It's kind of hard to go wrong with El Toro Brewing. Their oatmeal stout is impressive and they just have some all around great stuff. Something I find interesting about this one is that it is labeled as a golden ale, which typically means something much different than a pale ale in the States, yet it won the 1994 gold award for English pale ale at GABF (proudly displayed on the label). Just goes to show how interpretive beer styles can be.
The first thing I notice upon pouring is that it is extremely well-carbonated and produced nearly two fingers worth of solid head. Looks fizzy, but the strong carbonation is holding it very well. It's a very light orange, almost yellow color. Hazy. Very strong hop aroma. Earthiness and spice really shine through. Some sweet, honey malt blends well. Rich bready malt, too, like a dessert cake.
Hits the top of the tongue a little dry and quickly blends into some faint caramel and subtle herbal hop spiciness. Bitterness is low, and overall it is is very sessionable. Has a really pronounced honey quality. Body is incredibly thin and lively. Some herbal flavors linger in the back of the throat and washes away with some breadiness.
A fine brew. Definitely nailed the English quality of this beer. Flavor is strong yet goes down smooth. The only thing it truly lacks as a classic English pale is the body. It's very thin and watery.
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