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earthy, orange-grapefruit hop aroma. Mouthfeel is smooth with the characteristic soft Champagne-style bubbles of bottle conditioning. Then comes the balancing bitterness and you’re lining up your next sip with the crisp, dry finish still lingering in your mouth. Simple Things say “Golden Ale was the first British ‘craft beer’ – discuss. Or don’t. But the style played an important role in the transition from boring brown beer* to the cornucopia of exotic flavours we take for granted today, that’s for sure. And some of those pioneering beers – I’m thinking of Hop Head, Summer Lightning, Crouch Vale Brewer’s Gold and more – are absolute classics that still taste amazing now. Golden Ales tipped the balance firmly towards hops, but there’s a smooth malty sweetness and a balancing bitterness to tell you that this is a British ale. For me at least, the taste is inextricably linked to being in a pub, and that’s one of the reasons I love them so much. “*I realise not all beer was boring and brown in the pre-Golden Ale era.” 3.8% 330ml bottle Less