St. Amand - Brasserie Castelain

BDLbrewster

Minnesota

3.1/5  rDev -18%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a hazy light orange amber with tons of visible carbonation, small frothy head and very little lacing.

The smell is strong with barnyard, lots of earthy goodness. Slight mustiness, nice rich yeasty scents and a small amount of alcohol phenols buried under about a 8 inches of musty earthiness.

The taste is fairly in line with the nose, aside from an odd sugary worthers original lactic candy flavor that works the sides of your tongue you get pretty much what you smell. The barnyard is toned down in the flavor, but all the bready yeast and a slight touch of alcohol are there. On the dry side and I think I taste a touch of funk in there as well.

The mouthfeel is on the thin side and quite slippery with ample carbonation and finishing on the dry side.

Overall, run of the mill and a fair representation of the style. Not a stand out in my mind, but good in its own right. The price was great if that makes up for anything. $5 for the 750ml.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2009 23:01:43 | More by BDLbrewster

metter98

New York

3.78/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A: The beer is crystal clear deep amber orange in color and has a moderate amount of carbonation. It poured with a finger high beige head that took a long time to die down, consistently leaving a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface.
S: Light aromas of caramel malts and raisins are present in the nose.
T: Like the smell, the taste has flavors of caramel malts and raisins. Only a bit of sweetness is noticeable because the malts are balanced off by some notes of earthy hops. Not much bitterness is perceptible.
M: It feels medium-bodied and a little smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer seems a little maltier compared to others in the style but wasn't that difficult to drink.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 00:04:07 | More by metter98

bishopdc0

Maine

3/5  rDev -20.6%

03-27-2013 15:29:47 | More by bishopdc0

JohnK17

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +5.8%

12-11-2012 20:55:43 | More by JohnK17

t0rin0

California

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

11-11-2012 14:41:16 | More by t0rin0

ROGUE16

Delaware

3.25/5  rDev -14%

10-01-2012 16:29:33 | More by ROGUE16

pknyc

New York

4.25/5  rDev +12.4%

08-22-2012 13:58:24 | More by pknyc

UCLABrewN84

California

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Haven Gastropub in Pasadena, CA.

Pours a clear honey brown with a foamy tan head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy chunks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, honey, and some citrus aromas. Taste is much the same with some slight caramel flavors as well. There is a mild bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer and very easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

07-04-2012 03:25:21 | More by UCLABrewN84

mactrail

California

2.83/5  rDev -25.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

This is certainly at the flabby end of the Garde spectrum. It really tastes just like a cheap sweet Dunkel or low-hop Amber.

Light amber in the heavy chalice with a modest head. Light body. A slight fruitiness with a malt liquor finish. Apparently not much in the way of hops, but a slight soapy dishwater taste with a touch of earthy flavors. Faint metallic aftertaste. If it was sudsier, or had a touch of yeasty bitterness it would go down a lot easier.

It's really not that unpleasant to drink, just so uninteresting as to forget to finish the glass. On tap at Neighborhood in San Diego.

Serving type: on-tap

07-02-2012 06:20:15 | More by mactrail

hiku7

California

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Light bready pils malt aroma, with pear esters, spice, and a tiny bit of funk. No hop aroma. Slight whisp of alcohol as it warms.

Pours brilliant dark copper with a one-finger off white head. Short lasting. No lacing. Thin foam, moderate carbonation.

Fruity pear esters, and strawberries. Toasted sweet malt flavor. No hop bite. Very mild bitterness in the finish. Good balance. Some vinous flavors a bit reminiscent of grapes. Could be slightly oxidized.

Medium body. Smooth, delicate feel. Crisp dry finish and moderate carbonation. No astringency.

Very enjoyable. My first venture in the style. I will try others.

Serving type: bottle

02-29-2012 21:20:31 | More by hiku7

jfcaa193

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%

02-19-2012 00:53:28 | More by jfcaa193

elNopalero

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This pours a golden amber color with a nice bit of head retention.
There’s a funky aroma to it that's contrasted with a lightness on the palate. Bit of a funky funk finish, but overall not terribly complex and not one I’d try again for the price. Pass.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2011 19:12:13 | More by elNopalero

CypherEnigma

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%

11-27-2011 06:52:17 | More by CypherEnigma

Rochefort10nh

New Hampshire

5/5  rDev +32.3%

11-25-2011 22:18:22 | More by Rochefort10nh

impending

California

3.13/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

750ml into a tulip. Pours a gorgeous crystal clear amber copper, minor dense cream colored head was short lived, minnor lacing

Aroma is of honey candied fruits. No earth, nothing rustic.

Taste has a mellow citrus tang curled around its sweetness. Short lived aftertaste evaporates quickly. No flavor asserts, would pair well with delicate food. Near zero bitter nor dry. Pleasantly bland. Light bodied mouthfeel.
cheers
jd

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2011 05:24:50 | More by impending

4000qtrap

Missouri

3.83/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Source/Serving: 750mL bottle, Expires 12/21/11

S: Sweet malt character with heavy toasted biscuit, prune caramel, tart stale red wine, red wine cork and a little hay around the edges. Definitely a nice amount of musty/earthiness balanced against some marzipan and even alcohol (@5.9%, wow). Once you get past the sweetness it has a lot of depth.

T: Quite sweet up front with predominant grape syrup/caramel for almost the entirety of the sip. Slight sour/tart character along with some butter/ almond nuttiness, and lightly floral noble-esque hops which briefly show off some bitterness on the way to the finish to stave off the unrestrained heavy malt forward character. Syrupy body with medium carbonation. More warming than expected and alcohol comes through once its warmed just a pinch. Finish is semi-dry but sticky with butter, almond, and some hay/cork with an earthy washed-rind cheese sort of funk that’s not over the top and pleasant.

Notes: Nice sweet-funk flavors, but not dynamic. The beer does get much better and more balanced as it warms, however, and I had to give this some time to start to appreciate it. I'm fairly new to this style and this is a classic so I'll give it the benefit of the doubt for now.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2011 04:48:05 | More by 4000qtrap

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

3.18/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-pours a transparent dark caramel color with a light tan fluffy and bubbly thin head that lingers for a little.

S-the nose is plain and simple of caramel and cooked brown sugar with hints of an herbal hop underneath but hard to detect.

T-flavor pretty much the same, notes of toasted malts with roasted brown sugar and slightly burnt caramel. herbal hay like hops faint in the back.

M-syrupy medium body, chewy with big carbonation in the back.

D-malt foward and simple, nothing wrong with it but nothing at all that makes me want to come back.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2010 01:24:34 | More by cpetrone84

brentk56

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a clear amber color with a massive capp that draps lace down the sides of the chalice

Smell: Fruity, with apple and plum tones backed up by caramel

Taste: Opens with the apple and plum fruit flavors, but by mid-palate the caramel arrives, bringing along an herbacious element, as well, that adds a slightly tart dimension; after the swallow, the flavors are nicely balanced and linger well into the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: Sways a bit to the sweet side for a beer of this style, but still has a nice balanced character; a rather unusual flavor profile and a beer well worth seeking out

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2010 19:40:36 | More by brentk56

BEERchitect

Kentucky

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

Medium copper or light amber in hue, St. Amand carries a glowing haze with an off-white creamy head that retains well but laces little.

Toasty-sweet aromas seem very pilsner-like (think German Dunkels), except with a spicy herbal noble hop pungent scent. Both Earthy and woodsy, the beer has a light musty quality reminescent of cork or sagebrush combined with simple caramels.

Sweeter and spicier flavors prevail. Toasty caramel malts take precidence over the ample hop counterparts (lemongrass, tea-like nutmegs and basil scents). Fruity esters give rise to the plumby, approciot, apple taste that rises after mid-palate and just before the finish. Though spicy and light alcohol dryness in the end, the beer still finishes rather sweet, woodsy, and pleasantly dusty (perhaps from the cork).

The body is medium through and through. Impressions of malt and butter early on seem to linger well into the finish, keeping the beer from the complete dryness that it deserves. Regardless, the beer is quite quaffable and easty to drink.

Delicious and strong, this aged Belgian Amber Ale is often misunderstoon and unfortunately so- Though a Saison-like brightness and dryness is prefered, this on falls just on the sweeter side of the dominant beers of its style.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2010 07:27:31 | More by BEERchitect

Cresant

Kentucky

4.15/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured this 750 mL brown bottle into a Tripel Karmeliet glass. Bottled 4/2/10. Clear but deep copper in color. The head was cream, rich and appealing. A cap remained throughout.

Smell was sweet malts and citrus. Bread and faint yeast.

Taste was peppery. Faintly chalky, dusty. There seemed to be a light metallic twang. Very fruity - maybe fresh plums and apples. Bread crusts. Fairly drying. Subtle bitterness. Well balanced. Seems mellow and well constructed.

Mouthfeel was medium in body. there was plenty of zip but finished smooth.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2010 23:08:13 | More by Cresant

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

St.Amand French Country Ale (review #700)

Appearance: Clear and copper in color, good head retention.

Smell. Bready, sweet, chocolate. Malty.

Taste: Malty, with toffee and caramel flavor. Hops are leafy and tobacco like in nature. Nutty and lightly roasted malt profile. Overall light and crisp, muted fruit with a small porportion of noble hops. Very faint sour note. On par for style.

Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied, smooth, ample carbonation and some chewey malt lingering. Finish is dry.

Drinkability: Excellent. Could be classified as an amber ale, but its much more full. A great beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2010 20:40:31 | More by Stinkypuss

hoegaardenhero

California

3.95/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

a: light ring of whote foam around the top of a dull amber-brown body

s: sweet malts; popcorn; a sour note; light grape; dry wheat

t: very mild but sweet; still that sour note; sweet syrupy malts; warms up with each sip; light saltiness;

m: i feel that this is a little aggressive but is good; light-medium body; limited cloy

d: ok; very mild; could be good with some good foods; worth a try and could make a good pairing

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2010 04:16:01 | More by hoegaardenhero

gpogo

California

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- White head with brown amber mahogany color. Left a small lacing on the glass.

A- Fruity aromas. Slight sour notes.

T- A bit of toasted malt. Very lightly sour. Pleasant aftertaste, slight notes of apples. Incredibly refreshing.

M- Very smooth. Medium body with moderate-high carbonation.

D- I bought this a year ago and have cellared it until now. I just wished I had opened this sooner. Nice on a cold day, but I imagine this to be great on a fall evening as well. Don't let the "slightly sour" scare you away.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2009 02:43:45 | More by gpogo

Gmann

New York

3.85/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Out of a 750ml corked and caged bottle. Pours a rich copper color with a fluffy off-white head that settled into a nice cap. The aroma is quite faint, I pick up some buttery caramel malt. The taste is very smooth, what I expect a Biere de Garde to taste like. A nice caramel malt with the slightest hint of butter along with some mineral/rust flavors and low bitter hops. The brew has a moderate feel with airy carbonation, finishes malty sweet but in no way cloying, again very smooth. A very good example of the style. The flavors don't blow me away, typical of the style, but this seems to be one of the better samples of the style.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2009 15:21:32 | More by Gmann

CheeseTurds

California

4.35/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I loved this beer.

I recently went to a Biere de Garde tasting and sampled 4 different kinds- nothing was this good. Very, very drinkable. Slightly tart but not a "sour beer." Beautiful, clear ruby appearance. Complex but smooth drinking.

I don't remember what I paid for this. If I saw it again for $10 or less, I'd grab it in a second.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2009 04:18:53 | More by CheeseTurds