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St-Ambroise Pale Ale
McAuslan Brewing
- From:
- McAuslan Brewing
- Quebec, Canada
- Style:
- American Pale Ale
Ranked #613 - ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- 87
Ranked #17,828 - Avg:
- 3.85 | pDev: 11.69%
- Reviews:
- 228
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 30, 2023
- Added:
- Oct 26, 2000
- Wants:
- 19
- Gots:
- 43
Our flagship beer -the one that put McAuslan on the map. St-Ambroise Pale Ale is a golden, generously hopped brew, and a perennial favourite of the many pale ale drinkers who have enjoyed its rich, fruity flavour since 1989.
Hops: Cascade, Willamette, Golding, Hallertau
IBU: 35
Hops: Cascade, Willamette, Golding, Hallertau
IBU: 35
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by TheHammer:
Reviewed by TheHammer from Canada (ON)
4.38/5 rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.38/5 rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Number three of my McAuslan mix pack, and apparently one of the best beers in Canada. Lets see how this bad boy does.
Appearance: Wow, pours with a solid two thumbs of head that lace very well and retains decently. The body itself is a clear bronze that boasts an abundance of small bubbles of carbonation. The only downside I can see is the retention could be better.
Smell: A very fragrant beer as fruity esters and floral hops harmoniously dominate the nose. A background of lightly roasted caramel malt and an almost shortbread biscuit scent are in the background. My biggest qualm though is it took quite a bit of warming to come out and could be stronger.
Taste: Starts with nice sweet caramel malt with a hint of peaches that shifts to a more floral, fruity and herbal hop mix balanced with a solid backing of grain, and a still somewhat sustained malt. The only thing stopping it from a perfect score is that the starting tastes seem to hold strong for a little bit too long.
Mouthfeel: Exceptional transitioning and a prime example of using well balanced hops to clean up the pallet, but still allow a degree and malt and hop aftertaste to linger for just the right amount of time. Carbonation is exceptional as well, and the only issue is the somewhat dryness left behind.
Drinkability: Certainly no issues getting this one down, and is sitting very admirably in my paunch. Smooth going down, and an honest pleasure to drink all around. The dryness is the only issue, as it doesn't quite make the beer as refreshing as it could be.
Final Thoughts: Wow, I'm not the hugest fan of Pale Ales, but this is without a doubt the best one I've had thus far. This beer certainly deserves to be one of Canada's top 25. You would not go wrong buying a 24 of this, and I'm considering doing just that. I got one more bottle of this in my mix pack, and I am going to enjoy it, that is for sure.
Nov 10, 2009Appearance: Wow, pours with a solid two thumbs of head that lace very well and retains decently. The body itself is a clear bronze that boasts an abundance of small bubbles of carbonation. The only downside I can see is the retention could be better.
Smell: A very fragrant beer as fruity esters and floral hops harmoniously dominate the nose. A background of lightly roasted caramel malt and an almost shortbread biscuit scent are in the background. My biggest qualm though is it took quite a bit of warming to come out and could be stronger.
Taste: Starts with nice sweet caramel malt with a hint of peaches that shifts to a more floral, fruity and herbal hop mix balanced with a solid backing of grain, and a still somewhat sustained malt. The only thing stopping it from a perfect score is that the starting tastes seem to hold strong for a little bit too long.
Mouthfeel: Exceptional transitioning and a prime example of using well balanced hops to clean up the pallet, but still allow a degree and malt and hop aftertaste to linger for just the right amount of time. Carbonation is exceptional as well, and the only issue is the somewhat dryness left behind.
Drinkability: Certainly no issues getting this one down, and is sitting very admirably in my paunch. Smooth going down, and an honest pleasure to drink all around. The dryness is the only issue, as it doesn't quite make the beer as refreshing as it could be.
Final Thoughts: Wow, I'm not the hugest fan of Pale Ales, but this is without a doubt the best one I've had thus far. This beer certainly deserves to be one of Canada's top 25. You would not go wrong buying a 24 of this, and I'm considering doing just that. I got one more bottle of this in my mix pack, and I am going to enjoy it, that is for sure.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by YesKing from Canada (AB)
4.25/5 rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Beautiful beer. Pours a semi transparent copper/amber with a light amount of white foam with fairly good retention throughout. Has a pleasant fruity smell, along with notes of grains and spice.
The taste is less fruity and more bready and malty than the smell, although the notes of orange peel, citrus and banana linger in the background which is a nice touch. It finishes with spice, brown sugar and a noticeable amount of hoppy bitterness. It feels very clean and smooth, almost effortless to drink.
Overall this is a fantastic beer, really hits the spot in almost any occasion.
May 11, 2020The taste is less fruity and more bready and malty than the smell, although the notes of orange peel, citrus and banana linger in the background which is a nice touch. It finishes with spice, brown sugar and a noticeable amount of hoppy bitterness. It feels very clean and smooth, almost effortless to drink.
Overall this is a fantastic beer, really hits the spot in almost any occasion.
Reviewed by superspak from North Carolina
3.5/5 rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
11.5 ounce bottle into pint glass, E068 bottle code. Pours slightly hazy/cloudy deep orange/amber/light copper color with a thin off white head with decent retention, that reduces to a thin spotty lace cap that lingers. Minimal spotty lacing on the glass. Good appearance. Aromas of grapefruit, tangerine, peach, pineapple, lemon zest, orange peel, light pepper/pine, honey, caramel, brown sugar, toasted biscuit, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity of citrus/earthy hops and dark/bready malt notes; with solid strength. Taste of grapefruit, tangerine, peach, pineapple, lemon zest, orange peel, light pepper/pine, honey, caramel, brown sugar, toasted biscuit, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Light pine, citrus peel, herbal, grassy, spicy bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of grapefruit, tangerine, peach, pineapple, lemon zest, orange peel, light pepper/pine, honey, caramel, brown sugar, toasted biscuit, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a while. Nice complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/earthy hops and dark/bready malt flavors; with a nice malt/bitterness balance; and zero cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from bitterness. Mild carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth, moderately bready/grainy, and fairly sticky mouthfeel that is good. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 5%. Overall this is a solid pale ale. All around good complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/earthy hops and dark/bready malt flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the mildly bitter/drying finish. Balanced citrus/earthy hops and dark/bready English malt complexity. Probably very old judging by the flavor profile, but was still quite enjoyable and not too bad at all. Drank more like an English pale ale with the mild carbonation.
Jan 13, 2018Reviewed by Jesterr44 from Canada (ON)
3.77/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.77/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Reminds me of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale in that you think it should be hoppy and then remember that it's not claiming to be an IPA or a NE IPA, but just a PA. I've come to prefer more hop flavour than this one has and don't buy this type of beer often but can still enjoy it when I do.
Dec 17, 2017Reviewed by EMH73 from New York
3.72/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.72/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pours a clear medium Amber with a half inch white head that dissipated to a ring quickly and left some lacing
Really more of an END than an APA in my opinion. Smell is mild with caramel, malts and hops. Taste follows the nose along with a lingering bitterness. Medium bodied and carbonation, dry mouth feel.
Jul 19, 2017Really more of an END than an APA in my opinion. Smell is mild with caramel, malts and hops. Taste follows the nose along with a lingering bitterness. Medium bodied and carbonation, dry mouth feel.
Reviewed by YourMackDaddy from Canada (NL)
4.47/5 rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.47/5 rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a 473mL can into a traditional pint glass at about 5 degrees Celsius.
L-A clear amber/copper colour. Head is a clingy foam that disperses but sticks around as a light coating on top that sticks to the glass. A pretty sight, not too harsh on carbonation from the look.
S- A poppy and fruity scent rises from the glass. It's crisp and is really just the right way I'd like an APA to smell. This is how it should be.
T- Brash hops mingle perfectly with a refreshing malt opening. There is an excellent balance between the sweet and the bitter flavours, giving a very crisp and flavourful experience. A great mix of fruitiness and grain, in the finish you can expect apple skin and grain. This is the best pale ale I've had up to this point, and I'll be having it again.
F- Just the right amount of carbonation for me, not too heavy on it at all. Crisp and refreshing, with an almost creamy texture with the smoothness and foam.
O- Truly an excellent beer. The best APA I've ever had, and I don't foresee another trumping it anytime soon. I'd reccomend this to anyone. Complex and flavourful without going so far as to be too assertive, a comfortable and refreshing drink. Do yourself a favour. Everyone may not feel the same, but this is personally all I want in a pale ale done exceptionally well, it's worth trying.
Apr 29, 2017L-A clear amber/copper colour. Head is a clingy foam that disperses but sticks around as a light coating on top that sticks to the glass. A pretty sight, not too harsh on carbonation from the look.
S- A poppy and fruity scent rises from the glass. It's crisp and is really just the right way I'd like an APA to smell. This is how it should be.
T- Brash hops mingle perfectly with a refreshing malt opening. There is an excellent balance between the sweet and the bitter flavours, giving a very crisp and flavourful experience. A great mix of fruitiness and grain, in the finish you can expect apple skin and grain. This is the best pale ale I've had up to this point, and I'll be having it again.
F- Just the right amount of carbonation for me, not too heavy on it at all. Crisp and refreshing, with an almost creamy texture with the smoothness and foam.
O- Truly an excellent beer. The best APA I've ever had, and I don't foresee another trumping it anytime soon. I'd reccomend this to anyone. Complex and flavourful without going so far as to be too assertive, a comfortable and refreshing drink. Do yourself a favour. Everyone may not feel the same, but this is personally all I want in a pale ale done exceptionally well, it's worth trying.
Reviewed by Alexc11 from Canada (QC)
3.75/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Updated: Pours clearl copper color with thick lace. It has a fruity aroma - citrus/banana. Elevated carbonation with a sharp bitter finish. Overall balanced beer with smooth, soft hop, caramel flavours..
Apr 24, 2017Rated by ewpass from Canada (PE)
3.73/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.73/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Lovely copper colour. Smooth malt start, bitter finish. Balanced, solid, better in the can than bottle. More English than American in style.
Feb 27, 2017
St-Ambroise Pale Ale from McAuslan Brewing
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
426 ratings
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