Golden Best Awards
Great British Beer Festivals
Champion Mild Ale of Britain
2-Time Highly Commended Mild Ale of Britain
Gold Medal - Mild Ale Category
Brewing Industry Awards
2-Time Silver Medal - Draught Pale Ale - International Brewing Awards
1st Prize - Draught Pale Ale - International Brewing Awards
2nd Prize - Draught Pale Ale - International Brewing Awards
About Golden Best
Until the Second World War, Taylor’s main products, like the rest of the breweries in the country, were dark beers of various strengths generally called mild ales. A pale coloured mild which later became Golden Best began to gain popularity during the 1930s. It was also during this decade that a bitter and a premium pale ale (BB) were introduced.
After 1950, the company’s best-selling draught beer was Golden Best until the late 1980s. In the early days, it was sold, confusingly, under the names Golden Mild, Light Mild and Bitter Ale. However, it is not difficult to appreciate why mild beers were so favoured in Keighley and the nearby towns that comprised Taylor’s delivery area. Heavy work in the foundry, mill or tool works would lead to loss of bodily salts and fluids which could be easily replenished by low strength beer.
So for the first 130 years of its history, mild ales of one kind or other were the mainstay of Taylor’s brewery. Percy Taylor in the probate papers was described as “Common Ale brewer of Keighley” in 1954. After 1987, Landlord, a strong pale ale, became Taylor’s best selling beer and has remained so ever since.
Why we love the rain in Yorkshire.
Taylor’s brewery sits upon the Knowle Spring, the unique source of water we use to brew our beers. This particularly pure and consistent spring water is one of the reasons we’re able to brew beer of such reliable quality and taste. It has filtered over time through layers of sandstone and black rock, which creates the special mineral qualities that marry perfectly with our Golden Promise barley malt. This unique combination is the foundation of the complex flavour and subtlety of Landlord. And it all begins with rain falling upon the Yorkshire hills. That’s why we’re always happiest when it pours.