Ale Street News Online

As always, the entries were blind tasted, and panelists had no information about the beer until the tasting was concluded. Sadly, some entries were again badly oxidized, which obviously hurt the chances of otherwise good beers receiving high marks.

Hopback Amber (5.6%) Troegs Brewing Co., Harrisburg, PA.

This beer was awarded first place of the tasting. Amber color, very clear, poured with a tight, small head. Citrus-y complex hop aroma, clean malt underneath. "Beautiful aroma, can’t stop smelling it! Slight roast in flavor adds to complexity. Clean malt flavor, nice hop presence, dryish finish." "Nice beer! Quite drinkable, fits nicely in this style."

****1/2

Calico Amber Ale (5%) Ballast Point Brewing Co., San Diego, CA.

Second place of the tasting. Reddish copper color, big-bubbled head fades quickly. Hoppy aromas of lemon zest and pine resin, some caramel. "Good balance, leans towards hops. Long hop finish." "Nice smooth bitterness, hoppy, some roast malt, dry finish. Definitely for hop lovers."

****

Jamaica Red (6%), Mad River Brewing Co., Blue Lake, CA.

Tied for third place of the tasting. Citrus, fresh grass nose. Solid amber color, very clear, good sticky head that lasted. "Good hops, fruitiness, malt and hop intertwine nicely. Dryish finish, hops linger a bit." "Complex malt. Good hops (British?), alcohol apparent."

***1/2

Boont Amber Ale (5.8%), Anderson Valley Brewing Co., Boonville, CA.

This beer also tied for third place. Deep copper with reddish highlights, beige head, good retention. Complex, fine malt/hop aroma, slight citrus. "Very balanced & smooth. Less hops than some, but very drinkable. Not too much caramel." "Nice beer! Best yet, some might argue it needs more hops for the style."

***1/2

Full Sail Amber (5.5%), Full Sail Brewing Co., Hood River, OR.

Dark amber color, very clear, not much head. Clean malt aroma, touch of roast, faint hops. "Pleasant, well balanced. Some vanilla, dry/sour finish." "Medium complexity, just the right amount of crystal, and just the right amount of hops to finish clean and dry."

***

Hoppus Maximus (5.9%) Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. Akron, OH.

Deep golden/light copper hue, thin, white head. Clean, piney, resiny nose with some alcohol notes. "Complex hops, slightly bitter malt background, west coast hop finish. Clean, balanced, complex." "Mouthful of hops, underlying malt. Very drinkable."

***

Fat Tire Amber Ale (5.2%), New Belgium Brewing Co., Fort Collins, CO.

Deep gold with copper highlights, some lacing in the glass. Toasty malt nose with chocolate and caramel notes, light hops underneath. "Very chocolaty sweet malt, almost cloying in the beginning. Diminutive hop presence. Some toffee sweetness and spiciness from hops." "Chocolate in flavor, also? Interesting beer, but doesn’t seem to fit the American Amber style."

***

Budweiser American Ale (5.1%) brewed by Anheuser Busch, St. Louis, MO.

This is A-B’s new venture into ale brewing. Medium amber color, clear, long lasting head and lacing. Toasted caramel malt aromas, light citrus hop notes. "Forward, long lasting malt. Some hop dryness, slight sourness in finish." "Clean malt, some caramel flavor. Needs more hop or less caramel. Clean, drinkable beer, but not especially exciting."

**1/2

Tri Motor Amber Ale (5.1%) Lang Creek Brewery, Marion, MT.

Clear amber/brown color, lacy, short-lived head. Light caramel and malt nose, lighter hop aroma underneath. "Solid malt up front, light caramel doesn’t overwhelm. Hops in middle, then a malty, dryish finish." "Round malt flavor followed by substantial hops. Lingering bitterness in finish combines with graininess. Slightly metallic in finish."

**1/2

Samuel Adams Boston Ale (4.94%) Boston Beer Co., Boston, MA.

Golden color, easily the lightest colored beer of the tasting. Citrusy, slightly floral aroma, some sherry sweetness. "Clean, but not much malt complexity. Some papery dryness in flavor. Probably a little light for the style, not really an amber." "Nice balance, hoppy long finish, but also a bit sour/oxidized in finish."

**1/2

St. Rogue Red (5.1%) Rogue Ales, Newport, OR.

Poured medium copper, with a lacy beige head. Spicy, resiny, peppery hop aromas. "Hoppiest one yet, hops are overpowering. Very bitter flavor, could use some more malt to balance." "Oxidized aromas and flavor, seems like an old bottle. Hops are very forward, some astringency in finish."

**

Oxford Class Organic Ale

Clipper City Brewing Co., Baltimore, Maryland. Deep amber/light brown color, clear, not much head. Toasted malt, light hop aromas with some papery/oxidized notes. "Malt profile has caramel, but also more roast than expected. Closer to a brown than an amber." "Hops at the beginning give way to sourish malt. Oxidized?"

**

Beers were judged according to the following scale:

***** - World Class

**** - Very Good

*** - Average to Good

** - Mediocre at Best

* - Not Recommended

The beers style for the next tasting panel will be announced at www.alestreetonline.com and on The Brewers Forum.