St-Ambroise Pale Ale - McAuslan Brewing

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.63/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

on tap at hotel nelligan in old montreal. the pour is perfectly clear amber to brick red, glowing a lighter honey shade, and boasting a gorgeous white lacey head pushing three inches in height and lasting the entire 20 minutes that it took me to drink this imperial pint. the nose is a little bland inmy opinion, with only the red malt offering anything up, its sort of antique smellign, in a good way, but it isnt too exciting. the flavor profile builds on that malty nose with slight hints of brown sugar and some sort of bittering hops, but this isnt a hoppy beer at all. it really lets the malt shine, and the result is a sort of freshness that i am not at all used to in beers that are this malt forward. its a nice surprise, a well made beer, more in the red beer than american pale category to me, but i suppose either classification can work here. relaxed carbonation provides just enough tickle to keep the beer light, the sweetness dies quickly in the finish, which makes it a rather crisp finish too, which i appreciate in this style. overall it doesnt touch their oatmeal stout, but its a fine glass of ale.

Serving type: on-tap

12-24-2012 16:48:50 | More by StonedTrippin

papat444

Quebec (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Sampled this at Bières & Saveurs in Chambly.

Pours a light orange color. Aroma leans towards more malt than hops. Flavor has a bit more hops but doesn't demarcate itself from the malt profile. Nice citrus flavor though. Used to have more teeth but there are better craft pale ales. Still, nice to have as an alternative to macros in restaurants around Montreal.

Serving type: on-tap

09-04-2012 12:42:59 | More by papat444

fostachild

Ontario (Canada)

4.22/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

have had this dozens of times. this review is for a glass i had on-tap at a montreal restaurant.

color was amber/copper - very clear. okay head.

smell was malty, bit of hops, and earthy.

taste also malty and a bit hoppy. very smooth and a nice sweetness to it that i couldn't get enough of. good carbonation and drinkability. overall really tasty and enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

08-28-2011 19:02:00 | More by fostachild

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Draft poured into a pint glass

Appearance - The beer pours a golden amber colour with a massive off white foamy and frothy head. There is some excellent lacing and the head sticks around for a while.

Smell - I can smell toasted nuts, malts, a honey sweetness and some hops.

Taste & Mouth - The beer has an average mouth feel, it might benefit from a little more carbonation, but it is good nonetheless. It feels smooth and velvety, and the first thing I can pick up on is the bitter hops, followed by a cantaloupe like sweetness. The beer is medium bodied and finishes smooth with just a hint of sweet and sour. The finish comes through as a little watery, but still good.

Drink - A fantastic beer that is one of my go to's. Give it a try if you happen to see it on a menu.

Serving type: on-tap

09-06-2010 19:25:31 | More by spinrsx

kwjd

Ontario (Canada)

3.88/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours an orangish colour, with some amount of red in it. Nice half inch head and some lacing down the glass. Nice mild hoppy aroma. It has a nice level of bitterness to it, with some hop flavour to enjoy. Quite well balanced. Not over the top carbonation, which makes this quite drinkable.

I drink this beer often, as it seems to be on tap at several restaurants in Toronto (ie. Harbord Room & Black Hoof). It isn't spectacular, but it is a very solid offering and I'll frequently order it with my meal. I'm able to have several in a sitting without being tired of it too.

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2010 02:43:30 | More by kwjd

IBUnit63

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Not sure if this was at The Manx or The Dubliner in Ottawa...I think The Manx. Either way it was in an Impy pint glass...

Classic British-style old-school pale ale...a little flat for carbonation with a bourbon copper color. Minimal to moderate carbonation.

Mild malt component with some sweet molasses (just a hint) and some noble British hops (Kent Goldings? Fuggles?)

Taste is decent but there's slight phenols that create a little off-weirdness on the finish. Malt still comes through as does a mild hop profile.

Palate has sweetness AND a slight bitter feel that balances out. Finish is mellow - not nondescript, just mellow.

This is good for a session "when in Rome."

Serving type: on-tap

05-08-2009 15:40:48 | More by IBUnit63

CanuckRover

Ontario (Canada)

4.35/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

It's been awhile since the last time I had a pale ale, stupid considering this simple style is a favourite.

Had on top. Poured into a gold-rimmed McAuslan pint glass in a fairly dim pub this beer looked pretty great. Not particularly "pale" the beer is a fairly deep amber with lively orange highlights. A lovely thick head that lasts till the last sip and leaves excellent markings.

Lively southern fruit on the nose with a hint of very light caramel. Floral hops possibly.

Nice sweet malt. Apricot and peaches, hints of caramel honey (I bought a jar from a farmer once, good stuff). Malt also has its grainy side. Hops are somewhat astringent and sharp in the finish, but pleasant overall.

No issues with the mouthfeel. It was an easy-drinking, perfectly carbonated pale.

Really enjoyed these (all 7 of them). A great session ale.

Serving type: on-tap

03-08-2008 16:36:46 | More by CanuckRover

Redrover

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

My wife & I were bicycling along the canal during our recent visit to Montreal. It was a hot day, so you can imagine my delight when I spotted this brewery.

They have a small garden and bar set-up in the back of building. Note that they also offer some food for hungry walkers/bikers.

Served in a proper pint, this beer is a nice reddish/copper with an off-white head. Nice lacing.

The nose is of fruits, citrus and a bit of dough.

The taste is pleasantly bitter. Nice citrus and caramel flavors. I get some apricot and green apple in the background.

Nice creamy mouth and the beer, not surprisingly, is incredibly fresh and lively. What an easy drinking session beer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-11-2006 20:51:03 | More by Redrover

francisweizen

Australia

3.5/5  rDev -10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A nice clear golden brew, head size and lacing depends on how dirty the glass they serve it to you in is. Aromas of malty bread with a bit of spicy hops, maybe saaz? maybe not! Taste is a bit sweet but balanced nice with the hops and a little chewy from the malts. Mouthfeel remains a bit tepid but ya know it works. Pretty much a nice change of pace from the macro filled slum bars of certain parts of Quebec. You see it on tap everywhere and even the most lame ass bodega probably sells flats of it. Mouthfeel is a bit thin but what are you gonna do? Drinkability is decent enough. I'd probably drink this beer exclusively if I was fat, 20 years older, and thought that Crescent street was the best street in Montreal Viva La Sociale Strippers!

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2006 23:42:43 | More by francisweizen

Borussia

Quebec (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Up front this beer features a floral hop character, followed by a rich malt palate combining crystal and two-row flavours. The back end combines a dry bitterneess with a lingering, golden-roasted malt taste. Nice folral hop nose as well. You can easily have three or four of this one without tiring.

Serving type: on-tap

03-06-2005 23:07:26 | More by Borussia

the42ndtourist

Ontario (Canada)

4.35/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Arrow and Loon, Ottawa.

Red-copper, with a nice one centimetre white head. Smells slightly earthy, but much more of a fruity note than in the bottles. I was both smelling and tasting apple in this pint - which I've never noticed from the bottle. Anyhow, good hopping, when I first tried this I found a wall of bitterness - now it's just one of the best, well rounded, session beers I can get in Ontario. Drink it, love it.

This lives in the (exceedingly dark) shadow of the St. Ambroise oatmeal stout, but it's no less tasty or well-made.

Serving type: on-tap

09-08-2004 23:16:09 | More by the42ndtourist

DrJay

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Very clear, copper coloured with a cream coloured head (very long-lasting with lots of lace on the sides of the pint glass). The aroma was predominantly floral hops with some caramel and light citrus. The flavour is mostly bitter, and the well-rounded hop bitterness becomes slightly more harsh as the malty sweetness dissipates. The finish is dry and bitter, and it definitely lingers... but that's not a bad thing. Medium/light body with a slight graininess present.

Serving type: on-tap

08-06-2004 00:59:58 | More by DrJay

greenengineer

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

473 mL Can - still in the hotel in Toronto - going through an assorted six pack from the LCBO
A - Transparent orange/bronze. Foamy head fades quickly.
S - slightly sweet aroma, milky
T - nice balance of hops and malt, slightly charred malt taste
M - pretty light, a little astringent
O - after being disappointed with a few other Canadian Pale Ales that were too sweet, this is a nice find. Nothing heroic, but a well balanced brew.

Serving type: can

05-12-2013 20:19:59 | More by greenengineer

IdeaSpeeder

Ontario (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Serving Type - 341ml bottle poured into a small pint glass.

Appearance - The filtered brew pours a light-amber/golden colour with a thick, creamy white head. Head retention is fantastic - when it does eventually dissipate it leaves behind a thick trail of white lacing.

Smell - A strong sweet smell. Predominately grainy with light notes of flowers and toffe, and perhaps a very light hint of spice.

Taste - Tastes of toasted grains at the beginning, with sweeter toffe and fruity like flavour kicking in towards the finish. Has a good hop backbone, yet not overbearing...

Mouthfeel - Mouthfeel isn't quite heavy - creamy almost, but not in the same way say..a cream ale is. Carbonation is low and unobtrusive.

Overal 4.5/5 - Side Note: One of the best 'balanced' pale ales I've had in ages.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 03:36:24 | More by IdeaSpeeder

leaddog

Alberta (Canada)

4.09/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Appearance - Pours a clear amber/copper with a finger width of bubbly white head.

Smell - Grains, citrus, light floral hops, bready malts.

Taste - Grains and floral hops with a touch of citrus and bready malts. Good balance in flavours. Light bitter finish.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

Overall - A nicely crafted APA by St-Ambroise. Nice malt backbone and floral hop bitterness make this a flavourful, refreshing brew.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 02:44:25 | More by leaddog

Digimaika2

Ontario (Canada)

4.14/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

(4.0) A: Clear copper with a tall, creamy, and bubbly, white head. Takes a while to recede to a thin blanket and leaves nice lacing in doing so.

(4.0) S: Grains, light floral notes, baked biscuits, a bit of tangerine, and light spices (kind of pumpkin pie like). This leans toward the biscuit/grain side but with some complimentary hop elements as well.

(4.25) T: Exactly as aroma indicated with a biscuit-malt base and tangerine/spice tastes to add a bit of kick. Well balanced and crisp. Leaves quite a lingering bitterness along with a cracker-like dryness, both of which are very satisfying.

(4.25) M: Medium bodied with a moderate carbonation. Coats the mouth with an appropriate oily sheen.

(4.0) D: Very easy drinking and definitely flavourful considering the ABV. Happy to see this in tall cans as I will have to add it to my regulars.

Serving type: can

04-21-2013 21:39:18 | More by Digimaika2

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

4.29/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

St. Ambroise Pale Ale has a thin, off-white head, a hazy, copper appearance, with a few bubbles and some floating brown bits, and not much lacing. A grayish cloud descended when I swished the bottom residue and poured it in. The aroma is not to bold, but one picks up toast, sweet brown bread crust, and some caramel. Taste is similar, with an energetic, yet, overall mellow bitterness throughout. The mouthfeel is light and watery and slick. St. Ambroise Pale Ale finishes dry, flavorful, and mild. Overall, this is an excellent beer. Check it out!

RJT

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 15:36:28 | More by RonaldTheriot

Haydn-Juby

Quebec (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Served from a 341Ml bottle

A: Light copper color. Soapy-sudsy looking one finger head that retained quiet well and left some beautiful looking lacing up the side.

S: The smell doesn't have to much to offer. Some hops come across. Small floral notes here and there.

T: Decent hoppiness backed with a mild malt background that supports it quiet well. Bitterness is balanced nicely and the floral, clover like aromas are also available on the tongue. Some citrus from the hops also lingers in. Nothing is too strongly fighting the other and hops and malt find a good balance. Small herbal qualities to it as well.

M: Creamy mouth feel. Carbonation is subtle and good for an ale. Not maybe as dry as I would like but that's fine its still pretty drinkable.

O: McAuslan has some great beers. Being a from Quebec I'm taking the opportunity to sample them all seeing as they're so cheap here. It was a pretty damn good beer and I will probably buy it again. I'm not a huge fan of pale ales but more and more I'm sinking into them thanks to beers like this.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 21:13:36 | More by Haydn-Juby

ghisty

New Brunswick (Canada)

4.31/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

appearance:
decided to use a becks flute for this blonde, mightve been the wrong choice,
pours burnt orange with a slight opaqueness, not totally clear but well carbbed.
impressive overall. the lacing is like nothing ive seen before. fluffy ridges.

smell:
like autumn. dried leaves. corn husks. woodsmoke. maybe tomatoe?

taste:
exactly how i had hoped it would be. bright and hoppy with a very malty note.
exactly the combination of grains and corn and sharp hops i was in the mood for.

mouth:
smooth. and complex at the same time,with just the right level of everything.

overall:
a very good beer overall. nice rich range of malty goodness. easy to drink and just a perfect example of what the craftier side has to offer, its almost like something id serve in a very large wine glass. just to let it work its magic a little more.
one of my new favorites as far as the craft beers go.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 00:40:07 | More by ghisty

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.08/5  rDev -20.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

Nothing screams French-Canadian Quebec like a brewery named McAuslan... Anyway, this stuff pours a clear bronze topped by a finger of glowing off-white foam. The nose comprises grapefruit-flavored solvent coating a healthy core of buttery biscuit. The taste holds notes of grapefruit peel, pine needles (dipped in a bit of sap), very light menthol, and light toffee. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a slick feel. Overall, an average pale ale, one that couldn't really positively stand out in any way.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2012 01:48:52 | More by TMoney2591

mick303

Ontario (Canada)

4.28/5  rDev +10%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a huge head of creamy foam, which sticks around forever. Beer has great lacing. Colour is a really nice brown coppery, gold. Quite appealing with a slow carbonation.

Smell is of slightly roast and caramel malts. Note of pine comes across along with some hops. Good complexity of roasted type notes.

Initially bitter and this persists while some other flavours develop. A thick syrupy graininess, with some lighter forest esters. Touch of citrus comes through. Hops have a strong impact but balanced quite nicely. Show a robust and interesting flavour edge to it.

Mouth feel I find to be quite full for the style, and not at all sweet. Aftertaste is quite long and of a similar dry bitterness that characterizes the beer, with maybe a bit of toffee.

This is a pleasure to drink. Flavour is nice and balanced bitterness. A touch more on the hoppy side, but very intriguing. Nice thick flavour and good texture to it.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 23:50:42 | More by mick303

thierrynantes

France

3.85/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Beer bottle (341 ml.) purchased from Bières & Chopes and tasted in 2012.

Appearance : coppery red color with white foamy head.
Smell : generous nose of caramel malt and hops.
Taste & mouthfeel : malty flavors with hop bitterness.
Drinkability : a good beer in the style Pale Ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2012 18:52:17 | More by thierrynantes

Converge

Alberta (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

341ml bottle poured into a 16oz pint glass.

A - This ale pours a crisp, clean amber, definitely filtered. Big, frothy, off-white head, that retains really well and coats the glass with lacing as good as any beer I've ever seen. Looks fantastic.

S - My nostrils got hit with a blast of vibrant banana aroma as I was pouring, but the actual smell here is quite mild overall after it settles. Mainly barley malt upfront, enough so that this has a really lager-esque feel to it. Light fruity aromatics wade in the background, with peaches, apricots, and bananas. The malt profile is more doughy bread and butter than the usual caramel malt. Finishes with just the tiniest hint of grassy hops and honey. More of a blonde ale than APA so far...

T - Opens up with a big barley malt presence. Really grainy and mild, then moves to a maltier feel, with buttery bread providing much of the flavor, and honey doing the sweetening rather than just caramel malt. As it finishes a mixture of both pungent fruitiness and grassy hoppiness envelop the back of the palate. The fruit ranges from candied varieties and honey dipped peaches, to unripe tartness. The hop presence gives the finish some bite without veering too close to IPA-territory, and remains highly drinkable.

M - Carbonation is about medium, but really smooth and just tingles the tongue as it passes with a medium bodied feel. Lingering hops give a mild but notable bitterness.

D - Really more of a blonde ale than an APA in my opinion. This beer offers more than the usual balance of caramel malt and hops to the palate, with bready malt, honey, light fruits and barley all coming through strongly. A memorable and very drinkable ale from St. Ambroise.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 22:05:15 | More by Converge

dansmcd

Australia

3.45/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Two fingers of soapy head with excellent retention. Great sloppy lacing. Clear orange amber body.

S - Mild hop aroma, with some caramel malt. A little bit English.

T - Follows the nose, a subtle citrus tang backed by that caramel malt.

M - Watery thin with low carbonation.

O - More like the British style of pale ale than American. Milder and maltier.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 13:34:46 | More by dansmcd

BGDrock

Ontario (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: hazy, and not only due to the chill; good sticky head; copper colour

Aroma: sweet and fruity; strawberry, raspberry; wheat or oats; recognize toffee after the tasting

Taste & Mouthfeel: on the sweet side when first touches the tongue, but finishes with a complex bitter tang; some fatty yeast character; big toffee; dry; perfect carbonation; want to keep coming back for more to figure out those flavours!

Overall: sweet and bitter flavours really weave together and finish as one, making it a lot of fun to drink

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 18:24:04 | More by BGDrock