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

TheHammer

Ontario (Canada)

3.58/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - The bottle is a nice classic label with a bee logo and lists a best before date with a pry off top. It comments on how the beer is organic and has been brewed the same since 1779. Pours with a solid two inches of head that laces very well and retains it's head. The beer itself is a crystal clear dark gold color and even the carbonation looks solid. Thumbs up.

Smell - Definitely catching honey, but it's not as sweet as I expect it to be. That is probably because I'm also smelling a citrus like hop smell as well as undertones of dry grain and biscuits. Could be a bit stronger and mesh a bit better, but all in all I'm a fan.

Taste - Starts with a biscuit taste and as it's drunk the taste of honey and lemon start to go to war which frankly seems a little bit too balanced. I'm not really catching the full sweetness of the honey nor the impact of the citrus flavor. It finishes with a dry bitter wheat flavor.

Mouthfeel - The indecisive taste of the beer isn't really doing my tongue any favors. That and the dry end of the beer is leaving a lingering aftertaste and isn't very pleasant. That and as you drink more of the beer, the aftertaste builds. The carbonation is quite good though.

Drinkability - On one end, the influx of flavor, nice smell and lightness of the stomach are definite pros and make you want to keep drinking. On the other hand, the aftertaste and dryness make it a bit hard going down. This isn't something I'd want to drink all night, that is for sure, but it's not that bad.

Final Thoughts - As many people have commented, this would be a great session ale. It's different then the usual, has a low alcohol content and does have an interesting influx of flavors going for it. Also, being able to cleanse my pallet of the aftertaste is welcome.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2009 01:20:15 | More by TheHammer

GodOfBeer

Ontario (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A nice cloudy orangey gold colour with a thin white head, nice lacing and lots of bubbles.

Lemony citrus and sweet malty aroma with some honey.

Very refreshing, nice biscuity malts, nice and sweet body that finishes slightly bitter. This would be a perfect beer on a hot summer day.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2009 20:11:20 | More by GodOfBeer

demcorhip

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A brilliantly clear, filtered golden ale with a deeper tinge of amber. Thin half finger white head formed on a fairly aggressive pour only to quickly dissipate. Quite mildly carbonated. Still produces decent lacings, somewhat intricate, that eventually fall back into the liquid.

Interesting aroma. Sulphur and a touch of skunk with biscuit. Some honey, and lesser hints of wood and ciitrus.

Taste is much like the nose. The goldings assert themselves slightly more than suggested at in the aroma, as well as the honey. There is a fair bit of flavour packed into this low gravity ale.

Light in body, full in flavour. Substantial hop contribution makes for a fairly hoppy light bodied ale. Quite sulfurous.

Seems to be fairly true to style based on my limited knowledge. Certainly a session ale, although the sulfur is something im not particularly accustomed to or overly fond of at this point. It would be better suited to summer than the depth of winter. The logic of the LCBO escapes me. Welll worth trying, hopefully this comes back to Ontario come summer.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2009 02:39:10 | More by demcorhip

ThatWineGuy

Ontario (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Best before June 25/09. Honey-gold, momentary white head flattens to a wispy film with a solid ring and some lacing. Steady small bubble slow moving carbonation. Aroma of honey dew, lime, citrus. There is a muted tartness that's well controlled, green melon, clean, crisp, dry, bitter ... all within a honey backdrop that happily lacks the associated sweetness. Refreshing bitterness has a nice understated malty finish, again nicely balanced and pleasant. This beer reminded me of what a Corona would like to be. It would make a fine summer sessional at 4.6 per cent ABV, not overly serious but the combination of Target and Goldings hops and organic breeding work out rather well in this instance, I thought highly of this beer considering the style.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2009 03:03:53 | More by ThatWineGuy

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle, from the LCBO.

Pours a clear amber, some gold highlights, thin white head forms, quickly begins to settles down to a thin ring, a few lace spots stick to the glass. Smell is neat, very malty, raw honey, some caramel, biscuits, light bit of floral, some fruit, not a whole lot going on but I do like the honey character. Taste is similar, a bit watery on the flavour, but a real nice honey character, some toast, light floral hoppiness, touch of jasmine, very light spicy bitterness. Mouthfeel is light bodied with medium to low carbonation. Easy drinker, nothing complex, but I could see myself putting down a few of these in an evening.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2008 03:20:26 | More by Viggo

CAMRAhardliner

Ontario (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a ruddy gold with a diminutive foamy cap. The aroma is of honey, grainy malts and lemon drops. The taste is pretty light with a soft, cookiedough maltiness and a clean, citrusy hop feel. Green melon and a bit of musty grain show in the background. The finish is lightly bitter with honey sweetness. The mouthfeel is rather full and briskly carbonated.

A decent light ale with nuance and balance. It could be more robust without entering the English bitter or pale ale realm.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2008 22:57:49 | More by CAMRAhardliner

allergictomacros

Ontario (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

A - Clear light copper with a moderate head of mixed bubbles.

S - Grapefruit hop with some butteriness and some metal.

T - Solid malt with a nice citric hop. Somewhat light I suppose but works well in the balance. Mild bitterness and a toastiness and a hint of soap.

M - Light body and a bit of carbonation. Fairly dry.

D - Very drinkable and well balanced.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2008 02:06:45 | More by allergictomacros

TerryW

Ontario (Canada)

3.13/5  rDev -14%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A subdued brew start to finish. Skates the edge of being interestingly hoppy, but doesn't quite get there. Well made and comfortable drinking, but not particularly memorable.

Toffee sweetness from the malt and a touch of citrus from the hops in the nose. properly balanced drinking with the hops dominating slightly, but not quite busting through to give this beer more interesting character.

Earns part of its name with a nice gold colour. Moderate short lived head and some little lace. Passable overall.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2008 22:21:25 | More by TerryW

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

3.48/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Golden-bronze with a white head, very little retention, no lace.

S: Butterscotch, earth, orange-zest, toffee & grain.

T: Grainy biscuits, toffee, orange zest, hints of earthy minerals & fruity esters, modest bitterness.

M: Light body has a very dry finish.

D: Approachable & sessionable, but not overly enticing. Perhaps a gateway/transitional brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2008 23:56:06 | More by Derek

CanuckRover

Ontario (Canada)

3.23/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a burnished gold. Finger thick white head quickly dissipates, leaving a thin film. Chunky, but slippery, lacings.

Aroma at first comes across as skunky, but I think it actually is just an odd sort of sweetness from the malt, honey probably comes closest to describing it. A little bit of an edge from the hops.

A very straightforward English Pale Ale. Everything about it is pretty subtle. The malt has a little bit of honey sweetness with a brown-sugar flavour to it as well, maybe a touch of wood. Hops leave a lasting, but understated, bitterness while failing to provide any sort of crispness in the finish.

Smooth drinking.

A sessionable organic ale.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2008 20:03:40 | More by CanuckRover

Scriba

Sweden

3.75/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This isn't the first time I'm drinking this one. I have bought it a couple of times. It's a quite inexpensive for an English ale (in Sweden), and it's organic (which makes my girlfriend happy!)

I pour the beer in the usual oversized wineglass and a pale (almost white) head forms. It dissolves after a couple of minutes into a thin ring. The liquid is golden.

It smells a little of malt. There is also a fresh smell of hops.

The taste is balanced; some malt, some hops. The immediate taste isn't very bitter, but there is some bitter notes of hopes in the aftertaste.

The beer feels nice in the mouth, and the small bubbles are just right.

It's is very gulpable beer, not very special but really nice.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2008 12:48:05 | More by Scriba

hunteraw

China

3.58/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This is a beer that is proud of the fact that it is is organic! I count ten times that it mentions the fact on the label...

Appearance: Honey in color, appropriate for a beer with a bee on the label. One finger attractive white head. Not quite clear. Attractive.

Smell: Fresh, light, almost lagery aroma at first when cold. Target and Goldings hops specified by the label. Underlying honey/candy malt notes and hints of "wet towel" if that makes sense, but in a good way.

Taste: Herbal hops dominate, on top of a sweet "honey" malt backbone. Not sure whether this is better off categorized as an English Pale Mild Ale (as it is on BA) or a bitter.

Mouthfeel: Lively carbonation, medium body. Slightly more syrupy than I might prefer. Bitter, hops aftertaste.

Drinkability: Refreshing and quaffable. At 4.6% abv, sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2008 17:39:52 | More by hunteraw

mdagnew

United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)

3.25/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

500ml bottle bought from a local Spar...

Poured a light coppery orange colour. Slightly off white head poured loose and frothy then faded to thick edging only... barely any carbonation... some light lacing...

Aroma - Lots of nice juicy and slightly spicy fruits (oranges, pears and apples), light biscuity malts - some cookie dough hints, light floral honey, faint almond nuttiness, wet hay, some light peppery / grassy hops...

Taste - Quite sweet grainy malts which are a little on the sickly side after a while, definite nutty sweetness, ripe fruits and peel (pears, apple, blood orange, light grapefruit), peppery / grassy hop bitterness, some biscuit notes...

Feel - Pretty smooth with just a little zinginess underneath... light / medium bodied... fairly quaffable although the slight sickly sweetness becomes a bit much after a while...

Overall - An average pale ale... worth a try...

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2008 15:20:38 | More by mdagnew

GreenCard

Oregon

3.88/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: light amber, slight haze, narrow layer of white froth that compacts to a thin cap

Aroma: fermented honey, grain, perfumey hop scent of pine and citrus

Flavor: dryish malt balance with fruity notes of lemons, heather flowers, and blossom honey; finishes dry with a lingering mild bitterness

Mouthfeel: medium body, pert carbonation, crisp texture

Other comments: This is probably one of the better beers from Brakspear and definitely a good organic beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2008 19:43:52 | More by GreenCard

bark

Sweden

4.33/5  rDev +19%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Not really an English Pale Mild Ale, but since the Bros doesn’t think the style “English Blond/Golden Ale” exist, this is as close as I get.

The colour is gold; the liquid clear. The finger thick head sinks down to a compact white lid, leaving some fine lacing.

The smell is sweet with notes of honey, flowery hops (according to the label, Target and Golding hops are used), some mild bitter notes as well as a hint of yeast.

The taste is sweet and a bit hoppy, but not very bitter. Flowery notes of honey and clotted cream, some apricots and bananas. The aftertaste gives a delicate bitterness as well as a touch of white bread and mint.

The liquid is very smooth and a little thick. The carbonation is fresh yet mild, giving room for the subtle flavours.

A good example of this rather new style.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2007 22:29:23 | More by bark

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Handpump half-pint at the Southwark Tavern.

A: Clear pale amber body with a very nice finger of creamy tan foam. Great retention and lacing. Lovely.

S: Balanced mix of herbal + piney hops and mildly sweet toffee malt. A little weak, but it's a mild after all.

T: Smooth, smooth, smooth. Malty and fruity up front, with biscuit, toffee, and apricot leading the way to a cleanly bitter finish. Very easy drinking and tasty.

M: Smooth, light, and moderately carbonated.

O: With its style in mind, this is almost a perfect beer: balanced, subtle, nuanced, complex, and hugely quaffable. I could see pint after pint disappearing with zero effort and great enjoyment.

Cheers!

Serving type: cask

06-19-2011 17:21:28 | More by woosterbill

wl0307

United Kingdom (England)

3.38/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Weaker than the bottle version 4.6%abv., this cask version tasted at my local JDW pub during the chain's real ale festival comes at only 4%abv. Served by a non-sparkler pour into a half-pint glass.

A: translucent, dark amber with deep orangey glows, coming with a thin soapy foam on top of really quiet carbonation.
S: rather astringently citric on the aroma, with an equally considerable input of "dirty-cloth" like pale malts and sulphur, plus a tinge of nectar at the corner. Overall the yeasty intervention rings a bell of Brakspear Bitter as well.
T: so light and crisp on the foretaste, full of floral flavours and followed by a lightly stinky, sulphurous swallow of biscuity malts almost like a traditional pale ale (brewed with double-drop or union system)... an orangey-citric and even zesty taste of hops expands along with more semi-chewy bitterness at the back, leading towards a long, bitter and tangy finish where a touch of leafy-herbs (the palate is almost like that of mint-leaves?!) lingers.
M&D: light-bodied, slightly yeasty but overall quite fresh for a cask ale. Brakspear's yeastiness certainly leaves a deep imprint in the overall flavour profile, rendering a lightly dryish touch throughout the drink. Solid!

Serving type: cask

12-07-2008 19:10:59 | More by wl0307