California Amber
Ballast Point Brewing Company
Story by:
BC Review
Strong Bitter
Year-Round
California
United States
Judges Ratings 89
Aroma: 21 / 24
Flavor: 37 / 40
Appearance: 5 / 6
Mouthfeel: 8 / 10
Overall Impression: 18 / 20
Description
A rich, copper ale with a case full of gold medals. The Calico Amber Ale takes its inspiration from traditional English ESBs. Four types of malts give it a bold complexity, and our proprietary yeast strain lends it a fruity, madeira-like richness. However, it’s the American hops that give this ale a distinct bite and floral aroma that have earned it just about every major beer medal.
Beverage Profile
ABV: 5.50%
IBUs: 35
Served at: (45° F)
Hops:
Malts:
Judges Review
By Phil Farrell
Judges Ratings 89
Aroma: 21 / 24 / 24
Flavor: 37 / 40 / 40
Appearance: 5 / 6 / 6
Mouthfeel: 8 / 10 / 10
Overall Impression: 18 / 20 / 20
A dark red-amber pour is topped by an off-white head that was low but had great retention with small bubbles that laced the glass. The aroma tilts toward complex caramel malt with a touch of resin and grapefruit. The flavor has even more malt character with a well-boiled caramelized sugar complexity. The hop flavor is resiny and very subdued. Bitterness is relatively high but needed to prevent the semidry finish from being sweet. The aftertaste has a lot of hop resin and caramel character that lingers. Like a red IPA in the finish, this is a great example of an American Amber at t he front.
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