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Gold Medal Ale

Speight's
New Zealand·Ale
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Malty, at 4.0% ABV: Gold Medal Ale owes its name to Melbourne. In 1880 Speight's entered its flagship ale at the Melbourne Exhibition, came home with two gold medals and renamed the beer after them. The brewery itself dates to 1876, when James Speight, Charles Greenslade and William Dawson set up on Dunedin's Rattray Street.

ABV
4%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
malty
malty
Aroma
The nose leads with clean, inviting malt character—biscuit and light grain notes dominate without sharpness.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Gold Medal Ale

◎ Appearance

Gold Medal Ale presents a bright golden hue with excellent clarity and transparency. The head is dense and persistent, with fine bubbles that cling to the glass in delicate lacing. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, creating a gentle effervescence.

bright goldenclearpersistent headfine lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with clean, inviting malt character—biscuit and light grain notes dominate without sharpness. Noble hops contribute a subtle herbal and slightly spicy undertone. The overall aromatic profile is restrained and balanced, with no yeast-derived esters or off-notes.

biscuit maltsubtle herbal hopsclean, restrained

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and malt-forward, with a foundation of toasted grain and gentle sweetness. The mid-palate holds a soft, rounded character; bitterness arrives gradually and remains low-to-moderate at 30 IBU, never becoming harsh. Finish is crisp without astringency, allowing the malt to linger.

malt-driventoasted graingentle bitternesscrisp finish

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately dry, with malt sweetness fading to a mild herbal backdrop. Aftertaste is brief and unobtrusive, leaving the palate refreshed and ready for the next sip.

clean, drybrief aftertaste
76
hopIQ score
Aroma
75
Taste
77
Appearance
80
Finish
74
Serve at 6–8°C

Cold enough to sharpen the hop aroma without numbing the palate. Around 7–9°C keeps the citrus and pine vivid without losing bitterness definition.

Pint glass

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

Drink fresh — hop aroma fades fast. Best within 3 months of canning or bottling.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Gold Medal Ale

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About Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Ale?

India Pale Ales are hop-forward ales with ABV typically 5.5–7.5% and IBU 40–70+. Bold citrus, pine or tropical aromas alongside firm bitterness and a clean dry finish.

Finding a similar Ale

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

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