Wapiti Amber Ale
Mogollon Brewing Company

Wapiti Amber AleWapiti Amber Ale
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From:
Mogollon Brewing Company
 
Arizona, United States
Style:
American Amber / Red Ale
ABV:
5%
Score:
81
Avg:
3.46 | pDev: 18.79%
Reviews:
28
Ratings:
34
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 19, 2020
Added:
Nov 02, 2002
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
This is our flagship ale and is pronounced wop-eh-tee. The label for this beer is adorned with the majestic Wapiti (aka elk). Wapiti are abundant in northern Arizona. They are large and beautiful creatures, which is why we chose this animal to represent this beer. Wapiti Amber Ale is hand crafted with mountain pure water, two row malted barley, yeast and Yakima Valley hops. Our brewers use traditional methods to create this full-bodied amber ale with a distinct hoppy aroma. Wapiti Amber Ale should be enjoyed cool, not cold, to best experience the complex character and flowery aroma.
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Ratings by kdoc8:
Photo of kdoc8
Reviewed by kdoc8 from Oregon

4/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I had this on tap at the Mogollon Brewery in Flagstaff, AZ. It's listed as a 5.8% ABV beer. I found it pleasant and very drinkable. It poured darkish red-brown. It had a strong sweet roasty smell. The taste was similar and reminded me very much of a weaker porter.
Mar 13, 2007
More User Ratings:
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.21/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Its TIME! ITS OLD BEER REVIEW TIME! (bruce buffer voice). In this corner, your step dad's REIGNING, DEFENDING , CHAMPION style of beer: Amber Aaaaaaayle!

Amber beer pours an amber color. Beige head 1/3". Aroma of dusty caramel roads with a C hop or two as garnishment.

Taste is pretty standard. Amber and caramel feels for days, light bitter C hop front, not imparting much in terms of grapefruit or pine, just a decent counter balancing effect with the malt smoothness. Mouth feel is light enough that the caramel like body doesn't just chill and weigh the palate down the entire way. Great artwork on these from the olden days, but they've changed it since for a more simplistic appearance. If you're going for just a smooth lightly malty experience, the C hop might get ya, but I think this fits the bill for a more balanced approach. I see they are canning it now, that was tough to imagine around 20 years ago when I first had this beer during Spring Training.
Feb 19, 2020
 
Rated: 3.75 by illtexzona from Illinois

Dec 14, 2012
Photo of tone77
Reviewed by tone77 from Pennsylvania

4.07/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Another beer from the count of canned beers, woodychandler. Poured from a 12 oz. can. Has a brownish/amber color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is alive with malts, caramel, a hint of hops. Taste is good, lots of caramel malts, some hop presence, the glass is becoming empty quickly. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a beer worth seeking out.
Oct 05, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by avisong from Virginia

Aug 30, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by pkmnzach from Arizona

Aug 09, 2012
Photo of woodychandler
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
This CAN't go on much longer, CAN it? You'd be surprised at my staying power, especially when nothing is happening tonight or tomorrow until mid-morning. Think of me as a circus geek, to be marveled at and frowned upon, but all comers stand around to get a glimpse. Thanks to sKafifer for keeping me in CANs!

From the CAN: "From Arizona's high country comes Wapiti, handcrafted with mountain pure water, two-row malted barley and Yakima Valley hops. Our brewers use traditional methods to create this full-bodied amber ale with a distinct hoppy aroma. Wapiti should be enjoyed cool, not cold, to best experience the complex character and flowery bouquet."

Were it not for the baby-blue color of the CAN, I would have said that someone slipped me a CAN of Point. It turns out that "Wapiti" is Native AmeriCAN for "Elk" and since we have an Elk County in our Northern Tier of PA, I hoist this one to its residents.

It is also notable that it is pronounced "Wop-Eh-Tee" in that the first part was a derogatory term for Italian-AmeriCANs, especially those WithOut Papers (WOP) and the impetus for the hatred between Frank Sinatra's character and Ernest Borgnine's character in "From Here to Eternity". I hope no beer is "Eh" and I am about to join a young lady in her "Tee" after a ...

I'm back and the Crack and inverted Glug was majestic! I wound up with just under two fingers of foamy, tawny head with decent retention. Color was a deep-amber, approaching copper, with NE-quality clarity. Nose was brilliant, evincing both caramel notes along with a minty hoppiness. I love the way this style has evolved! Amber = not dead (except on "House" which is dead itself). Mouthfeel was medium, approaching full, with an initial hit of caramel followed closely behind by a blast of minty hops. Peppermint + caramel = Yum yum, Sunday Sunday. Finish was semi-dry, very pleasant and something to CANsider for Hula in the Coola Day (01 Feb, annually). CAN someone put some in my Christmas stocking?
Aug 06, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by Taphouse_Traveler from Florida

Jul 27, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by Unchi from California

Mar 23, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by 2beerdogs from California

Mar 13, 2012
Photo of jamescain
Reviewed by jamescain from Texas

3.23/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured into a sniffer, thanks to BeerZack for sharing this one.

Appearance: Cloudy amber with a finger worth of off white head, that fades to a lacing over the top of the beer.

Aroma: A touch of citrus breaking through, mostly toffee and bready malts.

Taste: Bready malts with a touch of caramel.

Mouthfeel: Light body with high carbonation, easy to drink as intended.

Overall: Easy to drink, which I'm sure was their desire, not very complex.
Sep 12, 2011
Photo of JamnesCameron
Reviewed by JamnesCameron from Illinois

3.32/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Poured into a New Holland pint glass. Pours a hazy deep amber with two fingers of light tan head. Head slowly drops, leaving some nice lacing.

Aromas of citus hops, grapefruit, light malt sweetness.

Flavors of unfermented wort, sweet, malty, caramel. Light bitterness, but emphasis is on the malt.

Mouthfeel is big chewy, malty.

Overall, a very malt forward american ale. Very strong flavor of unfermented wort. Very malt forward.
May 16, 2011
Photo of mikesgroove
Reviewed by mikesgroove from South Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Decent pour here, again nothing spectacular but it worked for the style and offered up some nice looking lacing when it was all said and done. Medium amber with a mostly clear body, there was a big puff of white that reached up as high as three fingers before settling back down to a more modest looking level. Aroma is light hops, grassy, herbal notes mixed in with a nice and clean buttery sweet note that peeks through toward the end of the session. Clean flavor, light with the carbonation prickling at the tongue. First flavor is a wave of light citrus hops that takes over the profile and offers a nice dry and bitter touch. As this starts to fade mid palate a malty sweetness kicks in with notes of light cereal grains and a hint of grassy notes. Smooth, even finish leaves you quickly looking for another sip.
Apr 27, 2011
Photo of Marty30
Reviewed by Marty30 from Pennsylvania

3.59/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to aandresen for this brew!Poured into my Sam Adams perfect pint glass.I let this warm up a bit before I poured.

A. Very clear light amber body.Leaves a 1.5 inch white head that fades pretty quickly.A little bit of lacing left on the glass.Small amount of carbonation.

S. This is alittle weird not in a bad way I just cant pin point it. Smells of waffles and something like a grainy muffin,nutty.I like it.

T. I'm getting caramel and nuttyness here.Some earthy notes,followed by some piney hops in the end.

M. Nice medium creamy mouth coats the pallet nicely.Not much carbonation here which I think works well.

Overall this beer suprised me,I really enjoyed it.Nice session beer ,not over the top just a solid beer.I wish I had more,glad I got to try this.
Apr 21, 2011
Photo of Phelps
Reviewed by Phelps from Arizona

3.6/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a can received from a slightly inebriated ottovon. What a guy. This was poured into my Bruery tulip.

The beer's a gorgeous, perfectly clear brilliant copper, topped with a creamy one-finger head of light tan that fizzles quickly, leaving a filmy top layer and some sticky webs of jagged lace. Not a bad-looking amber.

Aroma ain't bad either. A hefty nuttiness (chestnuts, almonds) leads the way, while fruity yeast (apples) and some earthy hops mingle in the background. It's rather sweet.

The nuttiness follows in the flavor, though it's not as striking here. Peanuts and almonds are balanced nicely by some earthy Yakima Valley hops. A hint of sweet red apple sneaks in there before a pretty dry finish.

The mouthfeel seems a bit odd, though. It's rather heavy, almost syrupy, and lightly carbonated. Usually I enjoy a bit more body in my beer, but it seems a bit out of place with this one.

Despite the heavy body, Wapiti's actually a pretty drinkable amber. I could see it working well with some nutty cheese or a walnut-laden salad.
Feb 08, 2011
Photo of mmciz
Reviewed by mmciz from Oregon

2.55/5  rDev -26.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Baby-blue 12 ounce can from Sun Devil Liquor in Mesa poured into a Pilsner glass. Mogollon is the Flagstaff brewery I've had the least experience with - I've had a sample or two at a festival, I think, but that's it - so I had little in the way of expectations. I was sure to drink it "cool not cold" as the can suggested would allow me to "best experience the complete character and flowery bouquet."

Maybe I should have heated it up a little.

A: Nice rusty orange with not much carbonation visible and a thin and quickly fading head.

S: Just a regular ol' ale with a tiny touch of melon.

T: There's a little burnt sugar (otherwise known as caramel), especially in the initial sip, but otherwise pretty straightforward. Nothing unpleasant but nothing to catch your attention and make you reach for the glass again.

M: Thin. Perhaps a little under-carbonated but not offensively so.

D: It's pretty boring after 12 ounces. But I could probably do another 12 pretty easily... though I can't honestly say I wish I had this can's five other brothers in the fridge.
Jan 29, 2011
Photo of bbb099
Reviewed by bbb099 from California

2.24/5  rDev -35.3%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
12 Oz. can poured into a pint glass.

A - Golden, light amber color, not exactly what I expected. Pours with too much head though I suspect that the beer has been shaken around quite a lot before opening.

S - I could not get much in terms of smell. Caramel malt and nothing else.

T - The taste was quite surprising. The flavor is a combination of sweet caramel and roasty malt. Finishes with a bitter alcohol taste with a little added hops.

M - Medium bodied. My can seems flat and does not have enough carbonation.

D - Nothing really stands out about the beer and the aftertaste is a little off.
Jan 01, 2011
Photo of yemenmocha
Reviewed by yemenmocha from Arizona

2.73/5  rDev -21.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Pours very light amber with off-white head. Nose is quite light with some melon like quality in there. Palate is very light in flavor, watery body, and just overall thin. Could fool me as being a BMC pseudo craft product like amber bock. Finish is watery and disappointing.
Dec 27, 2010
Photo of Beerandraiderfan
Reviewed by Beerandraiderfan from Nevada

3/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Standard amber color, a slight degree of head and little lace, aroma was of old beer aroma.

A hint of caramel, under average hopping, a little bit of metal flavor coming off as bitterness. Woody. A beer that leans malt heavy and not necessarily smooth.

I guess I'd recommend this to someone really into fat tire
Aug 29, 2010
Photo of scottfrie
Reviewed by scottfrie from California

2.41/5  rDev -30.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
12oz can into DFH shaped pint glass.

A: Pours a resin-amber color with a thick cream colored head that slowly faded into an oily rocky film that left a great amount of sticky lacing down the glass.
S: For some reason to me this smells like the inside of a burger joint. Smells like fried zucchini, or greasy grassy hops. Light caramel malt pokes through as well.
T: Light caramel flavor with a touch of molasses in the finish. Notes of roasted cracker Aftertaste is sugary sweet and caramely. Hops are just barely noticeable.
M: Medium bodied with a flat, oily mouthfeel. Almost no carbonation. Slight alcohol in the finish.
D: Nothing really special here. An average drinker. Not much stands out, but still, not bad.
Aug 29, 2010
Wapiti Amber Ale from Mogollon Brewing Company
Beer rating: 81 out of 100 with 34 ratings