Rating:

“This American Amber is a throwback to the bold, hoppy beers that helped shape craft beer culture. Nostalgic in all the right ways. TARRIFS delivers a rich malt backbone layered with piney, citrusy hops and an assertive bitterness that doesn’t shy away.”

Glassware: American pint.

Appearance: Bold amber complexion with a fluffy two finger head over the top. Reasonably good retention but not a lot of lace sticks to the glass as it ebbs.

Aroma: It’s certainly an American amber ale that’s for sure. Gorgeous sticky resins, pine sap, candied lemon, orange/rind and red-petal flowers over a sweet and semi-rich caramel malt base. Like any good American version of a trad beer should, this one displays a very acute balance between hops and malts. Diggin’ it thus far.

Flavour: Doesn’t really have the depth we were hoping for. That being said, it is an American amber, so even though the malt bill is lacking the hops are making up for it with wave after wave of piney resins, sweet yet acidic orange/rind and grapefruit. A significant bitterness further dries it out as it finishes…whaddya know…dry and bitter.

Mouthfeel: Sticky and chewy initially then drying up in the swallow. Medium body, mild-moderate Co2 and the 5.1% ABV is neither here nor there.

Overall: We had much higher hopes for this than what was delivered. No complaints with the aroma but the flavour profile was way too hoppy and there’s not enough malt presence to offset it. Slightly disappointing.

Rating:

“Golden hour in a glass! Our Sunset Amber Ale blends rich caramel with malty flavours for an ale that’s as captivating as the Jervis Bay horizon. Nature never tasted this good!”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Gorgeous amber pour with a distinctly reddish hue. It forms a light two and a bit finger head which gradually recedes. Not a lot of lacing to speak of though.

Aroma: It’s got that good base sweetness i.e toffee/toffee apple, caramel, honeysuckle and toasty malts. The hops counteract nicely, injecting a good dose of mixed citrus and rind, subtle stone fruits, pine resin and light florals. Maybe it’s coz we’re very recently coming off one of the best amber ales we’ve ever had (Fursty Ferret) but this one seems to be lacking juuuust a little bit in depth.

Flavour: Yeah, following on from what we’re saying about a small lack of depth, the same applies here too unfortunately. The flavour profile is good, don’t get us wrong, it provides a nice toasty malt with toffee, caramel, orchard fruit, orange blossom and tangerine but the issue is it’s a little restrained and watered down. Kinda falls flat on its arse in the finish where delicate toasty malts fade out pretty quick.

Mouthfeel: Holds up ok. Smooth and gelatinous, flat-ish Co2. Mild-medium body and a 5% ABV which is spot on for the style.

Overall: It’s been a while between drinks for us and JB. They’ve got a good core range to get amongst all year round, there’s no debate there, but their limited releases have been a tad uninspiring for a while.

Rating:

“Keep this beer close to hand. Our Fursty Ferret amber ale takes its name from a real ferret with a taste for full-bodied, biscuity beer and a mischievous reputation. ‘Little thief’ by (Latin) name and opportunistic by nature, his memory lives on in the Gribble Inn. And who can blame him? With lemony, floral aromas of Celia, Cascade and Centennial hops, and the moreish-ly malty backbone of Premium Ale malt.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: We gaze over a gorgeous bold amber pour with full transparency. Two fingers of beige head on top with good retention and lacing as we go.

Aroma: We may have just entered amber ale heaven. The malt bill displays an amazing depth with brawny notes of maple syrup, toffee and caramelised sugars, bush honey, dark fruits such as golden raisin, dates and fig. We haven’t even touched on the hops yet…a superb balancing act of pine, blood orange, tangerine and orange blossom finishes off this magnificent aroma.

Flavour: Excellent progression, it just keeps intensifying as it rolls forward. Delicate malt sweetness and ripe orange citrus on entry. It’s not until the mid-palate that the malt flavours really take off. Caramelised sugars, toffee and honey integrate with the delicate pine and floral citrus. This delicious fusion leads into the semi-dry, rich and caramelised finish which draws out nicely on the back end.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, silky, gelatinous and chewy. Medium body with fine Co2. The 4.4% ABV goes hard for its size.

Overall: Without a doubt the best amber ale we’ve tried all year. Perfect time of the year to be drinking one too – a cool breeze but the Autumn sun is still shining bright. Top shelf stuff.

Rating:

“The appearance of this toffee-like brew invites a highly sessionable amber. With a medium malt body, kettle hopping with American hops provides both pleasant spiced and pine-filled flavours, while dry hopping creates slight citrus notes. Pair with a rich, fresh beef ragu and lifelong friends around the fire.”

Glassware: American pint.

Appearance: Pours a bold amber hue with a billowing four finger head. Seems far too fizzy for an amber ale. Excellent lace work on the glass though.

Aroma: Smells tired. A quick check of the BBD and yep, she’s a bit long in the tooth (brewed 12/8/24). For a traditional amber ale, 8 months wouldn’t change a whole lot but considering this is an American amber ale, it does. The hops have all but died off and we’re left with the malts only. Fortunately it’s still providing some toffee and caramel sweetness, honeysuckle, over-ripened mango, apricot and tangerine.

Flavour: This is where the age has really affected it. There’s a short surge of carbonation on entry which is followed by very tired notes of pine, citrus and tropical fruit. They’re lucky (in this case) as amber ales are still somewhat malty so the toffee, caramels, honeysuckle and delicate toasty notes are saving it from being a disaster.

Mouthfeel: Frothy and over carbonated. Obviously due to its age. Seems to be medium bodied with what would likely be a smooth and gelatinous texture.

Overall: The pitfalls of buying beer online we guess. This review is not a true reflection of the beer so we’ll more than likely re-review a fresh can sometime in the near future.

Rating:

NO COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Slightly hazy, burnished copper-orange complexion with a fizzy yet tightly beaded two finger crown. Excellent retention and reasonable lacing as we go.

Aroma: First signs are very positive. It has that rich caramel sweetness tied into an earthy and nutty malt profile. All the extra support from toffee, bush honey, eucalyptus, candied lemon and pine needle is what shoots it straight into the upper echelons. Very well balanced while boasting a rich complexity and depth. Excellent start.

Flavour: Good transition. The can doesn’t mention anything (at all) but it hits as more of an American style amber. Not just the subtle citrus and pine but also the notable bitterness from beginning to end. Just a hint of burnt toffee, honeysuckle, nutty malt and pine resin developing before it finishes rather dry and bitter with moderate length.

Mouthfeel: Kinda frothy and creamy texture with a lightly sparkling Co2. Medium body and the 4.8% ABV is spot on.

Overall: Our first crack at this Victorian brewery and we’re impressed by the quality and structure of it. We’ll certainly be returning to try more from their range.

Rating:

“Unite your taste buds with our Yorkshire Amber Ale, a triumphant ESB graced by Mystic and Challenger hops. Embodying the spirit of Yorkshire’s proud beer traditions, enjoy the flavours of the old country in each sip.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Kinda burnished orange/copper pour with some amber influence. It only manages to form a finger of off-white head before it retreats to the rim. Some spotty lace here and there.

Aroma: Nicely balanced. Obviously malt-driven with big notes of caramel, toffee, toast and nuts but a nice spicy and earthy hop profile is fused through. Really liking the traditional English vibe it has. Somewhat reminds us of a Hobgoblin Ruby and or Black Sheep Amber Ale.

Flavour: Follows through nicely. Again the balance is key as the spicy, earthy and lightly floral hops cut through the chewy and caramelised crystal malts. It hits a good drying bitterness through the mid, leading to a toasty, earthy and semi-sweet finish that goes for days.

Mouthfeel: Has a good consistency to it. Chewy but with good flow over the tongue. Medium body with perfect Co2. The 5% ABV is spot on as well.

Overall: We’ve been curious about these guys for a little while now. We must admit it’s a very vanilla name but it’s what it’s inside that counts – and the contents are pretty damn good for our first crack.

Rating:

“A malt focused, heavy-bodied Amber Ale with a hint of sweet caramel and notes of toffee.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Gorgeous ruby red with deep amber hues on the edges. It forms a thumb of tightly held foam which weaves a healthy lace down the glass.

Aroma: This is our 2nd review of this beer as we’ve been told that there are two new brewers from NZ and that their beers have improved tenfold. First whiffs are impressive and support the intel. Now we get a beautiful toffee sweetness melded into a notable toasty malt profile which was missing the first time around. Excellent depth to it. Vast improvements on the original beer already.

Flavour: It’s at this moment that we believe every word we’ve been told. The difference in quality is unequivocally better than the first time we tried it. The toffee sweetness is rich yet well offset by a heavily toasted malt bill. We get treacle, butterscotch, a hint of maple but also the hops provide a distinct bitterness and earthy/spicy flavour that provides a crucial balance in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Chewy and somewhat sticky texture. Co2 is kept a bit lower and the medium body is right on the money for this style. So is the 5.3% ABV.

Overall: What a difference a new head brewer makes. This beer has gone from a 6/10 to an easy 9/10. It just oozes excellence, balance and intense flavours. This is more like it!

Rating:

“It’s a beautiful combination of US hops with crystal and rye malt, resulting in a full bodied amber ale with subtle rye spice, gentle caramel sweetness and moderate bitterness with hints of pine and citrus.”

Glassware: American pint.

Appearance: Slightly hazy deep amber centre with burnished orange edges. It constructs a huge three and a half finger head which takes an age to recede. The lacing makes a proper mess of the glass as it ebbs.

Aroma: Picking up the rye malts instantly…with its dry and spicy pepper-esque characters. It amazes us how underrated and underutilized this grain is as it puts a very unique spin on a beer. Anywho, the base malts provide a healthy dose of caramels, toffee and toast while the hops come in with another layer of fleshy stone fruit, orange citrus and sappy resins. Good overall depth to the aroma.

Flavour: Interesting, as it begins rather meek and mild but it slowly intensifies. Upfront is a light, somewhat juicy mix of orange citrus and unripened stone fruits. The rye blends itself through rather well but it’s not until the mid palate where the lightly roasted elements and the caramel/toffee sweetness counters and sets up for a fairly complex yet pleasant finish.

Mouthfeel: A tad too light for us. Kinda slick, mild-moderate body. Low-ish Co2 and the 5% is neither here nor there.

Overall: We like this brewery, we’ve been there on a couple of occasions and it heaves. This release though, just a little pedestrian at times but essentially a decent drop.

Rating:

“As the pains of the world fade away your eyes flicker back open on an empty hall. A doorway stands at one end, its complex and ornate filigree surrounds chipped and worn with the gentle wear of passing aeons. The yawning portal stands open and within you glimpse a featureless void offering the inviting darkness of a peaceful oblivion. Hesitant, you turn 180 degrees. Behind you stands a starkly different door, trimmed in knife-sharp lines of shining steel. The antiseptic white glow from beyond calls out with a disquieting offer of eternal bliss. Here beside you, Janus appears, both faces implacable and stern. His single word breaks the echoing silence. “Choose.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Pours a deep amber with strong candy red highlights. Very active Co2 streaming upward to help retain the rocky two finger head. Steady reduction and healthy lacing on the glass.

Aroma: The humble old Amber Ale. Such an unappreciated and underrated style which can be so satisfying when brewed properly. As this one has. It’s all malts initially – particularly toffee and caramalt which is throwing out oodles of toffee and caramel (shock horror), some earthy dark fruits and honeysuckle. No surprise that there’s a clear hop profile to it as well – kinda spicy, citrusy, slightly herbaceous in its delivery. Very nice.

Flavour: Excellent progression. Quite nicely poised upfront. The malts and hops are balanced like a beer on a barrel. It’s not until around the mid palate when the earthy yet sweet/caramelised malts edge in front. But just as quickly as they came, the hop bitterness, spiciness and herbals even it all back out. It takes on a mild toastiness late in the piece which finishes more roasty, a tad peaty, sweet and dry.

Mouthfeel: Rather chewy, gelatinous texture. Dries up in the swallow. Medium body and a nicely positioned 6.5% ABV.

Overall: A fine offering from this new-ish Auckland brewery. We’re certain those Aucklandians(?) are enjoying another craft brewery option in the city. By God, they needed it.

Rating:

“STORY SERIES — This Belgian Style Strong Amber Ale has a complex, intense and sneaky character, just like Reynard the Fox. With fruity aromas, medium malt intensity and yeast derived herbal and peppery flavours, it makes this beer the flagship of our range.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Slightly hazy peachy/orange hue and a light, fluffy two finger crown. Excellent retention and lots of lace being deposited on the glass.

Aroma: Getting real strong Belgian vibes from it. Very interesting…it gives off half Saison half Tripel characters with its spice-driven yeast profile, semi-sweet malts and herbal/earthy old world hops. Heady wafts of pepper-crusted orange, apricot, floral peach, a kind of dusty caramel and a subtle zesty lime. Some very distinguishing scents here. Really diggin’ it.

Flavour: A lot of that quirkiness has doubled down here. Especially the spicy yeast/phenols, tangy orange and the floral peach/apricot. Really good support in the form of herbal hops and that strange dusty caramel sweetness. Super complex and multi-layered finish of floral stonefruit, peppery spice, orange citrus and a dry, rounded bitterness to balance.

Mouthfeel: Quite chewy, smooth and gelatinous. Medium bodied and the 8.5% ABV is positioned favourably.

Overall: There’s a lot to like about this. It’s a tad mysterious as we can’t really classify it. Yeah, the label says it’s a strong Amber Ale but it’s much more intricate than that. It’s yeasty, spicy, semi-sweet, fruity, warming. Ooft. Got it all.

Rating:

“The resulting beer delivers a wealth of flavour that you can’t deny. This multi-award winning wattle seed ale has a rich flavour base of caramel with a hint of chocolate. The smooth malt flavours are lightly hopped and then infused with roasted wattle seed, bringing a unique and authentic Australian flavour. The result is an outstanding ale that boasts a smooth taste profile balancing its robust character, an ultimately rewarding yet distinctive beer.”

Glassware: English Pint.

Appearance: Pours a lovely burnished amber colour with a wispy tan overlay. The head reduces quickly and forms a collar with scarce spotty lacing on the glass.

Aroma: This is a re-post as we first reviewed this beer way back in early 2013. We couldn’t believe our eyes when we saw that it had been re-released in a can. Not much seems to have changed either which is excellent. It still provides a conventional Amber Ale base – nutty malts, caramel/toffee, butterscotch and fleeting hints of maple. The wattleseed is very delicate but does yield a bit of roast and mild smoky notes.

Flavour: Man, that’s as good as we remember it being when we first tried it about 20 years ago. Delicious caramel and nutty malts flowing through then that soft roasty element from the wattleseed adding a bit of smoke and char on the edges. The hops do a magnificent job of drying it out and countering the malt sweetness as well. Nice and nutty finish with the hops providing the balance.

Mouthfeel: Slick, chewy and gelatinous. Medium body and the 5.2% ABV is bang on for the style.

Overall: Wow what a blast from the past! Was not expecting to walk into the bottlo and see this on the shelves. The best thing is that it’s practically unchanged from the recipe decades ago. Nostalgia at its finest.

Rating:

“A malt focused, heavy-bodied Amber Ale with a hint of sweet caramel and notes of toffee.”

Glassware: English Pint.

Appearance: Deep rusted amber pour with a short tan head which settles at the rim. Rather scarce lacing as we go.

Aroma: Distinctly sweet but in an excessively artificial way…its dominant scents are toffee and dark fruits like raisin, plum and dates with hints of earthy caramel, floral and mildly fruity hops, sweet spices and jam on toast. We must admit as it settles the confectionary side tapers off and it all begins to come together quite well.

Flavour: Much to our surprise it’s a lot hoppier than we’d anticipated. The usual suspects are here – toffee, caramel, nutty syrup and dark fruits – but the floral and slightly citrusy hop profile enjoys some of the attention. The mid-palate totally drops away but fortunately it finishes with a dry hop bitterness, spicy caramel and toffee. The length ain’t too bad either.

Mouthfeel: A little watery but it’s ultimately smooth and palate friendly. Co2 is on the lower end and the 5.3% ABV is a little lost in the ether.

Overall: Certainly some weak points but some positives at the same time. Regrettably, it seems they still haven’t shaken off the homebrew vibe we got when we first visited the brewery a few years ago 

Rating:

“ChronicAle is a long time house favorite at our brewpubs. Brewed with house yeast strain La Cruda and English specialty malts, this mellow amber ale is lighter in flavor with a smooth bitterness. Sip, sip… Cheers!“

Glassware: American Pint.

Appearance: Nice bold amber hue and a healthy two finger head perched on top. 100% clarity. Wavy lace is clinging to the glass as it ebbs.

Aroma: The humble old American Amber Ale. It’s a seriously underrated style which gets nowhere near the amount of attention it deserves. In our opinion when it’s brewed right they present as Amber IPA’s which ticks a lot of boxes for us. This is doing exactly that; sweet, nutty and honey malt structure with a good helping of herbal spice, sappy resins, fennel seed and candied lemon.

Flavour: Kiiind of feels like they’ve toned the intensity down a bit here. The malt, although still present, tastes a little watered down and the hops have lost their serration. It comes off as more earthy, more grainy perhaps, yet carried through by the pronounced hop bitterness and finished with the sweet toasty malts and herbal spice.

Mouthfeel: A little thin for our liking but at 4.9% ABV they can be forgiven. Moderately bodied, flattish Co2. Very palate friendly.

Overall: Even though it didn’t really impress on the intensity front this would easily fit the bill for a full-flavoured session beer. At 4.9% and with its slightly mellow flavour profile it’s right in that range.

Rating:

“We’ve blown open the Akashic vaults and dusted off a much loved classic for this limited release anniversary remix, the Triple Fire. Caramel and biscuit licks meet hoppy citrus riffs for a ripping beer that takes thing (almost) all the way to eleven. Hells yeah.”

Glassware: English Pint.

Appearance: Deep bold amber pour with a thumb of lightly tanned foam perched on top. The head gradually peels off and leaves healthy lace as we imbibe.

Aroma: Definitely brewed in the American style, in true Akasha fashion. Those sweet and nutty caramel malts fill up the nostrils initially and the citrus and pine-driven hops pull it all back into line nicely. The usual suspects dominate: caramel, toffee, butterscotch and honeysuckle with more delicate hints of toffee apple, blood orange, buttery biscuits and toasted brioche also coming through.

Flavour: It’s actually quite sharp and punchy for the style. Then again it’s probably more American than most American amber ales! Personally the booze burn is too overpowering and the bitterness could have been dialled back a little bit. Slightly syrupy caramel, toffee and honeysuckle with the sharp citrus and pine not really effective enough at cutting through it. A bit of a harsh finish on it too.

Mouthfeel: Big, boozy, astringent, slightly chewy. Medium body, flat-ish Co2. The 10.5 % ABV is too much in our opinion.

Overall: It’s a shame coz it started off really strong. The second it hit the palate it went downhill – too boozy, too bitter and unbalanced. Iron those issues out and they could be on to something.

Rating:

“What’s with the name? Well I promised my 6 year old nephew that I would name a beer after him and he prefers Max Power to Mad Max (who am I to argue) and this beer is pretty powerful, in the flavour stakes, so it seems fitting. This beer is a collaboration with our friends at Garlicious Black Garlic, yep you heard right – garlic! Black garlic! So what goes with garlic? I reckon one of my slow smoked beef brisket rubs. This baby has Black Garlic, Cumin, Cayenne Pepper and Chilli. It’s a beef rub in an amber ale! Smells like a bbq, tastes like a brisket and has a subtle burn on the finish leaving you looking for another one.”

Glassware: English Pint.

Appearance: Deep amber pour with a soft red tint when held to the light. It only managed a short tan head which collapsed pretty quickly. Scarce lacing as it subsides.

Aroma: Holy moly! This is literally for all of you low and slow meat smokers out there…you need to get on this. Let’s just say the next time you have your brisket ready to go forget your spice rub and use this beer! When we first read that black garlic, cayenne, cumin and chilli was used in this beer we knew we had to have it. Maybe it’s the love for southern BBQ in us but they all smell fantastic!

Flavour: It’s fair to say that the cayenne and chilli pepper adds some serious heat to this bad boy and when we say a shitload we mean a shitload of pepper, garlic, cumin, onion powder and even a touch of mustard for good measure. Loving the soft smoky notes as well…really rams home what they’re trying to do here.

Mouthfeel: Pretty nondescript – smooth, sticky, medium bodied with mild-moderate Co2. Lots of warmth from the chilli instead of the 5.9% ABV.

Overall: Not sure if this will come off as rude or not but this beer is better off being a marinade. Don’t get us wrong, it was really fun and quite tasty but my God this is the perfect marinade for a pulled pork or a brisket. Digging the creativity.

Rating:

“Our new American Amber was made with a single malt, Voodoo, from our mates at Voyager Craft Malt. If someone makes a fantastic malt in your region with an awesome name why not just run with it?”

Glassware: American Pint.

Appearance: Now this pours like a real Amber Ale! It’s deep with a ruby red tint which really is a sight for sore eyes. It forms a two finger head which gradually recedes and weaves a healthy lace down the glass.

Aroma: This is all class so far. Super rich and sweet caramel, toffee apple, butterscotch and maple-coated cashews greet the olfactories. Really well supported by a distinct juicy orange citrus character which adds not only another angle of sweetness but also a bit of tartness as well. There’s a hint of tang, some florals and boiled candy to tie it all off.

Flavour: This was the big one. Could it keep on the trajectory it was on…hell yes it can! It all transitions from the nose; burnt caramel, toffee, subtle butterscotch, orange peel, blood orange and paw paw. There’s an evident bitterness that kicks up around the mid palate which adds a crucial counter balance to the sweetness as well. Nice and sweet, nutty and bitter finish which lingers.

Mouthfeel: Sticky, gelatinous and very well rounded. Medium body and Co2. The 5% is on par for the style.

Overall: This was a very pleasant surprise. TRBC can be inconsistent at the best of times but on this occasion they’ve absolutely nailed it. By far their best beer we’ve tried. It reminds us of the really hearty Amber Ales of the late 90’s and early Noughties. Very impressive.

Rating:

“This medium bodied hoppy American amber ale balances a solid hop profile with a rich caramel and toasty malt character. Expect notes of sweet citrus, pine resin and a touch of peach on the nose with complex maltiness and a firm bitterness in the finish.”

Glassware: American Pint.

Appearance: Deep amber pour with shades of pink and candy red. Full transparency. It forms a thumb of light khaki foam which maintains its shape. Healthy lace clings to the glass as it ebbs.

Aroma: Pow! The dank and resinous hops lift out of the glass immediately. It’s straight up grapefruit and blood orange with truck loads of pine resin, dank herbals, rotting leaves, strong floral perfumes and rind. And that’s just the hop profile! The malt bill also offers a hefty marriage of toffee and caramel, toast and blood plum and then there’s nuanced hints of earthy apricot, sage and stewed fruits filling it out further. Very well layered aroma.

Flavour: We’re really impressed at how they’ve managed to draw out this aggressive West Coast quality but still keep it mostly sweet and malty. Pine resins, florals, pithy citrus and dank herbals are rife and the rich malts with its toffee, earthy caramel and toast tack on and balance everything out. It all surges into a rather sharp and bitter finish which lingers.

Mouthfeel: Kind of a sticky and chewy texture with a dry bitterness in the swallow. Medium body and Co2. The 7% ABV does have a slight burn to it.

Overall: We’re a little undecided to be honest. We like that it crosses over a few styles plus it’s really well layered and intense but it gets a little hard to finish off. Definitely enjoyable but in small doses.

Rating:

“Our first Bona Fide release for winter – Ember, an Amber Ale spiced with Maple Syrup, Cinnamon and Vanilla to warm your spirit on these cold winter nights.  Time to get just a little serious.
The Bona fide limited release series is our chance to focus on quality limited release beers without the need for a story, pun or pop culture reference. They’re just good beer for beers sake.
These brews are more frequent than our other series and once they are sold out they are gone.”

Glassware: English Pint.

Appearance: Reasonably clear mild amber with soft red hues. It forms a thumb of khaki head which quickly peels off and settles at the rim. A wet lace is dragged down as we imbibe.

Aroma: She’s certainly sweet. The vanilla and maple syrup components rush the olfactories but as we say that the cinnamon and nutmeg counteract it. The hallmark nutty malts, honeysuckle and subtle cola then marry up with this somewhat fruity apple pie quality which is an absolute pleasure to take in. Lightly toasted malts on the flank. It literally smells like a baby version of some of The Bruery’s pastry beers.

Flavour: It’s a lot more carbonated than we were expecting. Being a “spiced winter ale” as they’ve named it doesn’t really suit the narrative so far. The other downside to it is that it really takes the edge off the lovely sweet and spicy maple, vanilla and cinnamon. What we’re left with is a watered down version which slips through too quickly but at least manages to hold on for a little while on the back end.

Mouthfeel: Too over carbonated, watery and thin. This part of the beer has totally ruined what could have been something pretty decent.

Overall: It was all shaping up to be a stunner but the mouthfeel and flavour profile (or lack thereof) let them down in our opinion. This was our first crack at Bonehead too so it’s a shame it couldn’t follow through.

Rating:

“Wakey, wakey, sleepy head! It’s time to Break Yo’ Fast with this smoky sweet amber ale and a side of sticky maple bacon pancakes. We don’t always have beer for brekkie but this is a special occasion. It’s our 5th Birthday Limited Edition brew so go on, treat yo’ self!”

Glassware: English Pint.

Appearance: Pours an attractive deep amber with a thumb of off white head. It gradually peels off and settles at the rim. Reasonable lace as we go.

Aroma: Holy moly it actually smells like it’s been barrel aged so you could imagine our surprise to find out it hasn’t. We’re getting a dank and musty sauna room quality but as we keep taking it in we realise it’s the smoky bacon that’s providing it. The maple and buttery caramel sweetness is a master stroke…not only for balance but also for outright decadence. Yummo!

Flavour: The smoky bacon is a tad more restrained here. Definitely getting more of the traditional Amber characters like honeysuckle, burnt toffee, nutty malts and floral hops. They marry up beautifully with the subtle maple as well. There’s also a slight dryness to it which provides a good balance. Nice and sweet nutty and slightly smoky finish with good length.

Mouthfeel: Balance is the key here…there’s a nice chewy density but the light fizz and hop bitterness counteracts well. Only 5% too so it’s all about that equilibrium.

Overall: Solid stuff. We’ve been super impressed with what Bad Shepherd have been putting out lately. What are we saying we’ve been super impressed with this brewery for a long time now!! Keep em coming!

Rating:

Glassware: American pint.

Appearance: Kinda muddy rusted amber with a rapidly vanishing head. Looks like there could be Co2 issues here. We sincerely hope not.

Aroma: Smells like it has life so that’s a good sign. Lovely wafts of sweet malts encapsulating toffee, caramel and nutty grains. Fleeting hints of Asian herbs like lemongrass and coriander, a touch of peppercorn, fleshy stonefruit like paw paw and rock melon, apricot, kumquat and marmalade are all tied up in a neat little package. Quite a nice aroma in the end.

Flavour: Ok the Co2 worries we had at the beginning are all but gone…it just simply didn’t retain its head. It opens with a fruity kick and a solid support from semi sweet toffee and caramelised malts. Subtle jabs of citrus, peppery spice and herbs are thrown the whole way through until it punctuates on a dry yet malty sweet finish.

Mouthfeel: A little sticky, gelatinous and well rounded. There’s a nice line of hop bitterness, a slightly flat-ish Co2 and the 6% ABV is well behaved.

Overall: That’s 3/3 for this respectable, new-ish brewery. We wouldn’t go as far as saying this is an American style Amber Ale but there’s definitely a lifted hop presence and a higher ABV to boot. We likey!