Auburn Ale - Cameron's Brewing Co.

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Draft

Appearance - Clear dark copper colour with a small size frothy off-white coloured head. There is a low amount of carbonation showing and there is some decent lacing. The head lasted for around 2 minutes before it was gone.

Smell - Malts, caramel, hops

Taste & Mouth - There is a below average amount of carbonation and I can taste malts, caramel and some hops. There is also a bit of a metallic flavour to it. It ends with a malty sweet aftertaste with a small touch of hope bite.

Overall - Not a half bad beer that was a one of the only good options on tap. It didn't seem as sweet as it did when I had it from a bottle previously. It's not offensive and I enjoyed my glass.

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2011 13:47:05 | More by spinrsx

FishMan123

Texas

4.15/5  rDev +14%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Got this on tap at a bar in Ottawa. Bartender's recommendation after chatting with him about the lousy beer selections in most of the bars. Note: I found most bars in Ottawa all carry the same crappy beers - this particular bar had a nice selection.

Anyway, since I got this on tap, I'm reviewing from memory. I really liked this beer because I found it very distinctive/unique.

Color deep amber, as the name would imply. It had a taste that I couldn't quite place. Citrus - but more grapefruit than lemon. And there was an herbal bite to the beer. Hard to describe.

Definately worth a try for its unique style.

Serving type: on-tap

10-15-2010 05:03:36 | More by FishMan123

pootz

Ontario (Canada)

3.28/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I quite liked this ale more than most Ontario ambers. Tapped a definate dark amber with a nice 1 finger cap that laced out and stayed for the ride. Lovely aromas...notes of grassy hop-citrus(citrus quite pronounced) and sweet malts. Started medium heavy (a filling drink) with lots of carmelized malty body and then the light lemon burst of hops comes in for a moment just before the finish which is mild and leaves a biscuit aftertaste with slight metalic tastes.Not a balanced ale but who cares eh? Nice pub fare....one more of these Bill ;-)

Serving type: on-tap

07-23-2004 19:46:05 | More by pootz

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Amber orange hued body with a nice sized two finger off white cream head, leaves behind fine lacing spread evenly. Aroma: Nice mild citrusy hop bite, with sweetness spread from the malts very solid offering. Taste: Smooth sweet flavor buttery malts with citrus twang from the hops very solid, a bit mild in the flavor but an incredible balance. Mouthfeel: Medium to light bodied session ale here, full creamy edge moderate carbonation. Drinkability: I met one of the reps for Cameron's Brewing, and he bought me a second pint after seeing me drinking is product. I had about three pints total and thought it was excellent all around, very timid and withdrawn but the flavors that were there were in full cohesion.

Serving type: on-tap

02-18-2004 21:28:40 | More by WVbeergeek

hopsolutely

Ontario (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

An "old standard" of mine from years ago that I haven't revisited in some time with the new wealth of Ontario craft brewers. Saw a single at the LCBO and decided to take a trip down memory lane for BA rating purposes!

Pours a beautiful clear amber with minimal head, no lacing. Believe this bottle has less carbonation than normal. Malt-forward aroma of caramelized and roasted grains. These initially sweet flavours meld into a nicely bitter finish, with lots of toffee and breadiness in a well-rounded body. More depth than I expected and that finish lingers...

An excellent "transition beer" for anyone newly into the world of beer with flavour. A good example of roasted and toasted malted barley potential without being too threatening to a macro “red” drinker.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 21:45:28 | More by hopsolutely

SebD

Ontario (Canada)

3.65/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: It has a nice clear copper/amber color to it. It has a nice thick off-white head that dies down moderately and leaves some nice lacing.

Smell: The aromas definitly give out hints of roasted and bready malts, caramel, citrus and earthy hops.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has a sweet roasty/bready malt character along with some caramel, some nut and earthy hops.

Mouthfeel: It has a medium carbonation with a nice overall balance and feel.

Drinkability: It's a very smooth drinkable beer accompanied with decent flavors and aromas.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2012 21:02:31 | More by SebD

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a nice dark copper colour with an amber hue, finger of head with some retention, and no real lacing.

S - Nice earthy hop notes, sweet caramel, hints of cedar and a leafy green finish.

T - Tasty ale with a solid hop presence, nice earthy flavors, and a solid caramel backbone. Hints of cocoa and coffee linger on the finish.

M - Medium, smooth and a tough of dryness.

O - A surprisingly flavorful offering with a solid hop presence and some tasty lingering flavors. Well worth grabbing and easily sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 21:54:42 | More by andrenaline

mick303

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours about two fingers of creamy white foam that retains for a good time, and leaves a good lacing and film. Colour is quite a medium dark ruddy chestnut with lively carbonation. 4

Aroma is of strongly caramelized malts. Quite dry. Also a hint of hay. Altogether quite malty and balanced. 3.5

Taste is very malty, hops are also present. The balance here is quite good, and quite rich flavour. Leaves a woody caramel bitterness on the finish. I really like the intensity of flavour, but theres not a huge amount of complexity. 4

Mouthfeel is good and balanced, carbonation gives a bit of sharpness. Quite dry and a bit bitter towards the finish. Enjoyable and drinkable. 3.5

This is a pretty straightforward amber ale in that it keeps mainly to the malty and hopped aspects to deliver a pretty solid all round beer that is quite drinkable. Can see myself potentially getting more of this. 3.5

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2012 18:10:53 | More by mick303

thehyperduck

Ontario (Canada)

3.8/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

341 mL bottle from a sampler pack of 4. I don't know anything about this brewery, but the description on the bottle has me eager to try this one. Served a bit warmer than fridge temperature (I let it sit for ~10-15 minutes before pouring).

Pours a bright, clear copper-amber (or perhaps auburn?) colour, topped with a thin, foamy off-white head that fizzles out unfortunately quickly. Its only remnants are a thin film on the surface, and a respectable creamy collar around the edge of the glass that leaves smears of lacing. The aroma confirms that the label was not lying; there is plenty of grapefruit citrus and pine sap on top of caramel malts and toffee. Some floral notes as well.

A very hoppy, rather unbalanced example of the style, though as an IPA lover I am not about to complain. Earthy, bitter grapefruit and resiny pine sap are present from the start of the sip and linger well into the aftertaste. The malts remind me more of roasted bread and nuts rather than the toffee/caramel in the aroma. Good body for a 5%er, solid medium. Mildly carbonated, and really easy to drink - this is one of the first times I've almost finished the beer before the review!

Not balanced like I usually expect from an amber... but very easy to like at the same time, and even if it's not a textbook example of the style it's a thoroughly enjoyable one either way. I could definitely see myself getting this again if I were in the mood for a reasonably hoppy session ale.

Update (Nov. 14 2012) - Tried another sampler, one that was considerably less fresh than last time when it was only a week off the line. The hop character definitely dies down over time; still present but not nearly as prominent, becoming smoother and more malt-forward. I'm not adjusting its score, as this is still quite good for an amber, but it seemed worth mentioning as a factor worth considering.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2011 07:42:35 | More by thehyperduck

Stocean1

Ontario (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - amber color, crisp clarity, no lacing and nearly no dead

S - malt, some citrus hops, bread

T - malt up front with some grapefruit hops - medium bitterness, some breadiness

M - smooth up front bitter on the back end - decent carbonation and light to medium body

O - decent offering for my first cameron,s brew

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2011 03:21:20 | More by Stocean1

Rijtjeshuis

Ontario (Canada)

3.15/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a nonic

LOOK (3/5) Pours a copper-amber color, a little lighter than auburn. Clarity is very good. The head is disappointingly small (half a finger). It falls to a tiny film within a few minutes, leaving no lacing. Bubbles cling to the inside of the glass, but also leave quickly.

SMELL (3/5) Some citrus/grapefruit hops, but less than I'd have expected. This means that the malts kinda take the balance. I get some darker fruits and to bready/bread-crust notes. Finish is clean and crisp - there's a hint of metal (which i really don't like)

TASTE (3/5) As with the smell, the flavor is pretty malty. There is some melanoidin flavor, they level out with the hops nicely - but I think the combination leads to a metalic flavor. Simply put, the hops didn't deliver and they needed to. The finish was crisper.

FEEL (3.5) Moderatly-light body, pretty light feel, I expected a bit more. Some higher carbonation served to almost highlight the poor hops even more.

DRINK (3.5) This makes for a decent session ale - the balance is great, but the hops themselves had that metal taste (or it may have been the hops with the malts). That was the main failing.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2011 21:47:19 | More by Rijtjeshuis

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle from the mixed pack at the LCBO. I ran out of interesting things to try so I went for this.

A - Pours a medium copper with good carbonation and a one finger eggshell head. Moderate rings of lacing and a film of retention. Bright.

S - Caramel, earthy hops, bread.

T - Good combo of earthy tones and caramel malts, bread, and some yeast I think.

M - Good carbonation, medium body, and a slightly sweet then dry finish.

O/D - This one's alright. A quality session lager that's refreshing and tasty. Nothing over the top but it fills a hole as a quality craft lager.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2011 23:19:31 | More by tbeckett

karait95

Mexico

3.48/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The color is a dark light brown hue with very little of reddish, the head was small not to prominent, even the carbonation is not poor it doesn't present a permanent layer on top of the beer, the looking could be better.

S: It is nice, a natural barley, caramel, hops aroma can be sensed, that is not very very strong or intense but it is present, the caramel aroma is not very clear but as it has some toasted malts it is basic, the balance between the barley and the hops is good but again it is not to strong.

T: It is well balanced flavored, full malty - hops flavor with some traces of the caramel, the hops are somehow more strong.

M: Even it is in general well balanced the bitterness breaks the balance, the body is well formed and the sensation is smooth the ending is also good.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2011 02:24:23 | More by karait95

bryehn

Ontario (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Auburn is the perfect descriptor. Pours with a modest tan head that reduces to a thin collar without leaving any real lacing.

Has a surprisingly buttery, citrus hop aroma with a toasted malt backing. Simple, but solid. A honey tone and an apple-y alcohol note come through after warming.

Malt forward taste with a light fruit note like apple or grape. Toasted notes come through after a nice punch of dryness.

Feels creamy at first, but has a watery characteristic that almost seems to dilute the taste. Slight sourness and astringency on the finish.

Not bad, great introduction to the brewery and start of a sampler. Seems highly session-able and could be great for a poker game or dinner party. Goes well with peppery or fatty foods.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2011 20:31:06 | More by bryehn

MeisterBurger

Ontario (Canada)

3.15/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A gentle pour reveals shades of amber and copper and chestnut brown topped by a thin head that leave spots of lace.

The aroma reveals citrus and aluminum with something of a brown ale about it, toasty, with some mild floral aromatics.

Not having had this for several years, the taste is much milder than I remember it. A rich malt, somewhat reminiscent of a Tootsie® Roll fades with every sip and gives way to a floral, metallic bitter in the finish. As it warms the malt grows toastier, the caramel comes out and the hops swing towards grapefruit rind all with an underlying green grape sourness. The finish is a bit rough.

Mouthfeel is light with low carbonation.

This is better than I was expecting, different than I remember, and there's something in the aftertaste I find a little off-putting.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2011 01:59:20 | More by MeisterBurger

JohnnyBarman

Ontario (Canada)

3.6/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Last of my Cameron mixed four pack.

Poured into a becker Creemore glass. A light amber hue - a little too light to fall under the 'auburn' spectrum, but still very nice. Leaves behind about a half inch of white head, which dissolves into a thin ring. A few flecks of lacing.

The nose is malty, nutty and buttery, some apple and herbal hops in the back.

Quite pleased with the taste - dominated by the malts early on, but the herbal hops give it a lasting finish. Nutty and crisp, very satisfying.

Good carbonation, but a touch too thin. Very quaffable, however.

This one was my favorite of the bunch - easy to drink, flavorful, nothing funky or out of place. Not very complex, but something one could session with incredible ease. A solid Ontario offering - I'll definitely pick this one up again.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2011 01:25:11 | More by JohnnyBarman

cratez

Ontario (Canada)

3.48/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

341ml bottle from the Cameron's Mixer Pack, purchased at the Lawrence & Avenue LCBO in Toronto, Ontario. Pours a copper brown body with orange hues, nice clarity, a creamy and lasting off-white head, and drapes of spotted lacing down the shaker glass. Smell is slight grain, caramel, fruity and floral hops, grassy and resinous, yeasty doughiness, honey, and brown sugar. Taste is somewhat sweet, weird acidic sourness, toasted grain, toffee, green grapes, mild hop bitterness, and a bit of apple in the aftertaste. Mouthfeel is light side of medium, kinda watery, soft carbonation, parched and astringent finish. A strange bitter/sourness suggests this might have turned from being stored at room temperature. Too bad, really, because Auburn is a quaffable amber with a healthy dose of hops. The LCBO needs to refrigerate these natural, unpasteurized craft beers!

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2010 05:02:39 | More by cratez

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

3.58/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured in to pint glass

A - Medium amber colour; translucent. A slight orange glow and a small amount of white head.

S - Bitter citrus hops up front with caramel malts providing some sweetness.

T - A nice balance of crisp bitter hops and sweet caramel bready malts. Slight bitterness in the finish.

M - Light body with moderate carbonation.

D - A very good ale with a good balance of hops and malts. Would definitely buy this one again.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2010 03:27:47 | More by TheSevenDuffs

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

'Auburn Ale' may not be the most creative name but it is pretty accurate. The beer is, as you might have guessed, a clear and rather sparkling tone of auburn that might remind one of fall foliage or perhaps a new penny. The construction of its head seems incomplete with patches yet to be filled in (this despite a viscous, ropey lacing).

The aroma may not be too robust or overtly dynamic, but there can still be much grace and distinction in subtlety. Sweet toffee-ish malts and earthy, floral hops make for an elegant and unexpectedly intricate bouquet. The scents are lively: the hops softly fragrant like spring flowers and the malts dank and soggy like wet autumn leaves.

The beer may speak softly but it carries a fairly big stick. The malts are gluey and, while not too thick, offer a hefty toastiness and really nutty roast. (That nutty taste resembles roasted pecans or macadamia nuts and is, for my palate, quite delicious.) Beneath this chewy caramel flavour is a crew of bitterly floral, earthy hops.

For their part, those hops do well to get noticed. I was skeptical reading the label's promise of a "full hop flavour" but while they aren't anywhere as animated or zestful as you'd find in most American brewed amber ales, they do offer a spritz of rose water and a lengthy shaving of grapefruit peel that both linger ever so gently on the finish.

Cameron's Auburn is a gracefully flavourful ale that makes for a wonderfully social and satisfying pint. While I typically prefer more adventurous, more sassy, more bold beers, I equally (if not more) appreciate elegance and quality craftsmanship, which those more audacious examples often don't have. This is welcome in my fridge anytime.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2010 19:21:12 | More by biegaman

BDTyre

British Columbia (Canada)

3.48/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Mild copper colour with a slightly off-white head. The head is quite thick and billowing to start, but it calms down quite quickly.

Slightly sour and somewhat bitter scent; slight grassiness. Fresh bread, toffee and a bit of caramel. Very mild taste - bready malts, really light hops. Not very powerful or spectacular but still a good, simple tasting beer.

A bit watery, but otherwise a good session beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2010 04:43:26 | More by BDTyre

demcorhip

Ontario (Canada)

3.58/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Yes, im working my way through the OCB Discovery Pack. Not much to discover so far other than approachable ales.

A nice looking amber ale. One finger of head on the pour, which subsides to leave a thin collar.

Caramel malts and a touch of biscuit with no hint of the full hop flavour promised at on the label. There is, however, an underlying herbal grassiness.

Well there is a clean hop bitterness present that keeps this from being too pedestrian. Nice flavour from the caramel malts too. A somewhat tame yet tasty brew.

Nice, body has a bit of substance, decent level of bitterness and touch of astringent grain husk balances out the malts.

A good, drinkable and sessionable ale. Could be kicked up a notch or too with some dry hopping to add another dimension to what is otherwise a quality yet tame offering. As it is its reminiscent of an American Octoberfest.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2009 21:46:36 | More by demcorhip

decimator

Ontario (Canada)

3.05/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

From the OCB discovery pack no. 2.
341ml bottle poured into a mug.

A - Poured a auburn (orange-brown) color with a 1/4" head which slowly dissipated. Looks good.

S - Caramel, malts and toasts mostly. There's a hint of something fruity in the background but I can't nail down the aroma.

T - Mostly sweet toasty malts and some hop bitterness.

M - Low carbonation. Smooth.

D - Just kind of average. I could easily drink a few in an evening but I would probably get bored of it.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2009 13:18:22 | More by decimator

mintjellie

Ontario (Canada)

3.58/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Dark copper body with two fingers of off-white head. Great retention and lace.

Smells doughy. Nice toast and caramel aromas. Citrusy hop aroma.

Good caramel malt flavour. Nutty. A little bit buttery. Citrusy hops. Mild but balanced bitterness.

Body approaching medium with low carbonation. Smooth and creamy. Seems like a decent session ale, it tastes pretty good but theres nothing here that would offend a macro drinkers tastebuds.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2009 20:46:51 | More by mintjellie

Seanstoppable

Nova Scotia (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A recent trip to Ontario resulted in me getting the OCB's summer mix six pack, which included this.

Pouring into a pint glass definitely results in an auburn ale, with a finger of white head. Plenty of lacing left on the glass.

Scent is a bit yeasty, with some toasted malts.

Taste is of some lip smacking nice roasted malt flavoring. Kinda creamy to a degree. A hint of bitterness at the end, but overall very smooth. Low carbonation is pleasant, allowing one to enjoy the flavors.

Overall, a pretty good amber/red ale. Maybe not as good as some, but definitely better than others.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2009 18:10:00 | More by Seanstoppable

ludachris

Ontario (Canada)

3.7/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Second beer from my OCB 2nd edition 6 pack. Thanks Marky.
Pours a clear copper with a finger and a half of off white head with some nice retention and great lacing.
Citrus, pine, buttery malts and grassy hops in the nose. Reminds me a tiny bit of an american IPA.
Buttery malts, biscuit and a tiny bit of caramel upfront followed by citrus, pine and a grassy hop finish. Has a bit of a funky solvent taste that lingers in the end, but nothing too offensive.
Mouthfeel is very creamy and smooth but I thought the transition between the malts and hops could use a bit of work. About medium bodied and very drinkable.

Overall, a nice, refreshing american amber but nothing that really stood out besides its funky finish. I don't think I would commit to a 9 pack of these but I would recommend to anyone anxious to try some Ontario crafts.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2009 02:20:47 | More by ludachris