British Golden Bitter Recipe

I had a great English Golden Ale this weekend at a local brewery. It was wonderfully drinkable and entirely British. Details on the malts and hops weren't available, but it was light gold, clear, slightly biscuity, and had some late hops.

I know very little about this style. I looked into a few recipes, looked into the ingredients my LHBS shop has, and came up with this recipe as a starting point. Anyone that knows the style have any input on how this fits?

6 gallon batch

6 lbs Maris Otter
2 lbs Golden Promise
0.5 lbs Torrified Wheat
0.5 lbs Flaked Corn

1 oz Brewers Gold @ 60 min
1 oz Styrian Goldings @ 1 min
1 oz EKG @ 1 min

1 package WY 1028

OG = 1.045
IBU = 30
SRM = 4

I've seen discussion that many of these beers in Britain use American hops. Thats not what I'm going for with this one.

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

May need some crystal? Simpson's medium is English ale. Golden Naked Oats may give you that biscuit. It's a crystal, so no special mashing requirements or clarity concerns. If you can't get those, there really is no substitute, but 60L and Biscuit malt would do.

Maybe consider WLP002 or WY1968 if you're looking for a clearer beer with some fruity esters?

Best of luck!!

PS: A 15 minute addition gives a good late flavor/aroma combo. Dry hopping will punch it up.

 

Great to see some interest in Golden Bitters. Stylistically, they are regular bitters without the use of crystal malts, and can be hoppy or not, depending on the brewery. They often contain around 10% sugar or invert, although this is more common with larger breweries.

I brew them pretty regularly and my go-to recipe is 98% Golden Promise or MO blend, with about 2% dark crystal. This is not traditional, but the small amount of crystal helps with the color and lends some balance to my usual heavy hopping. I don't dry hop these. I like using lots of Challenger and Styrian Goldings (orange-marmalade flavor) and typically like a drier, low diacetyl yeast like WLP022, WY1768, or WLP006.

Your recipe looks fine as is, the corn isn't necessary but is not out of place for an older version. I would not add biscuit or other specialty malts, as the base malt should be providing much of the malt character. I might increase the mid kettle and KO hops though, maybe use 1/2 oz Goldings at 15 minutes and the rest at knockout. Brewers Gold actually has a pretty nice aroma to it (blackcurrant/lemon peel) and could be used as a late hop as well. WY1028 will work well, although it may take some time to clear, or use a fining agent. You want these beers to be crystal clear for full flavor. Good luck.

 

I didn't detect much, if any Carmel in the beer I'm shooting for. And it was such a light SRM beer that I'm guessing there wasn't any medium crystal in it. However, I am intrigued by the Golden naked oats - only 10 L I see. If not in this brew, I will definitely try it in a future brew.

Also, likely a good call on the 15 minute flavor addition. I'll work that in.

 

This is great. Nce to hear from an aficionado of the style. I like the idea you and brewing clown both had with the wy1968 for clarity. This was a brilliantly clear beer I'm targeting, so likely a good call on changing yeast.

I would assume the corn or sugar addition are an either / or kind of deal? Go with 1/2 lb sugar or 1/2 lb flaked maize?

I am thinking about a 1oz addition at 15 minutes, then staying at 2 oz at 1 min / KO. Is that too much? These English hops are pretty restrained and I don't mind hop character at all.

Any and all thoughts are welcome.

 

Also, thoughts on torrified wheat? I've never used it. Just for familiarity, I'm tempted to go straight white wheat malt.

 

My understanding is that torrified wheat is whole kernel wheat that has been pre-gelatinized and does not need a cereal mash. Essentially flaked wheat that hasn't been flaked. Will give you improved body and head retention.

 

Yeah, that's what I read. My thought was that white wheat malt would do the same thing. Is there more protein wi torrified wheat? I'm almost thinking if I want a clear beer, I should go with malted wheat. Unless there's a significantly different flavor contribution.

 

They have different flavours, but at the rate you'd be using them at it's mainly for head retention and mouthfeel, I wouldn't worry at all

you could go less if you are worried about excess protein from the wheat, 0.25lb or so would be fine for the purpose, just increase base malt to compensate for gravity

And light crystal is ok for golden bitters but I wouldn't use much if any. (says the person who chucked in 8% carahell into his last two golden ales )

 

Thanks, I think I'm going to change up the wheat to wheat malt and 1/4 lb.

Got it. Do as you say, not as you do.

I keep hearing crystal. I'm wanting this to be light, but I do want some body with it. I think I'll add just a little light crystal, as I tend to mash around 150-151 F.

This is where I'm at right now. I might be overdoing the hops. More input is encouraged:

6 gallon batch at end of boil

9lbs Maris Otter
0.375 lbs white Wheat malt
0.25 lbs Carapils
0.2 lbs acid malt (for mash ph)

1 oz Brewers Gold @ 60 min
1 oz EKG @ 15 min
2 oz Styrian Goldings @ 1 min

1 package WY 1968

OG = 1.048
IBU = 35
SRM = 4.3

Notes: 1 tsp CaCl, 1/2 tsp gypsum to mash.
No sparge.