There aren't enough superlatives to describe this beer!
Written: Jan 17 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: The perfect balance of creaminess and sweetness never dulls.
Cons: Only available in major Texas cities
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| Opininated's Full Review: Amber Ale |
This is flagship of the St. Arnold Brewery, and it has rightly earned one of the more loyal followings of any microbrew. You can go to the brewery's web page to get a description of the specific malt and hops, the unique yeast strains, etc. that go into the mix -- I'd rather talk about what a phenomenon this beer is. Brock Wagner, St. A's brewmaster, started making beer right at the beginning of the beer craze, but he'd been out of work for a year before that, planning his new business. For that whole year, all he did was travel the country, touring every microbrewery he could find, trying every recipe and figuring out how the successful microbreweries made it.
He modeled the St. A's Amber on the model of Sierra Nevada's pale ale, but where the latter's emphasis is on an almost unpleasant metallic hop finish with a limited body, the Amber has a rich creaminess that balances its hoppy finish wonderfully. The beer goes great with foods of all kinds, and, after five years, you might try a different brand, but you'll always come back to the mainstay of your refrigerator, the St. A's Amber.
Brock understands the trick to staying in the microbrew business is to deliver a consistent product, and that without pasteurizaton, the quality of the flavor degrades quickly. He'd rather limit his short-term profits than distribute more than about 300 miles away from Houston, so only the eastern half of the state will probably ever see it (although he's open to the idea of breaking into the New Orleans market; anyone interested, you'll probably have a receptive listener if you contact the brewery! :-).
If you're lucky enough to live near a major Texas city such as Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, or (obviously) Houston, grab a six-pack of the Amber; you *won't* regret it.
I have friends in other states who beg me to bring/send some of this beer. When I drive to Atlanta at Christmas time, I load up the car with eight(!) cases -- the limit my little car can carry -- and it's never enough to satisfy everyone. I know I sound like a fanatic, but this beer really is one of the consistently best microbrews you can buy!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Opininated
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Reviews written: 3
Trusted by: 1 member
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