A shorter version of this review was first published in BEER August 2008 as part of a piece about beers for summer outdoor drinking.
ABV: 4%
Origin: Tyndyrn, Sir Fynwy, Cymru
Website: www.meadowfarm.org.uk, www.kingstonebrewery.co.uk
Kingstone Gold
Originally established in 2005 at Kinsons Farm, Gwenffrwd (Whitebrook) nearby, this small brewery moved two years later to an idyllic site on the wooded slopes of the Wye valley, not far from the ruins of Tintern abbey and within near-spitting distance of England on the other side of the river. Here it’s part of the Meadow Farm complex including a beer shop stocking not only the brewery’s products but a wide range of other Welsh craft beers.
Gold, formerly known as Kinsons Gold after its original home, is an accessible easy drinking golden ale, made using First Gold and Fuggles hops as well as a touch of wheat malt. It’s a deep amber gold, with a bubbly thick off-white head and a grassy hops and banana yeast aroma. The slightly oily and bubbly light malt plaate has gritty citrus and more banana notes, with firm marmalade leading to a tangy, fruity, slightly gingery finish topped off by grassy hops and puckering zest.
I found the standard version a little too heavy for the style, but the organic version, made with English barley, wheat and First Gold, and Fuggles hops grown in Belgium, is a notable improvement. It’s a slightly lighter colour, with a fluffy foamy white head, less banana and more rose on the grassy aroma. The palate is drier and crisper with a subtle strawberry note. A sharp, spicy bitter note comes to dominate, with the beer finishing resiny dry and lingering with earthy and thistly hops. A decent beer for summer quaffing, particularly to tempt lager-drinking guests.
More summer drinking beers in next post.
Read more about these beers at ratebeer.com: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/kingstone-kinsons-gold/67145/
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