BEER REVIEW: 394

BREWER: Bespoke Brewing Co., Gloucestershire, England

STYLE: Golden Ale

ABV: 4%

VESSEL: 500ml brown bottle

DATE OF POST: 25th April 2025

 

JYMI SAY’S…

Just over a year ago I was lucky enough to spend a week away with my family in the Forest of Dean, where today’s brew is brewed. We were in a  wooden cabin in the middle of the forest with not much to do other then go for wild wet walks then warm up by the cozy fire of an evening. Idyllic. So simple yet so lovely.

This whole simplistic yet lovely vibe absolutely transfers into Forest Gold. Honestly, this Golden Ale is so uncomplex it’s ridiculous. I literally could not pick up any notes of anything! Also, to say it’s one dimensional is an understatement. However, there is a medium bitterness to this brew from start to finish, add in a pretty good mouthfeel and solid body and what you get is actually really nice!

Look, this sucker ain’t gonna win any awards nor get folk chatting about it. But sometimes just a simple straight forward beer of good quality can actually be a very enjoyable experience.

Jymi’s Rating: 62%

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

Much like the sprawling woodlands it’s named after, Forest Gold is a beer that invites exploration. Its name is a clever nod to both its golden ale status and its origins in the Forest of Dean, setting the stage for a brew that’s as rich and layered as the landscape itself.

Broadly, the packaging works well with its earthy colour scheme, though the graphic design doesn’t quite hit the mark for me. However, the blurb on the bottle adds a nice touch, especially with its nod to freelancers—an unexpected but intriguing connection. On the nose, the beer delivers malty warmth, exactly what you’d expect from a brew rooted in nature.

From the first sip, Forest Gold impresses with its superb mouthfeel—light yet full of character. It’s balanced on the palate, but don’t let that fool you; this beer still carries plenty of punch. The flavour profile is refreshingly earthy, with subtle pine notes and a delicate hint of lime zest that lingers. For a 4% ABV beer, it packs a surprising amount of depth and keeps going long after the initial sip.

This is the kind of beer that suits almost any occasion—reliable, flavourful, and deeply refreshing. Whether you’re unwinding after a day’s work or kicking back in the heart of the forest itself, Forest Gold delivers a taste of the wild with every sip. It’s a rock-solid offering that I’d happily come back to again.

Sammy’s Rating: 81%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 71.5%

MOB review next weekend: POTHOLER by CHEDDAR ALES

Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017

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M O B 2025