Amber Ale - Rough Draft Brewing Company

CarboyKing

3.33/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

Poured into a tulip glass.

Appearance: deep amber to deep copper. Quite clear with a nice slightly off white half inch persisting head that dissapates but not completely. Lacing is good. Overall carbonation seems appropriate to style.

Smell: Balanced slight citrus and pine notes that take over the smell but not by much. This is balanced nicely by a moderate bready, burnt caramel aroma.

Taste: Toasty bread character in the beginning which leads to a moderate dark caramel sweetness. Not much of the hop aroma is translated into the flavor leaving the tounge with a low to moderate hop bitterness that lingers for 3 to 5 seconds. Overall the taste is malt forward with a slight hop bitterness on the back end.

mouthfeel: Medium body with a moderate high carbonation leads to a crisp yet satisfying mouthfeel. Low alcohol warmth.

Overall: This is a pretty accurate to style (minus a slightly high ABV but who doesn't like that?) Amber Ale although honestly I would have liked a little bit more hop aroma and bitterness but that is just my style. Very clean beer with no noticeable off flavors.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 06:58:18 | More by CarboyKing

mactrail

California

3.15/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours a handsome amber in the Duvel tulip with a modest foam. Nicely sudsy in the mouth and medium bodied with a fair substance. Not much aroma, but some grain and slightly burnt sugar in the nose.

Full flavored, with what I can only describe as a winey mouthfeel. It's strong, rich with malt, yet cut with a flavor like the tannins in red wine, a little woody and dirty. Somewhat sweet and reminds me so much of the big Gordon Biersch Eisbock and Weizenbock beers. Hops are fairly bitter but lack the flowery notes. I wouldn't call it dank, either, but more of a mineral, earthy taste with a tang of bitter liqueur. Warm with alcohol. Bitter in the aftertaste.

So is Rough Draft the least popular brewery in San Diego County? I was expecting to see more reviews now that their stuff is out in 22 oz bottles. Bought this one at Best Damn.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 05:21:45 | More by mactrail