Brakspear Oxford Gold - W.H. Brakspear & Sons plc

charlatan

United Kingdom (Scotland)

3.4/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

500ml bottle has freshness date July 2013. Fairly dark amber colour with decent white head. The nose is a combination of dired fruit, lemon and honey. Seems a tad watery to start, until the hops kick in. Then a very pleasant, slightly oily feeling lemony bitterness with an accompanying nutty (perahps hazelnut) element. The first time I consumed a bottle of this I was under the impression that I was drinking brakspear Bitter and wondered what had gone wrong, but it has definitely grown on me after a few bottles over the last couple of years.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 21:03:29 | More by charlatan

Radome

Spain

4.16/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Tasted from a 500 ml bottle bought in Oxford, UK.

A - Deep golden to copper color with orange highlights. Very clear. Head is off white and not very thick, but it is sticky and persistent. Good lacing.

S - Clean, fresh aroma of English hops, some bready malt and a hint of butterscotch.

T - The taste is clean and balanced. It emphasizes English hops flavor (although the bitterness is moderate), but is balanced by bready, biscuity malt. There is a bit of butter and caramel in the slightly sweet finish. Very nice.

M - Medium body. Smooth carbonation; medium hops bitterness; no alcohol burn.

O - A simple and low-key, but very well-executed English beer. Balanced, clean and not over-the-top in any one area, but very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 22:47:09 | More by Radome

FLima

Brazil

3.68/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Amber color. Poured a two finger head with low retention.
Fruity aroma, with notes of caramel and honey.
Interesting flavor, I was expecting something quite sweet, but I got a nice predominant English hops taste and decent malt. Notes of non-sweet plums and herbs. Dry and with a nice bitterness long aftertaste.
Light body with medium carbonation and small bubbles.
This was close to expiration date, I guess it aged quite well. Very well balanced beer, not too heavy but not boring, I would be more than happy to quaff a six pack.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 03:00:59 | More by FLima

sommersb

Tennessee

3.53/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Tasted On: 12-25-2012
Freshness: Best by 06-30-2013
Packaging: 500ml brown bottle, pry-cap
Glassware: Tulip pint
Purchased: Received as a gift

Thanks to my brother for picking up this rare style on a trip to Great Britain!

Shows a clear and golden, bright color with a generous white head. Very good head retention and a good amount of lace clings to the glass.

Aromas are of herbal and floral hop notes, with the pale malts adding a light breadiness and sweetness. I also pick up some citrus fruits.

Taste is a bit surprising in that it is more hop-forward than I would have guessed based on the smell. Herbal hop bitterness and spicy yeast qualities stand out, with a bit of unpleasant medicinal flavors in the end.

The feel is very crisp and clean, on a medium body. The finish is dry, weighing in with floral hops for a moderate level of bitterness and a bit of the medicinal tastes noted before.

Overall an OK brew. I can't really compare to others in the style, but the flavors seemed a bit one-dimensional and flawed by the noted off-flavors.

Thanks to Billy for this one!

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 20:35:12 | More by sommersb

thierrynantes

France

3.85/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Beer bottle (50 cl.) purchased from La Cave de l'Inattendu, tasted in 2012.

Appearance : amber color, with white foam head.
Smell : hoppy and malt aromas.
Taste & mouthfeel : flowery hops and roasted malts flavors with low bitterness.
Drinkability : a good beer in the style English Pale mild Ale.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 18:25:30 | More by thierrynantes

EmperorBevis

United Kingdom (England)

3.53/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

1 I am not a big fan of golden ales and
2 for a bottled beer to be truly organic I think it should be bottle conditioned which this isnae

but let us proceed regardless

burnished amber clear body and decent enough(2mm) thickish white head.

The aroma is ruled by malts very subtle hints of lemon and hops.

The taste is very much like golden ales ruled by yeasty zings and not much else till tailing into subtle hops after taste not bad but still not my thing, not won over at all.

Its okay
I will finish it and if bought it will drink but not going to buy again in a hurry.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 00:01:49 | More by EmperorBevis

jazzyjeff13

United Kingdom (England)

3.3/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I'm not quite sure what an English Pale Mild Ale is, but I reckon this ale is just a regular bitter. Anyways...

A 500ml bottle with a BB of Dec 2011. Label mentions that this beer is made from organic ingredients.

Poured into a tulip pint glass. A hazy golden-amber colour with low carbonation and some floating sediment. Produces a large head of creamy white foam that lasts for a few minutes before subsiding. Aroma of rich, fruity yeast underpinned by subtle caramel malt and leafy hops.

Tastes of light caramel malt with a dry, yeasty character and a mild bitter finish. Notes of yeast esters, bittering hops and faint aromatic hops with a whisper of citrus in the background. Mouthfeel is tingly and astringent, leaving the palate dry. Yeasty, faintly bitter aftertaste.

A decent ale, though not amazing. The aroma is pretty good, and the taste is well-rounded. Could imagine sinking a few on a hot day. Worth trying if you come across it.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 23:15:33 | More by jazzyjeff13

grapetonix

Sweden

3.48/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Dark golden, slight head. Good.

S: Honey and malt skunkiness. Not exactly brilliant.

T: Like a really good lager with strong tones of black tea and honey. I cannot say anything else than that this is simple but really works!

MF: Like any other lager. Slightly metallic. Easy to drink. Not offensive, not impressive.

O: A very reasonable "spiced up lager". Not a bad purchase.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2011 17:04:06 | More by grapetonix

heygeebee

Australia

2.78/5  rDev -23.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

First beer in style.

Pours a cloudy copper gold. Fluffy head has large and small bubbles. Fades to lace. Good.

Aromas of English style hops. Hint of orange rind.

Taste continues smell, being very dry and hoppy. Where is the malt, eh? Merest hint of honey. Dryness really catches up almost IPA style, but no body.

Mouthfeel is light/watery as per ABV which means the hops dominate quickly. Carbonation moderate

Overall, at start I thought 'good session beer' then it got too dry. Suspect will be a glass of water job to wash down at end. Meh.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2011 11:04:23 | More by heygeebee

anakar

Israel

4.22/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a great beer, but then maybe it's because I poured it perfectly to my glass (YES! no enormous foam and not flat!!!)

App: it pours a bronze beauty, a bit cloudy with a pretty white (not bright white, kinda dirty white) head of about 2 fingers

Smell: Smell of honey, which is a big feature to this beer, rich smell that doesn't overpower you like you get in some heavy beers. makes you wanna take a chug

Taste: the best part. This is a sweet, honey tasting beer. the taste is rich and spreads great over the mouth. No bad aftertaste but a weak flavor that I enjoyed

Mouth: great, clear but with a little carb. Good feel, I can't quite explain

Overall: very recomended for all purposes

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2011 16:31:18 | More by anakar

StJamesGate

New York

3.58/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Amber gold with clumpy white foam that trails. Toffee and toast with slight orange jellies on the nose.
Granary bread with a bit of apricot pit and spicy EKG hops with earth underneath.
Candied orange and fruity linger. Medium, fizzy, oily.

How is this Pale Mild? It says "Gold" right on the bottle. Some pungent hops, some fruit and toast - good balance all around. Solid easy drinker.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2011 22:24:46 | More by StJamesGate

alex667gbg

Sweden

3.7/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: A nice white head on this amber English pale ale.

S: A malty, honey and a bit alcohol.

T: Actually a nice surprise. A malty, bitter pale ale with a honey, citrus tone. A very well balanced bitter mild ale, in true British nature. A sharp end to this, for me, currently unknown beer.

A: Well worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2011 18:35:09 | More by alex667gbg

paperwerewolf

United Kingdom (England)

3.7/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A pleasant surprise, have been passing this over in the supermarket for ages but will certainly be buying again.
Poured into a Grottenbier chalice, gave a nice head which held reasonably well, leaving some nice lacing on its way down.
Quite fragrant, but doesn't beg you to gulp it down. Lovely bitter fruitiness that hit my sweet spot this evening.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2011 19:12:54 | More by paperwerewolf

wwjb

United Kingdom (England)

3.25/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Amber in colour with golden highlights, arriving with a fairly lively carbonation. A thin white head forms but settles down too quickly to a thin ring with a few lacey spots clinging to the glass. The aroma is bright and citrusy and I think I can detect Goldings hops dominating the nose. There is also a maltiness underneath with a hint of caramel and honey.

The taste is slightly sweet with a nice honey character but a little watery on the flavour. There are hints of toast, floral hops, and a spicy edge to the bitterness. The swallow is citrusy and the finish clean, with biscuity malts lingering.

To be honest, despite the local connections, I have always been unable to muster much enthusiasm for Brakspear's Oxford Gold. The light body combined with the spicy edge to the flavour does not suit my taste, but I think I am unusual in this as most of fellow beer-enthusiasts here find this an easy-drinker.

Overall: Refreshing and quaffable, but lacks body and complexity of flavour.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2011 08:31:06 | More by wwjb

nickd717

California

3.85/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

500ml bottle thanks to alfrantzell. All right, my first English Pale Mild tick, if you can call this beer that.

Pours a nice clear golden color with a small white head.

Sweet pale malt and honey on the aroma, with mild earthy hops. The flavor is slightly sweet and rather honeyish.

Pale malt and a smooth subtle earthy and mild citrus hop profile. Like a bitter, albeit not too bitter.

Medium-bodied with a nice smooth mouthfeel.

Solid and drinkable beer overall. Nice session beer (if you're not a 4% = session beer diehard tool that is).

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2010 00:20:32 | More by nickd717

eric5bellies

Australia

3.68/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Drank from my Bombardier Conic Pint Glass.

A - Pours a nice porange copper colour with a nice fluffy white head that retains well.

S - Plenty of hops and malts

T - Up front some caramel toffee flavours with a spicey middle finished with a boozey bitterness.

M - Medium body low carbonation and dry finish.

D - Plenty in this beer to keep you interested.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2010 15:12:02 | More by eric5bellies

PEIBeerGuy

Prince Edward Island (Canada)

3.65/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Cloudy, deep honey colour. A little head disappears soon, leaving some lacing to the bottom.

The smell is good. I liked it better from the bottle before I poured it. A bit of citrus and... graham cracker? That could be honey coming through, too.

Taste has just a hint of peppery spice, which is nice. A bit of citrus (grapefruit / more orange). Starts tasting a bit like a Sam Adams' Summer Ale as the bottle wears on.

Carb is sharp if held in the mouth for a couple of seconds. On regular drinks, it's fine. A bit of a bitter / dry finish. Not watery.

Quite drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2010 13:14:32 | More by PEIBeerGuy

FreshHawk

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Clear, golden-orange bronze color and a lot of bubbles with a large, fluffy, foamy, creamy white head with great retention settling into a thick creamy and sticky lacing.

S - Definitely an English smelling beer with a good amount of grassy/herbal/tea hops coming out on top of a slight caramel malt base. Also a fair amount of honey aroma and a touch of citrus, yeast, and mineral as well.

T - Initially there is a pale and slight caramel malt, sweet taste. This quickly gives way to the English hops, with a grassy/herbal/ tea like flavor coming through pretty strong along with hints of spice. Some fruitiness (apple and pear) comes out as well, followed by some orange like citrus. This leads to a bit more floral hop taste along with a touch of toasted bread flavor. Mineral flavors come on at the end and linger after the sip. Slight bitterness from the hops through out, but it isn't all that bitter.

M - On the lighter side of medium body with a good level of carbonation. Pretty smooth and a touch of a tingly feeling and a drying finish.

D - Very drinkable beer with a lot of different flavors and a nice balance of hops and malt. Very much a sessionable English beer. Easy to drink, and continues to grow on you as you drink it.

Notes: Best before 31/12/10. A very nice, solid English session beer. Very nicely balanced and easy to drink. Doesn't stand out as amazing, but it continues to grow on you as you drink it.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2010 16:08:44 | More by FreshHawk

rarbring

Sweden

3.75/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer is clear dark golden with a hint of copper, a rather small white head that leaves good lacing.

The smell is sweet oranges, with a hint of bitter lemon peel.

The smell has a little honey sweetness, some orange sour notes, but mainly bitterness, grape-fruit seeds and zest.

Medium high carbonation, small bubbles, a distinct dryness.

A good distinct bitter brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2010 16:50:38 | More by rarbring

DerBayer

Germany

3.45/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer is much more pleasant to drink than i expected. It looks a pale copper when poured with soapy head and the smell is of grassy hops with little mallt character.

The taste is well-balanced an refreshing with grassy light hop flavours dominant.

The brew is very drinkable and i can see this being a mid-week regular

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2010 20:27:07 | More by DerBayer

Sunnanek

Sweden

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer comes in a brown 33 cl long-necked bottle. The label is white with a gold frame. There's only text (lot of text) on the label, except for a small bumble-bee. The same bumble-bee apears on the cap as well.

A: This beer pours clear golden with hits of red. The white head is rather small but leaves nice lacings. Lots of bubbles in the liquid.

S: A bit dry English hops. Caramell malt. A bit chemical. Citric and bready.

T: Bready malt - almost like ryebread. A bit dry. Bitter hops. Fruityness is a bit in the back, mainly citric.

M: Aftertaste is just right; long and bitter. The body is medium and the carbonation is rich. A kind of metallic feel to it.

D: Nothing to write home about. Goes down easy, but with a little extra twist (in the bitterness). A beer for bar-hopping.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2010 18:54:29 | More by Sunnanek

Long813

Nova Scotia (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

G: Stein

A: Bright golden clear body with a thin off white head that leaves fine lacing

S: Honey, citrus fruits, wheat & bread/biscuit.

T: Honey upfront with light citrus and biscuit.

M: Light bodied and medium carbonation. Smooth and crisp sweet/biscuit finish.

D: I didn't think it was exceptional. but it did not fall short in any category except price.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2009 02:31:50 | More by Long813

fullsweep

United Kingdom (England)

3.58/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

500 mL brown bottle. Unfortunately, I didn't have a glass as I had this at an outdoor barbecue.

Even without pouring, foam was bubbling up through the neck of the bottle--white foamy bubbles. This was very nice to see considering I didn't have the added benefit of a clear glas.

Smells and tastes very bitter with a sweet aftertaste of molasses.

Mouthfeel was thick and rich with a moderate amount of carbonation.

Although this is definitely on the bitter end of the scale for my tastes, it's definitely drinkable and ranks with similar ales like St. Peter's Organic Ale and Tribute Premium Cornish Ale.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2009 21:23:09 | More by fullsweep

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.88/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Brown 500ml bottle, one month past its Best Before Date. This is an organic beer and bottle conditioned.

Poured into a standard pint glass, most likely a bit colder than it would have liked (it was a hot day), the beer had been left in the fridge a bit longer than it should have been!

Mini haze to this tangarine orange coloured beer, plenty of carbonisation rising through to replenish the white foaming head. No lacing, but the head stayed for a long time, so condition of the beer was fine, even though I'd over cooled it.

Aroma of spicey hops and yeast esters, some malty smells arrived as it warmed in the sun.

There is a tang and pungency to the taste, bitter with an easy mixed fruit feel to it. No trace of any malt in the flavour, but it was sharp, refreshing and invigorating, a good beer for a hot day or night.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2009 17:41:31 | More by BlackHaddock

IBUnit63

Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I wanted to try one of these options in the style for a while but couldn't bring myself to blow 13 clams on a Lakefront variety 12-pack with a couple Cattails in it. Finally, at Volo Toronto, I find this in bottle. Served in tulip.

Provides a honey color with about a 2/3 finger head. Really, not too much retention, but there's decent carbonation. Quite clear - although the head doesn't stick this is an inviting presentation.

The first whiff brings about a bit of silage - it actually smells organic if that can be explained. Definitely noble hops abound from the stewy light malt.

It's actually somewhat clean with that British slatey tinniness for a while but it burns off. Intermittent butterscotch is latent as well - it gets more hearty with a little warmth.

For some reason I don't expect milds to be very clean and light but this one is. A slightly tinny aftertaste, but that doesn't create much hassle.

Being in this weight class offers major sessionability. It's admittedly not a style I am well-versed in but it's an easy pour and a solid foundation.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2009 10:17:28 | More by IBUnit63