First Gold was released in 1995, part of a wave of English "dwarf hop" varieties bred with shorter growth habits specifically to suit modern mechanical harvesting equipment and trellis systems that don't accommodate the tall bines traditional English hops require. Genetically it's a Golding derivative, chosen for that lineage specifically to keep the character English brewers expect even as the plant's physical growth habit changed considerably.
At 6.5-8.5% alpha acid, First Gold runs a bit higher than true East Kent Golding, with a mild citrus and spicy aroma that stays recognizably within the Golding family's gentler register rather than the more assertive resinous or dank character of American high-alpha hops. That citrus note, subtle as it is, distinguishes it from the purely honeyed-earthy profile of the traditional tall-growing Golding varieties. First Gold is also sold commercially under the name Prima Donna, the same plant marketed under two labels, worth knowing when a recipe or supplier catalog lists one but not the other. It stores only moderately well compared with other English dwarf varieties, so buying close to the crop year protects the citrus note that sets it apart from plain Golding. East Kent Golding is the closest genetic and aromatic substitute, while Fuggle offers a related English alternative if a more purely earthy character is preferred over First Gold's citrus edge. English bitter and pale ale both use First Gold, particularly on farms that have moved to dwarf-hop trellis systems. Both of its usual substitutes top out well below First Gold's own ceiling, so a straight swap at the same weight generally under-bitters a recipe built around it.