Malt aroma & flavor
Low malt sweetness and toast, cereal-like or other pale malt attributes should be present in flavor and aroma at low to medium-low levels.
North American Origin Ale Styles
Golden or Blonde Ale
Ale · Straw to gold
What to expect
Gentle malt sweetness and toast or cereal-like notes, with hops present but not dominant. A low to medium body finishes crisp.
Reading guide · The complete guideline attributes below preserve the source’s qualifications.Color · SRM
3–7
Pale / strawBlack
Straw to gold · Illustrative colors on the shared, uneven SRM scale.
Explore styles overlapping this color rangeAlcohol · ABV
4.1–5.1%
Reference scale, not a limit on official guideline values.
Bitterness · IBU
15–25
Measured bitterness; perceived bitterness is described in the guideline below.
Brewers Association 2026 · Printed guideline page 8 · PDF page 17. Color graphics are illustrative.
The guideline, in detail
Official style attributes, including what may be present and what should be absent.
Hop aroma & flavor
Hop aroma and flavor should be very low to medium, with attributes typical of hops of any origin present but not dominant.
Perceived bitterness
Low to medium
Body & mouthfeel
Low to medium with a crisp finish
Clarity
Chill haze should not be present
Color
Straw to gold
Fermentation characteristics
Fruity esters may be present at low to medium-low levels. Diacetyl and DMS should not be present.
Technical specifications, including gravity
Original Gravity (°Plato) 1.045-1.054 (11.2-13.3 °Plato) • Apparent Extract/Final Gravity (°Plato) 1.008-1.016 (2.1-4.1 °Plato) • Alcohol by Weight (Volume) 3.2%-4.0% (4.1%-5.1%) • Hop Bitterness (IBU) 15-25 • Color SRM (EBC) 3-7 (6-14 EBC)