Bruegel Amber Ale
By John on March 4, 2007 @ 9 PM (No Comments)
This is classified in the “Beer” book as a strong Belgian Amber Ale. That may be the wrong classification. It’s lighter than I thought an amber ale would be.
The pour is good – light to medium carbonation – and the color is a nice, true amber with a little red in it. It has a decent creamy head that laces well on the glass. It has a strong aroma – honey, molasses and vinegar. Rice vinegar is exactly what it reminds me of and it is a strong smell.
The taste is fairly clean – molasses, citrus fruits, biscuity malts, modest/medium hops and maybe some added herbs. The mouthfeel is light and slick – some carbonation. The aftertaste is a little sour with the vinegar revisited and a little bit of hops.
I’ve got to give it a 4 because of the rice vinegar overtones that seem to dominate. It was slightly refreshing, but reminded me more of a bad rendition of a Red Stripe.