Whitbread Golding Variety WGV
About
Bred in 1911 on land owned by Whitbread. Not a true Golding, but similarly aromatic. WGV was selected as a seedling and planted extensively during the 1950s, when Verticillium Wilt started to encroach on the Fuggles and Goldings. Provides a distinctive sweet fruit flavour in beer, similar to but generally more pronounced and robust than Goldings. It gives a mild clean bitterness and is sometimes used with good effect as a distinctive dry hop. Traditionally best suited to British Bitters and Pale Ales but may find use in Biére de Garde, Saison and Wheat beers too. Fresh green plant-like character can also be effective in Amber, Märzen and Oktoberfest-style lagers.
Origin
WGV is an open pollinated seedling of Bates Brewer that was on a farm at Beltring in Kent, later bought by the Whitbread Beer Company.