Bush Ambrée - Brasserie Dubuisson Frères sprl

RuudJH

Netherlands

2.45/5  rDev -36.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Strong beer small bottle.
Colour amber, hazy with lots of floaty bits, thin head, ok carbonation.

Smell of pilsnerhops grassy, smell of bubblegum. Boozy, not bad.
Taste of malts, slightly roasted, some dark fruits, but the alcohol is very dominant, a bit harsh.

As a lot of the stronger ales, this one has problems. The flavours have trouble covering for the % of alcohol, making it hard to enjoy.
The boozyness is very disappointing to me. I've had several high % abv beers that were very enjoyable with flavour and aroma, but this not one of them.
After a few tries and sips, I threw the rest away.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2011 10:40:19 | More by RuudJH

Reaper16

Alabama

3.7/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz. bottle served into a tulip glass

Pours a golden yellow color that reminds me of Halls honey-lemon flavor cough drops. Not even one finger of eggshell head forms, though the lacing is nice and archy. It's pretty dark and undistinguished compared to other Belgian Strong Pale Ales, though this could be an instance where the beer is unique enough that it shouldn't be compared to stylistic competition. Duvel this beer is not. Still, it's an average looking Belgian beer.

Scaldis doesn't smell like Duvel either. It's got an immediate creamy vanilla character that reminds me of some California Chardonnays. There's an amber malt presence for sure. Belgian Strong Amber Ale?

The taste follows the nose for the most part. Amber malts, some sugary flavors, lots of vanilla. There's a cherry flavor here too that, combined with the vanilla, reminds me of Gerber cherry-vanilla baby food (in a good way!). The fruit notes come across as macerated in butter or something; there's a richness here. There's some definite sweet alcohol notes here too. It works as a tasty coherent beer, though it never amazes.

The flavors are creamy, so it only makes sense that the mouthfeel is too. The style calls for more carbonation, but the relative lack of it in Scaldis makes sense. Overall, this is a solid, above-average beer. It is too unique to be corralled into the world of Duvel clones. It's a Belgian Strong Amber Ale, with all of the unique flavors that would come from such an imaginary style. Definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2011 04:00:19 | More by Reaper16

beerenjoyer1

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I was surprised by this beer. At first I thought it would be bland or just strong tasting but I was pleasantly surprised. The foam on the beer was somewhat big but it disapated quickly to leave just a thin scattered foam on top of a medium amber colored beer that I poured into a goblet to enjoy. I thought the smell was clean but it did not give a hint of the nice taste of the beer which was smooth with some carbonation with some hops and a light maltiness. The mouthfeel was very enjoying causing one to really savor the taste. Overall Bush is really a good beer and I hope to get to Brussels to bring more home.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2011 14:31:14 | More by beerenjoyer1

Daredevil

Switzerland

4.08/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

color: muddy bronce

head: foamy, not very firm

smell: pinewood with with some notes of menthol and paraffin

taste: in a blind tasting I might easily have guessed this to be a single highland malt, caramel and flowery notes with some nice bitterness in the aftertaste

... if only the smell were a tick more pleasant ....

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2011 22:54:03 | More by Daredevil

4000qtrap

Missouri

4.43/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Source/Serving: 11.2 oz bottle, no expiration date.

S: Caramel apple and pear carried on ribbons of abundant floral alcohol. Earthy yeast grounds the effervescence and upbeat spiciness. Light herbal hops.

T: Juicy, semi-sweet golden raisins over a backdrop of apple, pear, honey bread, and alcohol. Middle combines a tartness, prickly carbonation, and light punch of bitterness to shake your palette awake and delivers fruity (apple, pear, apricot) booziness with a firm, but low level herbal hop snap. The juxtaposition of a medium-full body, high carbonation, serious warming and upbeat flavors gives this an impressive larger-than-life, yet very nimble, character. Like a 7ft center in basketball or a 280lb defensive end. Finish is boozy with expected dryness and a lingering, pleasant pear alcohol note. As warming as you'd expect, but never too boozy even as it warms. Incredibly smooth alcohol character thats a positive flavor attribute in this case.

Notes: Awesome beer. A gargantuan brew that is delicate and complex, fruity and spicy and even hoppy as well as amazingly light even with the blatant booziness. A deft hand brews this bad boy.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2011 05:11:17 | More by 4000qtrap

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance. Cloudy orange-copper with a small off-white head.

Smell. Apricots, sweet citrus hops, spicy yeast, fruit cocktail.

Taste. Pears, grassy hops, cloves and spice.

Mouthfeel. Full bodied with medium carbonation. Some warm alcohol. Pretty clean finish.

Overall. Good tasting but a little too sweet and boozy for me.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2011 23:36:16 | More by Rutager

boudreaux

Alabama

3.98/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a cloudy, hazy brown/amber; thin white head that reduces quickly, leaving little/no lacing; looks like wine consistency

S: caramel, tart fruitiness, and pepper; bread and yeast

T: caramel maltiness and fruits (pear?); sweet and yeasty all at once; alcohol flavors are slight, especially for a 12% ABV

M: surprising carbonation tingle; smooth and creamy, but lighter than expected; warming at the finish from alcohol

O: A really good Belgian Strong Pale Ale; different from others I've had; not as sticky/sweet or heavy; the familiar Belgian candied sugar flavors aren't here

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2011 23:43:02 | More by boudreaux

GoNowhere

Arkansas

4.5/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Some really good stuff.

Nice coloration with a fluffy head.

Like most big Belgians, it smells like spices and candies and fruits with a nice yeast backbone.

Taste comes off sweet but breaks off into a nice warming blanket of carbonation and dried fruit. Alcohol is very absent for 12%.

Mouthfeel is very Belgian. It's like a waterfall of beer.

Stuff rocks my socks. You can make this four pack last for days. One of 'em is a night cap. Two of 'em is the start of a good night. Three of 'em and you can forget about playing darts. Finish four in a session and get meet your floor.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2011 01:56:16 | More by GoNowhere

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.72/5  rDev +22.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Scaldis, renamed from Bush who recieved legal pressure from Anheuser Busch on the name.

Pours a rich golden color, perfectly clear and bone white head retains well and leaves excellent lace. Yeasty, green apple, fruity belgian yeast, light citrus hopping and an overall dynamite flavor profile. Full rich body. Deceptive @ 12% ABV, this one can really do some damage. Luxurious smooth feel, overall a pristine Belgian brew and one worthy of the praise. Fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2011 20:41:12 | More by Stinkypuss

diamondc

Texas

3.8/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

$5.99 for a 250ml bottle.

A: Murky, a shade of orange / amber with little head or lacing action.

S: Caramel, brown sugar, fusel alcohol, with some honey, vanilla and tropical fruit aromas lurking underneath.

T/M: Lots of tropical fruit flavors, bready, alcohol (reminds me of Jack Daniels) and surprisingly hoppy and dry at the end. Despite the absence of any head, this beer is quite bubbly and avoids the syrupy mouthfeel of high alcohol Belgian ales.

M: A good sipper of a beer. A bit hot though.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2011 05:40:44 | More by diamondc

AEK

United Kingdom (Wales)

4.63/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

250ml brown bottle poured into a small bush tulip glass.

A. Amber coloured beer with a huge fluffy white head.

S. Juicy malt, caramel, mellowed brandy aroma, good hop presence.

T. Warming alcohol, toffee, cough mixture.

M. Full bodied and chewy.

D. A delicious Belgian beer that caresses the taste buds and keeps you all aglow during the winter months.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2011 11:56:45 | More by AEK

CrazyDavros

Australia

3.15/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours amber with a small lasting head.
Nose shows sweet malt and candi sugar. Also present is a bit of lemon and soft alcohol. Pretty boring really.
The booze really shows upon tasting, mixing with sweet caramel and doughy yeast. too much booze.
Body is very thick and syrupy, could do with a little more carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2011 02:26:36 | More by CrazyDavros

superspak

Michigan

3.28/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

250 ml bottle into snifter. Pours hazy orange-amber color with a 1 finger off white head with good retention, and decent lacing. Aromas of dark fruits, spices, molasses, caramel, and a little bit of alcohol. Taste of spices, dark fruits, molasses, and some alcohol making the flavor seem a bit off. There is a giant alcohol warming after the finish that sticks around for a while. Medium carbonation and full body. Overall, it's not bad, actually has a lot of flavor. The only bad thing is that the alcohol can over power the flavors a bit at times, but the flavors do shine through at some points. It is definitely a sipper, and would be impossible to have more than one at a given time in my opinion. Pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2011 03:04:16 | More by superspak

rrski198

Missouri

3.6/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Done from brief notes at a beer festival

A: hazy yellow. decent white head. No lacing

S: Classic belgian yeast with some kind of funk. Its ok but there is this funky aged rotten fruit smell.

T: Bubbly yeast and slight bitterness. Mild banana and lemon from the yeast. A little less than smooth, good but not perfect.

M: Big time carbonation and bitter citrus/lemon.

O: Decent beer with drinkability. Not as smooth as would have liked.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2011 15:54:16 | More by rrski198

77ships

Belgium

3.13/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Fittingly for its name, it is amber coloured. The head is not that big and doesn't last long.

S: Smells better than it tastes, sweet apricot, plenty of hops & some malt.

T: Bitter honey and some liqueur, noticeable alcohol and overall a bit too bitter.

M: Smooth with medium body.

D: Too much bitter honey in its taste for me and although it rather smooth even with the noticeable alcohol, a couple of these would be too much for most.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2011 10:17:31 | More by 77ships

deebo

Minnesota

3.18/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Purchased a can of Bush Amber at a market in Brussels.
Appearance-Cloudy, amber color with thick tan off-white head that dissipates after a few drinks
Smell-Heavy on malt aroma with slight fruity, yeasty aroma, with hints of ethanol
Taste-Plenty of hops hold on at end. Alcohol bite is noticeable after a couple drinks but then blends nicely towards bottom. Malt flavor is good but a little light considering heavy alcohol level. Definitely a unique taste.
Mouthfeel-Heavy body, alcohol is noticeable.
Drinkability-Worth 1-3, much past that and it won't matter.

Serving type: can

01-20-2011 02:31:27 | More by deebo

BobZ

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

8.5 Oz. bottle. Poured into my Duvel tulip.

Appearance: Apricot yellow, thin head of about 1/8" that quickly dissipates, decent lacing.

Smell: Sweet malt, hops, and some phenols. Appealing as the alcohol is not overwhelming.

Taste: Follows the smell, nice sweetness up front similar to a Tripel. Alcohol is present but again not overwhelming. Well balanced and flavorful.

Mouth feel: Smooth on the palate, warmth on the finish.

Drinkability: Tasty beer but the noticeable ABV keeps it from being highly sessionable.

Solid beer but not "exceptional".

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2011 21:39:14 | More by BobZ

philphilphil

Australia

3.53/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

wow this beer is strong, like so strong.
Appearance is amber central with a sub standard head for a belgian.
Smell is grog with apricots.
Taste is similar to smell, too grogish, the alcohol content is quite obvious, still enjoying it.
Mouthfeel a tad thin.
Drinkability is not great, at 12% after a litre you'd be tottaly hammered, and you can taste it too, gulden draak and biere de boucanier hide their 10.5% well, an extra 1.5 can't be that hard.

While i still enjoyed this beer, belgium has far more to offer.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2010 11:20:13 | More by philphilphil

CASK1

Florida

3.1/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Small sample from keg.

Pale orange, good clarity, and a creamy white head that didn't last, but left a thin layer and ring on the glass.

Aroma is fruity, with pear and some citrus. Sweetness from pils malt and alcohol. Some stone fruit and almonds.

Flavor similar to aroma. There is a low Belgian yeast spice, with a fairly strong, nutty almond extract flavor. Not particularly to my liking, but at least unique and interesting. Some vanilla and clove. Low hop bitterness just offsets the malt sweetness.

The mouthfeel features medium body and medium low carbonation. I would like more fizz in a beer of this style. Significant alcohol warmth.

Drinkability is not great, but that's somewhat expected for such a strong style. The almonds notes were not appealing to me.

Serving type: on-tap

12-05-2010 21:03:54 | More by CASK1

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a ruby orange color with no carbonation, no head, and no lacing at all.

S - Sweet candied fruit, Belgian yeast, and the nose pretty much sucks on this beer this big. Is it an old keg?

T - Taste definitely makes up for the ultra-poor aroma. Candied sugar fruit, bubble gum, white grapes, light colored fruit, and some honey. Everything blends well for a mostly enjoyable sipper, is also slightly woody. Taste is sweet, and cloying, too sweet for my liking.

M - Smooth on the tongue, thick, and heavy medium body.

D - Very delectable, but at 12%, how many can one have? This is a tastey beer, but on the downside, it leaves a heavy sugary aftertaste which drags the drinkability factor down.

Serving type: on-tap

11-24-2010 01:42:17 | More by jzeilinger

brewcrew76

Wisconsin

3.35/5  rDev -13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Unfiltered honey, amber with a weak head that doesn't last.

S - Sweet honey character, boozy, spicy.

T - Boozy, candi sugar with some spice. Sweet malt with honey and more alcohol.

M - Medium to full body with low carbonation and a bit of alcohol sting.

D - Big, sweet and boozy makes it tough to have more than one.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2010 00:18:01 | More by brewcrew76

mrunseen

Washington

3.9/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a darker golden (apricot) color, with no head. There is some carbonation, nucleation was present on the bottom of the glass. No lacing.

Nose: There are obvious whiffs of alcohol in the nose, somewhat sweet smelling.

Taste: I could really tell that this beer was 12%. There is a subtle sweetness present in this beer, which would not be readily apparent by it's color.

Mouth: As I stated, there is some carbonation present. The mouth has some body to it.

Drinkability: This beer is definitely a sipper.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2010 03:35:43 | More by mrunseen

StoneBrewFanatic

Virginia

4.05/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a cloudy orange color with less than one finger of head that dissipates quickly with hardly any lacing and lots of sediment in the glass.

S - Strong peppery notes, banana, clove, sweet caramel, fruity notes as well, perhaps mango and kiwi.

T - Incredibly pleasing on the palate. Strong notes of banana and clove, alcohol, caramel malts, oak, vanilla, has some rum like qualities to it.

M - Strong on the palate with high carbonation, nice sipper.

D - It's not hard to drink, but it's a strong one and you can taste that along with all the other complex layers of this delightful beer, enjoy!

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2010 16:58:11 | More by StoneBrewFanatic

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From an 8.5 oz bottle.

Pours a cidery reddish brown. Opaque. No head. Noticeable sediment.

Smells a bit nutty and of liquor and brown sugar malts, with fig sweetness.

The taste has the fig and brown sugar malt sweetness and also a rum like liquor taste.

Feels thick. No carbonation but a noticeable alcohol sting in the back of the throat.

Very enjoyable strong ale, mighty at 12 abv, a great sipper. Not something you would gulp or session though. I'd like to have it again.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2010 00:06:50 | More by Cylinsier

impending

California

2.25/5  rDev -41.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

25cl into a tulip. Poured a hazy dark orangey honey. Unexceptional head, nice lacing.

Scent of alcohol sits atop all others - more so than perhaps any other Belgian I've had but I attribute this to the brewer not the abv. Behind the alcohol are overripe apricots and spices.

Taste is surprisingly bland because the alcohol kicks in way too early. Instead of providing a warm peppery finish it kicks in well before the halfway point, phenols reside in the finish as well. The alcohol masks any subtleties there may be rendering it mediocre.
no cheers
jd

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2010 21:19:23 | More by impending