Boont Amber Ale

This is Boont Amber Ale, (actually, it’s the colour of burnished copper) which glints in the glass in an exceptionally inviting way, which smells great, which looks great, and which by golly - tastes great too.

According to the label notes, Boont Amber was the first ale produced at the Anderson Valley Brewing Company’s Boonville brewery. What a glorious day that must have been - this is a strong, sweetly malted beer with enough hops and bitterness to counterbalance the caramel sweetness that underlies the flavour. Not quite outstanding enough to make the first rank of our beer rating system, but pretty damn close, Boont does enough to make me think I’ll be paying another visit to the liquor store pretty soon to pick up some more.

Boont Amber Ale

JBB6 Rating: For the Win

Scuttlebutt Amber Ale

One of the last pre July 4th beers on the list to blog about.  Scuttlebutt Amber Ale hales from the Great Northwest… only about 15 miles from my home, actually.  I first encountered these folks at a small restaurant in Mukilteo and have sought them out ever since.  They do make fine brew…

This one was fine, as well, but to be honest, it received luke warm reception from the patrons at Shay Cul de Sac de Park… good color, good head, but that is just it… all good.  It wasn’t one of those Middle of the Road types that you don’t want to have but once in a very blue moon, but it might be one that requires the right setting to be truly enjoyed.  It doesn’t stand on its own very well.

JBB6 Rating: Middle of the Road

Dick’s Mountain Amber Ale

Had one hell of a pre July 4th weekend impromptu party last night.  Ended up trying 4 or 5 new beers and now have to catch up… so here goes with the short and sweet version of Dick’s Mountain Amber Ale.

Overall this was a very strong and very good amber ale.  Maybe one of the hoppiest ambers I have had in a while, this beer tasted like a darker, maltier IPA.  Very tasty with the sphaghetti we had last night.  Deep amber color with a good sized head and a very potent nose.  Very tasty indeed.

JBB6 Rating: Will Buy Again

Tree Brewing Co. Thirsty Beaver

Have been delaying this a bit for some reason… not sure why, really, maybe it is because I had such a good time at Whistler last week that I want to preserve the memory… or I am just lazy… I think that is it, eh.

When we were in Whistler, Po and I happened upon a beer and wine store that looked promising, so we stepped in for a bit.  There we found a solid selection of imports and local Canadian beer, so we picked up a few.  The first on the list to drink when we came back to the hotel was the one with the most interesting name, Tree Brewing Co. Thirsty Beaver.  The name really did catch us on this one… else it wouldn’t have stood out much, to be honest.  Well, how did it do, eh?  Did the book live up to the cover?

Lets just say that this book’s only real redeeming value was its cover.  We figure the name gets most folks to buy this once but then they don’t end up coming back because they realize that this isn’t beer… it is beer flavored water.  Kind of like Propel… fruit flavored water.  It poured amber, kind of smelled amber, but then when the taste came through it was almost like it was meant to be an extremely light beer.  Barely any taste.

So, needless to say this one didn’t sit well and there are still three bottles in the fridge in my office that may never be partaken of… unless Stowitts gets to them late one of these nights…

JBB6 Rating: Just Not Right

La Binchoise Reserve

Last beer of the night at Monk’s Cafe.  See here for original post.

La Binchoise Reserve - Bottle

Ah… I am sad to say that this was my last beer of the night at Monk’s.  By this time, I was reveling in the beerness that is Monk’s and I was probably a bit drunk, as well.  Good thing I took good notes…

This beer was on suggestion from Stasia… I left it up to her to tell me what to choose since she has probably tasted more beer than I in her 7 years.  So, she pulled this $9 bottle out and let me have at it.  I definitely had to let this one warm up… coming out of an ice-cold fridge would do me no good.  As it warmed and I continued to smell it… I probably looked a bit strange just sitting their, kind of tipsy, smelling my beer… Anyhow, as I smelled it, it opened up and I could smell the belgian yeast and what reminded me of scotch, whiskey, or bourbon… The taste was solid.  As I noted in my tasting notes, this was like having a good Belgian Style Amber… just like the label says.  Good head, as well.  9% ABV.

All in all, I noted that this was a great, solid belgain amber that needed to be tasted at the suggested 50 - 54° F. 

JBB6 Rating: Will Buy Again

FireStation5 Fire Boat Amber

FireStation5 Fire Boat Amber was the second new brew of the night last night and in true FireStation5 fashion was rather dissapointing.  It wasn’t as bad as their hefe, but definitely wasn’t something that I have a taste for.  My neighbor loves the stuff, though, so I don’t want to put it down too much.  I just can’t get a taste for it.

Maybe it is the fact that we were drinking Drop Top (which is a fine, fine amber ale)… not sure.  All I know is that this one didn’t really tickle my fancy.  Taste lacked depth and the aftertaste was bad-bitter.  It left me feeling like they tried to go big with a tasty amber brew but didn’t quite know how to finish it off and so it just dies on you.  At least I was able to finish the bottle.

JBB6 Rating: Middle of the Road

Alaskan Amber

So, we have a bunch of folks in from around the world visiting our fine corner of the US this week.  Good to see everyone and made me wonder if I would get a chance to keep up with the blog… no worries, though… always time to enjoy another cold one.  They brought in a shipment of the big bottles of Alaskan Amber a last week to Fred Meyer, so I had to grab one.  I have always been a fan and I knew I would like this one, so it was a no brainer to spend the $2.69. 

Alaskan Amber has to be one of the staple amber beers out there… at least for this neck of the woods.  Good price, good beer.  It isn’t the smoothest amber you will ever taste, but it is mild enough to make it very, very easy to drink.  Not much of a head, a good amber color, and a solid mix of malt and hops and this one easily makes it into the fridge time and time again.  Highly recommended.

JBB6 Rating: For the Win

Post Script:

Tonight I spent some time checking out some other beer blogs out there.  Take a look at these folks and their ratings if you want a different opinion:

• http://www.hairofthedogdave.com/2007/04/02/alaskan-amber/
• http://fermentedlychallenged.blogspot.com/2008/03/brew-review-alaskan-amber.html
• http://hopsandbarleyblog.blogspot.com/2007/05/mothers-day-alaskan-amber-brats.html
• http://www.sevenpack.net/?p=483

Also check out this popular beer blog just for kicks:

http://beerblog.genx40.com/

Deschutes Brewery Cinder Cone Red

Deschutes Brewery Cinder Cone Red.  Tonights beer of choice to be had with a dinner consisting of a pastrami turkey sandwich with Valentina-mayo, 4 dino chicken nuggets, and some apple slices.  Still making it through some sickness with the kids, so formal meals have been pretty inconsistent the last few days. 

So… had a great beer from Deschutes the other day in their Green Lakes Organic Ale.  Was expecting some good stuff tonight and they delivered again for the most part.  Taking into consideration the $1.17 price tag on this little bottle, it is probably a pretty good taste-value ration, actually, but taking money out of the equation this is just an ok beer.  Minimal head, good dark amber color, and one hell of a kick from the hops.  Really a lot of flavor, but I was looking for the smoothness of the Green Lakes, to be honest.  A good beer, but wouldn’t be a top choice when browsing the beer section.

JBB6 Rating: Middle of the Road

Deschutes Brewery Green Lakes Organic Ale

A rough day requires a pretty darn good beer to be impressive… Deschutes Brewery Green Lakes Organic Ale hits the mark and takes it a step further.  Green Lakes Organic Ale joins some of the greats at the top of my list: New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale and Widmer Brothers Drop Top Amber Ale.  Bot of those were added to the blog before the JBB6 Rating System, but they are both likely contenders for the JustBeer Blog Hall of Fame.

Anyhow, back to the beer.  Besides the fact that it at least sounds like one of the “green”est beers I have heard of yet (something about Salmon-Safe),  it is simply just an outstanding beer.  About the only thing that holds it back, quite honestly, is the price tag of $4.69 for the 22 oz. bottle.  The beer comes in at 5.0% ABV which appears just about right to give it the balance of kick and smooth.  I put this one in a frosty mug tonight and had some milk chocolate just before… both of which had very positive impacts on the brew, but as I am sitting typing this with a clean palate, the beer tastes just as good as the first drop.

Deschutes was 2 for 3 on this blog, but we easily take them to 3 for 4 great beers tonight.  Very much recommended if you can get your hands on it.

JBB6 Rating: For the Win

   

Moab Brewery Dead Horse Amber Ale

Almost forgot… I really tried to block this one out of my mind and it worked!  Darn the picture taking, though…  Moab Brewery Dead Horse Amber Ale was actually the first beer of the day… it started things off wrong.  Any beer that makes me think of rotting dead animals and carrion just has to be bad and this one lived up to it.  Not even worth a long post trust me.  Our first, true, Not Even for Free rating goes to the beer that has not taste and so much bitterness all at the same time… I feel likely slightly less of a beer lover for having tasted it…

JBB6 Rating: Not Even for Free