Amber Ale - Mt. Carmel Brewing Company

Brenden

Ohio

4/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

As this brew pours out, a hazy burnished copper color in my glass, the head beginning to develop looks at first like it may be a little too light and spritzy. It ends up developing a nice, frothy one finger tall with good retention that leaves good rings of lacing sporadically, especially thick at the top, and some legging as it drops down. One interesting note: the head seems just off-white at first, but what's left in the glass is definitely a pure white color. That may be just my eyes, and it doesn't make any difference, I just thought it was interesting.
Good things come off the nose: toast and caramel from malts mix with just a bit of hops that balance without detracting from the maltiness, and a light yeast presence with just the slightest touch of a dark fruits note.
The taste follows suit, though hops come out in greater force, a bit floral and lightly citric, giving this beer a pretty even contribution from both malt and hops in the flavor. A light spice kicks gently, yeast lingering, and the mild dark fruits just underneath, then the hops round it out.
The body is medium with a light carbonation. Crispness and smoothness mingle together. There's enough malt to keep it from being dry with enough hops to keep it from going to the other end of the spectrum, making this a solidly semi-dry.
I'd never heard of this brewery before I saw this on the shelf, and I'm glad I picked it up. I'll be looking for more from them in the future.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2011 02:04:58 | More by Brenden

Groomsy

Kentucky

3.44/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

On-tap at Mellow Mushroom in Wilder, KY. Served in a pint glass.

Pours an appropriate slightly hazy amber color. Topped by a frothy off-white head that leaves splotchy lacing down the glass. The head has some staying power to it and the beer is well-carbonated.

In a field of hop-centric ales, MC's amber seems rather restrained. Filled with scents of toffee, caramel, and freshly milled grain, this beer showcases more malt presence than hop presence. There is some earthy/floral hops to contrast the sweetness, but this is a more malt-forward amber than what most may want. It smells perfectly smooth and aromatic, though.

The taste is on par for the amber style and is quaffable without being bland. Starting off with a grainy sweetness, the malt rules into the middle of the palate and evolves into notes of toffee, caramel, and maybe just a hint of coffee. Some hop presence, though mild comes in on the finish with some tea-like and earthy bitterness. Balanced, drinkable, and simple. Can't ask for much more in an amber ale.

Mildly carbonated (but not flat) and medium-bodied, this beer is definitely refreshing and - dare I say - sessionable. Some fruity sweetness lingers in the finish and complements the other flavors in the beer.

While not an exciting style overall, this beer hit the spot for me during lunch. It's simple, drinkable, and still flavorful. Don't think you can ask for more than that in an amber ale, honestly.

Serving type: on-tap

05-25-2013 20:07:12 | More by Groomsy

J10Jordan

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

05-23-2013 01:21:42 | More by J10Jordan

mattsucks

Ohio

3/5  rDev -20.2%

05-20-2013 03:43:22 | More by mattsucks

athesing10

Ohio

4/5  rDev +6.4%

05-17-2013 14:04:37 | More by athesing10

BuckeyeSlim

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +13%

04-18-2013 00:06:07 | More by BuckeyeSlim

ONUMello

Ohio

3.89/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass
A: Appropriately enough, a hazy amber color with a two-finger head that slowly settles
S: Lots of toffee, some malt and a hint of coffee grounds
T: Toffee again up front, some malt - tasty but nothing distinct
M: Medium-bodied, smooth
O: Very solid, not particularly memorable but I would buy it again

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 22:15:34 | More by ONUMello

XavierMuskies

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

04-05-2013 00:27:08 | More by XavierMuskies

cproioi

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +19.7%

03-15-2013 00:40:52 | More by cproioi

Mtooman

Ohio

3/5  rDev -20.2%

03-02-2013 03:47:41 | More by Mtooman

Chris77McGrath

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

02-19-2013 14:46:10 | More by Chris77McGrath

RedneckBeerz

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

02-03-2013 10:36:55 | More by RedneckBeerz

davemathews68

Ohio

3/5  rDev -20.2%

01-27-2013 22:13:29 | More by davemathews68

Lukass

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +13%

01-03-2013 01:27:07 | More by Lukass

JimmyFlatRock

Ohio

4/5  rDev +6.4%

12-03-2012 23:55:46 | More by JimmyFlatRock

whodeyvols

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

11-17-2012 14:17:49 | More by whodeyvols

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Well apparently this is pretty easy drinking as I got wrapped up in writing something and forgot to be focusing on the review. The flavor on this one is pretty good, though it seems to be a bit tight. It could be a bit more open and free instead of somewhat restricted. Still is pretty good though. Don't get to see too many nice ambers. Or so it seems.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2012 02:16:00 | More by RblWthACoz

AwYeh

California

4.35/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle poured into nonic pint.

A: Pours a slightly foggy, bright, reddish amber color. Two fingers of frothy, off-white head top the beer off, leaving a great amount of lacing behind.

S: Quite a strong smell for the style; there are a lot of thick, sweet malts, as you might expect, bring forth flavors of caramel, bread, nuts, and toast. There's a nice hop balance too, with a moderate herbal/grassy flavor which is nicely complemented by light orange peel and a soft resinous flavor.

T: Sweet toffee, caramel malts, a grainy flavor, and a bit of toast balance this beer's hop flavors perfectly. Those flavors themselves are earthy, piny, and slightly citrusy, and leave a light-moderate bitterness behind. It's hard to say enough about how well Mt. Carmel nailed the balance of this beer.

M: Clean, smooth, and creamy; moderately bodied and carbonated.

O: This is a great amber ale, and may be my favorite example of the style. Love the hoppier than usual approach. My glass of this went quickly, and I wish I had picked up more than a single of this at the store.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 03:35:24 | More by AwYeh

JustinWhipple

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

06-10-2012 11:29:43 | More by JustinWhipple

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

3.73/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks dakkon54!

It looks like a good beer. Deep amber body with a small white head. Nothing special, but looks not bad. Smells very sweet, lots of toffee and caramel here. A bit of earthy grassy notes to it as well, but still dominated by sweetness. In terms of malt ambers, its actually pretty good.

Lots of dry cereal grains, a bit of metallic feeling, and a hint of toffee as well. Very balanced and drinkable, yet still bold.

Not going to blow your mind, but you will enjoy it.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 17:03:45 | More by VncentLIFE

zeledonia

Minnesota

3.4/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Another beer received in a recent BIF.

Pours a medium-dark amber color, not quite clear, with one finger of yellowish tan head. Decent retention, some lacing. Not bad, not great.

Smells fairly nutty, heavy on the malts, with some faint herbal hops. Nothing exciting going on, but not bad. Low sweetness, low bitterness - rather woody. Malts and hops, you know the drill.

Taste again is pretty malty, though the bitterness picks up through the second half. Mildly bitter finish that gradually fades away. Malts are, again, rather nutty and woody.

Mouthfeel is fine, just like most things about this beer. Fine. Medium-bodied, a little heavier than expected, with enough carbonation.

This beer is fine, but it's pretty blah. It doesn't wow me with anything - no big flavors, no subtle complexity. It's just okay.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2012 01:42:29 | More by zeledonia

MouthfulOfchris

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

05-07-2012 13:17:54 | More by MouthfulOfchris

StewartWatson

4/5  rDev +6.4%

04-12-2012 13:08:08 | More by StewartWatson

SPriestle

Ohio

4/5  rDev +6.4%

03-25-2012 18:12:51 | More by SPriestle

superspak

Michigan

3.15/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12 ounce bottle into pint glass, no bottle dating. Pours fairly hazy and cloudy bright orange color with a nice 2 finger fairly dense khaki head with great retention that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Some spotty lacing on the glass, with a fair amount of carbonation streaming up. Aromas of light caramel, toasted malt, honey, bread, herbal hops, and light orange zest. Aromas are pretty weak, but have decent balance for what is there. Taste of biscuit, caramel, orange zest, herbal hops, earth, honey, toasted malt, and biscuit. Good amount of herbal bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of caramel, biscuit, light citrus, and toasted malt for a bit. Medium carbonation and body; with a lightly creamy mouthfeel with a bit of prickly carbonation. Fairly crisp on the finish. Alcohol is well hidden with almost no warming present on the finish. Easily drinkable and smooth as well at 6%. Overall this is an ok amber ale. Probably a bit too old, as I have no idea how long it has been sitting on the store shelf when I bought it a few months ago. Pretty drinkable though.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 05:34:37 | More by superspak