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I see you, Black Abbey. You called it Gold & Ale. How very clever. You could probably have come up with something better, but you're spending your time trying to brew good beer, and I can respect that. If that's the case, don't even try the pithy name. Just go with Golden Ale and let the masses realize you've made something special.
Well, it's not gold. I don't know who will argue that this color is gold, but I'm sure someone will go on about how they saw a gold like this when they were venturing into the jungles of Peru, and they came upon an ancient temple that had pillars that had dulled to this exact shade. I, however, see a kind of yellow-orange. The off white bubbles fizzle to an incomplete layer that is effectively a lillypad in the middle of a circular frame. The aroma is a sweet and grainy malt with light floral hops.
First sip is actually pretty awesome. The bitter twist at the end adds a cap to the sweet and rich center of the beer, but the layered and subtle spices are adding an unexpected and fantastic flair. The flowers add a delicate bend, but it's really about the oddly muted and still complex spices. I very much like this so far, and it might be a shame I have to do a full swig.
Tip-in is gentle carbonation with orange peel and grains. The carbonation starts to sizzle the top of the mouth and the front of the tongue while spices, honey, and lemon spritz join the tastes for a demure center. The finish is a surge of the spices with flowers and then a dryness that settles in for the trail off.
Bottom Line: Not a golden ale, but it gets the gold.
4.25/5
