Pale, Blond and Golden Ales, Premium

A very popular beer style for cask conditioned beer with most brewers having at least one example in their portfolio. The main characteristic is the lightness in colour and body making them easy drinking beers. Being a Premium strength often gives the beer more body than weaker beer making them ideal who want an easy-drinking beer without compromising on taste.

A light refreshing beer which is hop forward and offering a wide range of flavours. This style is split, as the name suggests, into three sub-styles each with it's own characteristic but each merging with each other to the point where categorisation comes down to individual interpretations.

Due to the light colour these beers are often seen as gateway beer from Lager to heavier beer style such as Bitter and Stout. However they are much more than that and should be seen as much as a destination as starting point. Although the name may have changed Pale, Blond and Golden Ales do have a history stretching back to the latter part of the 19th century though the beer would taste very different to some of the American influenced beers we have now.

Premium Pale, Blond and Golden Ales are in the 4.4% to 6.4% ABV range, beers with a similar flavour profile but up to and including 4.3% ABV may be Session Pale, Blond and Golden Ales. Stronger examples than this will result in the beer being a Strong Ale. For some beers which are 5.5% or over may be categorised as an IPA.