Grainy golden ale is casual fence-sitter, lacking adequate overall sweetness to counter emergent molded rye bittering. Brown-sugared honey biscuit nicety overlays maize-flaked corn-buttered dryness. As rye influence diminishes, orange pastry illusion caresses thin floral-spiced hop tingle.

Post-Katrina hurricane relief came from flawed cumulous-headed golden ale, October ’05. Murky sourdough tongue, sulfuric waft, and dank gluten-free remnant override barleymalt retreat as innocuous cinnamon wisp fades.

Opaque light-bodied amber-hued blonde ale moderates fuzzy carbolic acidity with subtle citrus-cherry sweetness and slim grain trim. Toasted barleymalt continuance fades quick, leaving wee vegetative, herbal, and floral respite to supplant fruited plain.

Rye malts, spicy hops, and heavy yeast sediment inform bottle conditioned limited edition (batch #23 and #44) 1-quart 18-ounce wine-bottled champion honoring beer historian Fred Eckhardt. Peach ambrosia mouthfeel and sweet Scotch insistence usurp honeyed cognac warmth. Chewy molasses undertow, creamy malt elegance, and cookie dough ‘heaviosity’ similar to highly praised Ipswich IPA. Arguably the best and most complex golden ale available.

Label claims it’s Birmingham’s best beer, but unfortunately we’re talkin’ Alabama, not England. Despite flaxen hue, its wafting citric tartness, soured mocha depth, and rousing malted hop splotch position this between lightweight stout and tingly red ale. Unique in approach, though no dominant flavor emerges. Brewery defunct: 2001.

Dark rust-hued brew buttresses perfumed hop aroma, nutty mocha bitterness, and barley-roasted graining with buttery malt perusal, nicking brown ale styling. Only disappointment comes when lingering sweet ‘n’ sour balance dips below shallow watery texture, giving soft finish neutral blandness.

Muted cherry-orange nose and phenol caramel malts initiate overtly foamy, puffy cumulous-headed lightweight, but simplistic grapefruit-hopped midst undermines potential. Brewery defunct: 2007.

Serviceable golden ale salutes dubious baseball founder, Abner Doubleday, underscoring roasted barleymalts and toasted hops with muted orange rind, sour apple and spiced peach illusions. Dry phenol finish flattens caramel-toffee tinge as floral bitterness fades.

From its funky dank aroma to its soft malt creaminess, this lusty Garden State golden ale closely resembles both French and Belgian brews due to its heavily carbonated white wine fruitiness, eloquent floral wheat influence, white-peppered coriander stint and dashing barleywine backdrop. Musty grape souring lingers below and minty herbal nuance beckons. Probably not as unique as true Belgian pale ales yet unusually complexity. Aged three years, stunning sherry oxidation saunters.

Sweet barley thrust contrasts skunked sourdough follow-up and cloy malt soaping, putting moderate-bodied Norwegian in minor league when compared to better nearby Holland-based brewer, Heineken. Faux corn-sugared malt liquor finish embittered by musty alcohol burn. One step from the junk pile.

Light texture hides barleymalt consistency, yeast sinew, and apprehensive floral bouquet of soft hop-spiced moderation. Earthen grassy-hopped straw-hay leathering adds barnyard funk to green apple, peach and pear undertones. A gentler, sweeter, bubbly golden.

Turbid copper busybody allows rapturous butterscotch creaminess to gain bruised orange density and overripe peach-grapefruit-apricot tang, maintaining sturdy medicinal thrust without sacrificing floral-spiced citric tonic. Peppery hops counter sugar malt saturation and corn whiskey sweetness mid-palate, amplifying complexity.