-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Simeon Jones River Valley Amber Ale
Picaroons Traditional Ales
- From:
- Picaroons Traditional Ales
- New Brunswick, Canada
- Style:
- American Amber / Red Ale
- ABV:
- 4.5%
- Score:
- 77
- Avg:
- 3.27 | pDev: 16.21%
- Reviews:
- 20
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 08, 2021
- Added:
- Jan 05, 2007
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 5
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ghisty:
Reviewed by ghisty from Canada (NB)
3.88/5 rDev +18.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.88/5 rDev +18.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
appearance:
pours a deep orange, amber with a tint of golden around the edges, reddish center
,thin sparse head. thin lacing, just the right amount of carb for the style.
smell:
reminds me of mollasses or honey and barley, sunflower seeds, a root vegetable tone, some smoke, maybe a hint brocolli, a nice hop follow up in there.slight alcohol note.pleasent. not skanky..but a memorable nose.its smell is something this beer attracts me with..
4 is a high ranking nose for my reviews.
taste:
level. a proper ale. has depth and charectar that grows on you.
not overly sharp, but still a bit more fresh tasting than some similars.
malty as promised by the color, and evened out with grains and hops.
has a good balance. a great beer to enjoy for the taste.
mouthfeel:
swift. it goes down very easily. almost too easily, as i quickly want to drink more.
ive had half of my pint gone before i can properly describe the thing. :)
very smooth overall, with a pleasant amount of carb, and a great overall feel.
overall:
as with most of the picaroons offerings, i review them regularly because it is located in my city, and i try to purchase locally to support the small creative brewers..
but biases aside, this is an ale that has been held in a brewing tradition , initially, when i had first tried this beer my tastes were not yet expanded to the point of understanding it, i found it strange and didnt know what to think. this was some years ago, and have since, learned to love it. as with all picaroons beer, if you can get it, give it a try. not the typical. this is a great one if you like ambers.
i personally wish more ambers would be available.
as this one has shown me how awesome they can be.
Jan 30, 2013pours a deep orange, amber with a tint of golden around the edges, reddish center
,thin sparse head. thin lacing, just the right amount of carb for the style.
smell:
reminds me of mollasses or honey and barley, sunflower seeds, a root vegetable tone, some smoke, maybe a hint brocolli, a nice hop follow up in there.slight alcohol note.pleasent. not skanky..but a memorable nose.its smell is something this beer attracts me with..
4 is a high ranking nose for my reviews.
taste:
level. a proper ale. has depth and charectar that grows on you.
not overly sharp, but still a bit more fresh tasting than some similars.
malty as promised by the color, and evened out with grains and hops.
has a good balance. a great beer to enjoy for the taste.
mouthfeel:
swift. it goes down very easily. almost too easily, as i quickly want to drink more.
ive had half of my pint gone before i can properly describe the thing. :)
very smooth overall, with a pleasant amount of carb, and a great overall feel.
overall:
as with most of the picaroons offerings, i review them regularly because it is located in my city, and i try to purchase locally to support the small creative brewers..
but biases aside, this is an ale that has been held in a brewing tradition , initially, when i had first tried this beer my tastes were not yet expanded to the point of understanding it, i found it strange and didnt know what to think. this was some years ago, and have since, learned to love it. as with all picaroons beer, if you can get it, give it a try. not the typical. this is a great one if you like ambers.
i personally wish more ambers would be available.
as this one has shown me how awesome they can be.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Dainesepup from Canada (ON)
4.91/5 rDev +50.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.91/5 rDev +50.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
This is by far one of my favourite beers. It’s a true traditional amber ale.
It has a golden amber look to it so amber ale wasn’t just a clever name.
It’s like going back in time to the 1860s where all of the ingredients were fresh and raw.
It pours really well with a nice foamy head. The bottle itself is a treat to look at.
It has a traditional molasses taste with a caramel finish.
I’m a huge fan of this beer. I rarely give out a five but this one definitely deserves it.
Mar 08, 2021It has a golden amber look to it so amber ale wasn’t just a clever name.
It’s like going back in time to the 1860s where all of the ingredients were fresh and raw.
It pours really well with a nice foamy head. The bottle itself is a treat to look at.
It has a traditional molasses taste with a caramel finish.
I’m a huge fan of this beer. I rarely give out a five but this one definitely deserves it.
Rated by ewpass from Canada (PE)
3.53/5 rDev +8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev +8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Clear amber with a small head. Basic malty nose and body. Crisp carbonation and a little hop spiciness on finish. Good beer.
Oct 05, 2017Reviewed by Lewnanny from Canada (NB)
3.09/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.09/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
This artisanal beer is from a brewer from 350 km from my hometown. This beer is relatively good.
The bitterness is medium, the SRM is about 15.
The 500 ml bottle retail for 3.90 $ (cad). Picaroons brewer have many beers and this one is in the middle of the range.
Apr 10, 2016The bitterness is medium, the SRM is about 15.
The 500 ml bottle retail for 3.90 $ (cad). Picaroons brewer have many beers and this one is in the middle of the range.
Reviewed by Buzzboyce from Canada (NB)
3.08/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
3.08/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Overall, a nice mild picaroons beer. Not my favorite for sure but not my least favorite of its kind. Good looking beer, nice to enjoy once or twice a year. Would recommend trying it as it may interest the ones with a small bitterness taste and still enjoy light beer.
Overall satisfied but not amazed.
Apr 10, 2016Overall satisfied but not amazed.
Reviewed by PorterPro125 from Canada (NB)
3.1/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.1/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Seving Type: 500 mL bottle
A- Pours a beautiful reddish honey colour topped by a 1 1/2 finger pearl white head. Great looking ale by all standards.
S- For me, the aroma is extremely faint and sweet. The sweetness is something that reminds me of caramel or butterscotch but it's so faint that it is hard to tell. Not off-putting by any means but there isn't really much to offer in terms of aroma.
T- Initially, I was taken aback by the alarming level of sweetness but I eventually got used to it. A ton of maltiness going on here with a brief, almost sour hop finish. Like the aroma, the sweetness is caramel/butterscotch-like but much more pronounced here. Not bad, and certainly much better than your standard adjunct lager for sure, but there is something about the level of sweetness that just doesn't turn my crank.
M- Carbonation is on the high end and mouthfeel is quite light. Not only is this the most carbonation i've ever seen in an ale, its also the lightest i've ever had. The body compares to a light lager. Like many other aspects of this brew, the mouthfeel isn't bad, it's just a little different from what i'm used to in an ale.
O- Although Simeon Jones River Valley Amber Ale is probably my least favourite beer that Picaroons makes, its a pretty decent brew that is worth a try for anyone who can get Picaroons beer.
Dec 23, 2014A- Pours a beautiful reddish honey colour topped by a 1 1/2 finger pearl white head. Great looking ale by all standards.
S- For me, the aroma is extremely faint and sweet. The sweetness is something that reminds me of caramel or butterscotch but it's so faint that it is hard to tell. Not off-putting by any means but there isn't really much to offer in terms of aroma.
T- Initially, I was taken aback by the alarming level of sweetness but I eventually got used to it. A ton of maltiness going on here with a brief, almost sour hop finish. Like the aroma, the sweetness is caramel/butterscotch-like but much more pronounced here. Not bad, and certainly much better than your standard adjunct lager for sure, but there is something about the level of sweetness that just doesn't turn my crank.
M- Carbonation is on the high end and mouthfeel is quite light. Not only is this the most carbonation i've ever seen in an ale, its also the lightest i've ever had. The body compares to a light lager. Like many other aspects of this brew, the mouthfeel isn't bad, it's just a little different from what i'm used to in an ale.
O- Although Simeon Jones River Valley Amber Ale is probably my least favourite beer that Picaroons makes, its a pretty decent brew that is worth a try for anyone who can get Picaroons beer.
Reviewed by byronic from Canada (ON)
3.22/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.22/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Pours a dark orange almost copper with a generous whit foamy head.
Smells of hops and some butterscotch with a hint of yeast.
Taste of bread/grains caramel and some citrus. Definitely a sweet edge which fades into bitterness even a touch of sour is present in the lingering aftertaste.
Carbonation is quite high. Leaves a dry finish with a bit of sour.
Thanks to polloenfuego for this bottle!
Jun 16, 2014Smells of hops and some butterscotch with a hint of yeast.
Taste of bread/grains caramel and some citrus. Definitely a sweet edge which fades into bitterness even a touch of sour is present in the lingering aftertaste.
Carbonation is quite high. Leaves a dry finish with a bit of sour.
Thanks to polloenfuego for this bottle!
Reviewed by biegaman from Canada (ON)
3.42/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.42/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Simeon Jones River Valley is indeed amber - a gloriously lustrous amber. Its complexion is perfectly clear, brightly polished and almost entirely one uniform tone. The head pearl white. It is reminiscent of a precious antique amulet; it looks like it's worth fifty times its actual value.
The aroma doesn't get much help from the hops. This isn't that kind of Amber Ale. Lightly toasted grain makes for a fairly plain backdrop (which some brewers would exploit with citric or resiny hops) and imparts only minor elements of biscuits and butterscotch.
The palate benefits from a brief hop appearance; a grassiness arises on the finish. That is quickly chased away, however, by a biscuity and nougat-like sweetness. The texture is very grainy and the beer dries out quickly; a hefty maltiness results in a disproportionate amount of flavour.
This beer is named after a 19th century mayor of St John, New Brunswick, and is brewed in the tradition of the hearty, robust ale he is purported to have made. I believe it. This beer fits that description, lacks any trace of modern adjuncts and avoids aggressive hopping.
Simeon Jones River Valley Amber is exactly the kind of ale that turned me - and I'd wager many others - onto craft beer. While it's a little dull for my tastes now, I still appreciate the beer for the very same qualities I did when I first reviewed it eight years ago: quality and quaffability.
Oct 20, 2013The aroma doesn't get much help from the hops. This isn't that kind of Amber Ale. Lightly toasted grain makes for a fairly plain backdrop (which some brewers would exploit with citric or resiny hops) and imparts only minor elements of biscuits and butterscotch.
The palate benefits from a brief hop appearance; a grassiness arises on the finish. That is quickly chased away, however, by a biscuity and nougat-like sweetness. The texture is very grainy and the beer dries out quickly; a hefty maltiness results in a disproportionate amount of flavour.
This beer is named after a 19th century mayor of St John, New Brunswick, and is brewed in the tradition of the hearty, robust ale he is purported to have made. I believe it. This beer fits that description, lacks any trace of modern adjuncts and avoids aggressive hopping.
Simeon Jones River Valley Amber is exactly the kind of ale that turned me - and I'd wager many others - onto craft beer. While it's a little dull for my tastes now, I still appreciate the beer for the very same qualities I did when I first reviewed it eight years ago: quality and quaffability.
Simeon Jones River Valley Amber Ale from Picaroons Traditional Ales
Beer rating:
77 out of
100 with
44 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!