Real Ales
We constantly change our guest ales and this is the place where you can find out what's on now.
Do you have a favourite real ale that you would like us to stock? Email your suggestions to Dawn
f&b@goldenlionhotel.org
Real Ales on Now:
Wells and Young's
Special 4.5% ABV
Young’s Special is a classic premium bitter with cult status amongst cask beer aficionados. Its distinctive taste makes Young’s Special a beer that is eagerly sought out by its loyal fans the length and breadth of the UK.
It is brewed with 100% British ingredients as has the Red Tractor stamp of approval.
An award winner in both 2002 and 2004 at the brewing industry international Awards, Young’s Special is a cask ale with genuine credentials and one which shares in Young’s 175 years of brewing heritage and excellence.
Young’s Special is a 100% malt brew combining Maris Otter and Crystal malt with locally sourced British Fuggle and Goldings hops
Recent Real Ales:
Hyde's Brewery
Berry Good Ale 4.1% ABV
A delightful well balanced copper toned ale, craft brewed using only the finest Goldings and Fuggle hops.
Wells and Young's
Young's Gold 4.0% ABV
Young's Gold is a light, golden beer with a refreshing bite.
The combination of English malted barley and Styrian hops provides a well rounded floral and citrus flavour with hints of fruit, finished off with a dry, hoppy bitterness.
WM
Younger's No. 3 4.3% ABV
Cask Conditioned Ale
Made with Classic Roast Barley
St Austell Brewery
Tribute 4.2% ABV
A Supreme Champion Ale of Cornwall as voted by CAMRA*, and the South West's Favourite cask beer**, Tribute is a popular favourite with locals and visitors to Cornwall, as well as being a much sought after brand throughout the rest of the UK. It is brewed using specially grown Cornish Gold Malt.
For foodies, Tribute is a perfect accompaniment to chicken, gammon or fish. The ideal alternative to a fine white wine.
Roger Protz, Editor Good Beer Guide, wrote: "Tribute is a magnificent example of a bronze coloured English bitter, with a rich aroma of biscuity malt and tart citrus fruit from the Willamette hops. Juicy malt, hop resins and tangy fruit coat the tongue, while the finish is long and lingering, with a fine balance between malt, hops and fruit, finally becoming dry and bitter."
Awarded a Silver Medal at the Taste of the West Awards 2009
Winner of the SIBA South West awards 2007
Voted Supreme Champion Cornish Ale, CAMRA Falmouth Beer Festival 2004
Cottage Brewery
Wessex Spring 4.0% ABV
Copper in colour, full of flavour and a good balance of malt and hops
Wells and Young's
Youngs Bitter 3.7% ABV
Don’t be fooled: not all beers are created equal! Young’s Bitter sets the standard. We call it "natural brewing excellence" promoted through our advertising campaign.
Young’s is brewed with passion and that passion is fundamental to the ingredients we use.
Young’s Bitter shares the heritage of 175 years of brewing expertise. Today Young’s Bitter one of the fastest growing standard cask beers in England and Wales.
It is also the first cask beer brand to carry the Red Tractor logo. This stamp of approval guarantees that the Maris Otter barley we use is of the highest quality and grown on assured farms in the UK - Norfolk to be precise!
With high levels of awareness and popularity amongst beer drinkers nationally, Young’s Bitter is an easy drinking pint, with a lower ABV recognising the need for responsible drinking.
Black Sheep Brewery
Black Sheep Best Bitter 3.8%
By using the best quality ingredients and the traditional Yorkshire Square fermenting system, we created a light, clean drinking pint with plenty of bite.
From its humble beginnings we’re proud to say that Black Sheep Best Bitter is now one of the best-selling session beers in the country and by far the biggest selling beer we produce.
Although we now produce Best Bitter on a national scale, we still use time-honoured traditional brewing techniques and the highest quality ingredients to create this archetypal Yorkshire bitter which is undoubtedly one of the finest beers of its type.
Aroma
Fuggles hops against a malty background.
Taste
Peppery hop in the mouth with a long, bitter finish.
A classic well-hopped and beautifully balanced beer with a deeply satisfying and refreshing taste that is followed by a distinctively dry and long bitter finish. Best enjoyed in true Black Sheep style, through a rich, creamy head.
Food and Beer Pairing
Best bitter is the perfect accompaniment for lamb and other tender, tasty meats. The bitter flavour of the Fuggle hop lends a peppery characteristic which really complements full flavoured meat.
The Cottage Brewing Company
MGB ABV 3.9%
Wells and Young's
Bombardier 4.3%
Wells Bombardier has enjoyed a spectacular rise from well loved regional beer to a top national cask beer brand. Bombardier's close affinity with all the positive and inclusive aspects of 'Englishness' has been instrumental in making St. George's Day the third busiest day of the year in the country's pubs. Bombardier is the official beer of English Heritage helping to protect our historical environment across the country cementing its place as the 'Drink of England'.
Well's and Young's
Courage Directors 4.7% ABV
It is a genuine premium ale, pale brown in appearance with a deep rich taste.
JW Lees
The Governor 3.8% ABV
This all-malt British beer created by Marco Pierre White and JW Lees Brewery, is named after Marco's family greyhound that his father rescued. He started his racing career as Fearless, but having broken several track records was re-named The Governor. He went on to win 28 out of the 32 races that he started in Northern England. Raise your glass to The Governor and in the words of Captain Smith of The Titanic 'Be British'.
"My beer is a 3.8% pale ale and named after my old man’s greyhound. An extraordinary animal - he always, always won! And it is every boy’s dream to have their own beer, isn't it?" Marco Pierre White
Wells and Young's
Young's Gold 4.0% ABV
Young's Gold is a light, golden beer with a refreshing bite.
The combination of English malted barley and Styrian hops provides a well rounded floral and citrus flavour with hints of fruit, finished off with a dry, hoppy bitterness.
Wells and Young's
Winter Warmer 5% ABV
Winter Warmer is the definitive winter beer and is a long-time Young’s favourite. A previous champion cask beer and Gold Medal Winner at the Brewing Industry International Awards, Winter Warmer is an essential beer during the winter months.
Winter Warmer is 100% malt brew, with Maris Otter and Crystal malt combining Fuggle and Golding hops. Young’s unique cane sugar mix is added to the copper during the brewing process.
A welcome sight on the bar during the winter months, Winter Warmer is the ideal beer to cosy up with in front of a pub fire on a cold winter’s night.
JW Lees
Game On 4.2% ABV
Whether your game is football, rugby, cricket, tennis, golf or any other sport for that matter, this cask ale is perfect for any sporting event. The winter league Game On has a more robust feel and is auburn in colour.
Everards
Equinox 4.2% ABV
Equinox is smooth and easy to drink. Its Autumnal name is matched by the mature fruit flavours associated with the season.
Well's and Young's
Naked Gold 4.1% ABV
This fine golden ale is brewed with natural spring water from the brewery’s own well and has a pine hop aroma and hints of sweet caramel in the flavour (from the naked oats), before the citrus-orange finish.
Black Sheep Brewery
Golden Sheep 3.9%
We tweaked the original recipe to make it lighter and more of a blonde beer. We brew it using me honoured methods and ferment it in our traditional Yorkshire Square Vessels to give it our characteristically dry and refreshingly clean finish.
Aroma: Explosive citrus-fruit against hoppy background.
Taste: Characteristic Black Sheep dry palate with marked grapefruit-hop and very long refreshing finish
Golden Sheep is a beautifully balanced blonde beer that develops with zesty flavours and finishes with a clean and wickedly moreish finish.
Food and Beer Pairing: The citrusy flavours of the First Gold hops, lemon and grapefruit lend a delicate zing that sits beautifully with lighter foods such as fish and other seafood.
Ingredients: We use Maris Otter malt for all our beers. It’s an old and very expensive variety that’s distinguished for its taste and quality.
A mixture of old English hop varieties with masses of First Gold hop gives Golden Sheep its citrusy characteristics and light nose. We then balance the flavour with plenty of Challenger hops.
Wood Farm Brewery
Victorious 4.2%
Victorious is full bodied and dark amber in colour with malty aromas.
Bitter at the start with a hint of fruit in the middle of the palate and a soft hop flavour to finish.
Wood Farm Brewery
No. 8 5%
No. 8 is a heavyweight amber coloured ale with a fruity nose. Bitter at the start and holding a hoppy aroma throughout. Fruity at the end with a malty finish.
Oakham Ales
JHB Jeffrey Hudson Bitter 3.8%
A nationally respected ale, winner of numerous awards, JHB is a blond baby packed with flavour and perfect for those long sessions as well as a quick pint at lunchtime.
The Cottage Brewing Company
Mallard IPA 4%
The Cottage Brewing Company
Goldrush 5%
The champion strong ale and supreme champion beer at the 13th S.I.B.A. Maltings Beer Festival. A deep golden ale, brewed with Cascade hops, well balanced, crisp and refreshing.
Purity Brewery
Pure Ubu 4.5%
Pure UBU pronounced OO-BOO - is named after our faithfull/feared canine friend UBU, protector of our secrets.
UBU 4.5% ABV is a distinctive Premium amber coloured beer.
Using 100% English Maris Otter Malt with Challenger and Cascade hops, creates a balanced full flavoured beer that is a pleasure to drink.
Bath Ales
Barn Stormer 4.5%
Rich in fruit with hints of chocolate, this full-bodied dark ale is a complex but deeply satisfying beer.
Hopback Brewery
Summer Lightning
A trend setter in the brewing industry; the original Summer ale brewed all year round. An extremely pleasant bitter, straw coloured beer with a terrific fresh, hoppy aroma. This, coupled with an intense bitterness, leads to an excellent long, dry finish. Probably the beer to receive the most awards in Britain!
Brains
Merlin's Oak
According to local folklore, Carmarthen is said to be the birth place of the mythical wizard Merlin (the town’s Welsh name Caerfyrddin coming from Myrddin, the Welsh name for Merlin). Merlin is said to have made a prophecy regarding an old oak tree in the town centre; "When Merlin’s tree should tumble down, then shall fall Carmarthen town." When the tree died in 1856 the prophecy appeared to come true as the following winter Carmarthen suffered the worst floods for many years.
A well-rounded ale with a rich autumnal hue, warm oats, honey and nutty flavours.
Wells and Young's
Courage Best Bitter 4% ABV
Pale brown in appearance with a bitter after taste, Courage Best Bitter consumers enjoy its lower ABV of 4% that allows them the opportunity to enjoy their favourite ale for longer.
Courage Best Bitter is also a major sponsor of rugby union clubs including the Plymouth Pirates and the Exeter Chiefs and are sponsors of local events within its south west of England heartland.
Wells and Young's
Ram Rod 5% ABV
Named after the Dorset Horn ram that lived in the brewery stables in Wandsworth, and on which the company's trademark is based. Pale brown, fruity, vinous, hoppy beer - a good example of a medium strong beer - packed full of flavour.
Maris Otter pale ale malt, crystal malt, fermentation sugar Fuggles and Goldings hops. Goldings hops added during the cold storage. A traditional much loved Young's favourite.
Note from the Head Brewer
“Full bodied with excellent balance between malt and hops.”
Wells and Young's
Wells Eagle IPA
Water is the most important ingredient in beer - and Wells Eagle has an enviable advantage over other beers because it is brewed with pure, natural mineral water from the brewery's very own well.
In addition to this, Wells Eagle uses 100% farm assured barley and has received the coveted 'Red Tractor' mark of accreditation.
Thwaites
Thwaites Lancaster Bomber 4.4%
Thwaites Lancaster Bomber shot to fame when England and Lancashire Cricketer, Andrew "Freddie"Flintoff, endorsed it during the 2005 Ashes series win over Australia. It is now the Official Sponsor of Lancashire County Cricket Club and the beer can now be seen on the shirts of Freddie’s teammates at Lancashire CCC and continues to have a successful partnership with cricket in the North.
Tasting Notes
Chestnut in colour, Lancaster Bomber has a warming, full-flavoured taste, with a hint of toffee and biscuit and a very moreish flavour.
