kind, it runs all year at 5%. The bottled version is bottle-conditioned, with yeast sediment, so the brewery advises a slow pour.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
floralhoppyhoney
floral
hoppy
honey
orange
noble hop
clean
Aroma
The nose opens with prominent floral notes and honeyed sweetness, complemented by dried orange peel aromatics.
also:malty
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Summer Lightning

◎ Appearance

Straw-golden hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head that leaves delicate lacing down the glass. The carbonation is lively and well-integrated, creating a visual impression of freshness and vitality characteristic of the style.

straw-goldenclearfine head lacingbright carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with prominent floral notes and honeyed sweetness, complemented by dried orange peel aromatics. East Kent Goldings hops deliver a fresh, herbaceous hoppy character that sits harmoniously alongside subtle noble-hop spice, creating a balanced and inviting bouquet.

floralhoneydried citrusherbal hop

◐ Taste

The palate enters crisp and clean, with a malty sweetness that quickly gives way to an intense, assertive bitterness. Floral and hoppy flavours dominate the mid-palate, with gentle orange notes threading through, while the dry character builds steadily toward the swallow.

hoppy bitternessfloralorange peeldry malt base

◑ Finish

The finish is long and decisively dry, with lingering bitterness and herbal hop notes that fade slowly into a clean, refreshing aftertaste. No sweetness remains; the overall impression is bracing and thirst-quenching.

long dry finishbitter persistencerefreshing
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
80
Appearance
80
Finish
75
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 Summer Lightning

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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 floral, hoppy, bitter character as Summer Lightning will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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