BJCP · Category 12 · 3 styles
Pale Commonwealth Beer
Pale ales from the British and Commonwealth tradition with a prominent hop presence. British Golden Ale is the refreshing golden summer ale, Australian Sparkling Ale is the dry, highly carbonated Australian version, and English IPA is the original IPA, maltier and earthier than the American one.
The 3 Pale Commonwealth Beer styles
The numbers at a glance
| BJCP style | ABV | Bitterness | Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Golden Ale | 3.8–5.0% | 20–45 IBU | 2–5 SRM |
| Australian Sparkling Ale | 4.5–6.0% | 20–35 IBU | 4–7 SRM |
| English IPA | 5.0–7.5% | 40–60 IBU | 6–14 SRM |
How to tell the styles apart
These are three pale ales with the hops up front, but each has its own accent. British Golden Ale (12A) is the palest (2–5 SRM) and lightest, 3.8–5%, with bitterness from 20 to 45 IBU and fruity or floral hops; it's meant to be drunk cold in summer.
Australian Sparkling Ale (12B) is a bit more golden (4–7 SRM) and can reach 6%, dry and highly carbonated; its signature is Pride of Ringwood hops, herbal and resinous, and yeast esters reminiscent of pear or apple. English IPA (12C) is the strongest (5–7.5%), the darkest (6–14 SRM), and the most bitter (40–60 IBU), with biscuit and caramel malt and earthy English hops.
Brew it yourself
Which one to brew first
Start with British Golden Ale (12A). Its recipe is short, with little more than pale malt and a single hop, it ferments at ale temperatures, and it's drunk young. English IPA (12C) comes next: higher gravity and more hops, but the same technique. Australian Sparkling Ale (12B) is approachable, although it depends on finding the right yeast and hops and on reaching high carbonation in the bottle, which requires sturdy bottles.
Common mistakes
- Brewing English IPA with citrusy or tropical American hops. That makes it an American IPA; use earthy, floral English varieties.
- Oxidizing the beer during dry hopping or bottling. The hop aroma fades and cardboard notes appear; open the fermenter as little as possible and purge with CO₂.
- Overdoing crystal malt in the Golden Ale for body. It should be golden and crisp; if it drifts toward amber and caramel, it's a bitter.
- Carbonating the Australian Sparkling with the usual ale priming dose. The style calls for quite a bit more carbonation; recalculate the amount and use heavy bottles.
How to serve them
Serve the Golden Ale and the Sparkling cold, 6–9 °C (43–48 °F), and the English IPA at 9–12 °C (48–54 °F) so the malt comes through. Use a pint glass or a tulip. Golden goes with fish and salads; Sparkling, with barbecue and grilled seafood; and English IPA, with curry, lamb, or aged cheeses.
Frequently asked questions
Which styles make up the Pale Commonwealth Beer category?
According to the BJCP 2021 guidelines, 3: British Golden Ale, Australian Sparkling Ale, English IPA.
Which is the strongest Pale Commonwealth Beer style?
English IPA, which can reach 7.5% ABV.
Which is the most bitter?
English IPA, with up to 60 IBUs.
Which is the palest and which is the darkest?
The palest is British Golden Ale and the darkest is English IPA.
Classification and statistics: BJCP category 12 (Pale Commonwealth Beer), 2021 edition.