African Amber
Mac and Jack's Brewery

African AmberAfrican Amber
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From:
Mac and Jack's Brewery
 
Washington, United States
Style:
American Amber / Red Ale
Ranked #25
ABV:
5.2%
Score:
87
Ranked #16,078
Avg:
3.89 | pDev: 13.11%
Reviews:
149
Ratings:
469
Status:
Active
Rated:
Yesterday at 05:11 AM
Added:
May 04, 2002
Wants:
  23
Gots:
  93
The Northwest’s original, unfiltered and dry hopped amber ale. African Amber's pioneering and innovative style is proof that drinkability does not have to come at the expense of flavor.

30 IBU
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Ratings by GimmeAles:
Photo of GimmeAles
Reviewed by GimmeAles from Washington

4.13/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A wonderful local ale I can't beleive I haven't reviewed yet. Could review this from memory any time of the day.

A beautiful, quite cloudy amber, with the sparkle of red and orange sprites who dance winsomely within. A silky 1-finger head sits atop andh recedes to 2cm neatly sealing the glass to the bottom. Nice lacing the whole way down.

Smell is of toasty, wheat-bread and unsalted sunflower seeds infused with plenty of flowery, citrusy hops. More subtle, berry-like fruitiness mingles in the background.

Creamy, medium mouthfeel delivers big malty presence in the form of toasted bread crusts with a strong, earthy-ness coming in suggesting unsalted mixed nuts. A dab of caramely sweetness is delivered before the tart, citrusy hops make their presence know with a very pleasant fruity bitterness. Piquant strawberries and fresh Rainier cherries are quite evident, and the stand-out taste component of this beer in my mind. Wonderful.

A delicious beer, but one whose body makes it hard for me to have more than one, drinkability is only hindered by its richness. The only beer my wife actually gets near regularly - it's impressively complex and yet approachable. The fact that I can always get it very fresh makes this a excellent local standby.
Aug 24, 2007
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.04 by Skywave from Oklahoma

Yesterday at 05:11 AM
Photo of solok
Reviewed by solok from California

3.17/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Color is red indeed, almost garnet. Foamy head sticks around for a little bit. General bread yeast smell. Taste is muddy, yeasty, a little bitter. Fairly typical red ale. Feel is somewhat smooth. Not a ton of effervescence.
Nov 12, 2023
Photo of redresonatedragon
Reviewed by redresonatedragon from Washington

4.08/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This is the bench mark for a local amber ale and it has been representing for many years now. Rich and smooth, sweet bready malts, creamy yet also light enough throughout an evening. It would be a nice keg beer for an event, would satisfy many tastes
May 08, 2023
 
Rated: 3.94 by DownyIsHungry from Minnesota

Jun 27, 2022
Photo of LukeGude
Rated by LukeGude from Iowa

3.87/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at Lake Crescent Lodge, post-Storm King. Looks like iced tea. Pretty tasty tbh! I’m almost getting honey.
May 23, 2022
 
Rated: 3.88 by wisegreensoul from Idaho

Apr 03, 2022
Photo of DefenCorps
Reviewed by DefenCorps from Oregon

3.74/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Can from TJs.

A clear amber with a dense, beige head with good retention and lacing. The nose is caramel, toffee and pine hops - simple, clean and old school. A touch sweeter than ideal. The palate opens sweet with caramel, toffee, a little biscuit and honey. There's mild hops, pine and clean, reserved and lending just bitterness. Sweet on the finish, a touch watery. Solid!
Feb 12, 2022
Photo of pianoguy
Reviewed by pianoguy from Washington

3.88/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
12 oz can poured into a pint glass Canned on 1/18/2022

Pours a cloudy orange amber body with a white head. Some retention. Multiple layers of thin speck lacing

Cracker malt to start. Sweet apple notes

Taste is sweeter with a cracker finish

Carbonation is appropriate for the style

Overall; A blast from the past for me,,, I remember when my only 2 "craft beer" choices at many events was this (Mac and Jack amber ale) or Red Hook. We've come a long way baby !
Feb 11, 2022
 
Rated: 4.1 by Ou7kast

Jan 26, 2022
 
Rated: 3.85 by irishevans from California

Nov 24, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by bv51 from Washington

Oct 16, 2021
 
Rated: 4.56 by Romios8125

Oct 13, 2021
 
Rated: 4.16 by Jonathan-Morgan from Florida

Sep 04, 2021
 
Rated: 4.25 by Can_if_you_can from Minnesota

Aug 24, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by Eychung from New York

Jun 08, 2021
 
Rated: 3.48 by BidYouABrew from Washington

Jun 02, 2021
Photo of drdiesel9483
Reviewed by drdiesel9483 from Ohio

3.84/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Look - reddish color with a nice lasting white head and skimming
Smell - sweet caramel toffee
Taste - about the same as the smell with a slight bitterness
Feel - lighter body and carb
Overall - pretty good amber
May 25, 2021
 
Rated: 3.83 by arini10 from Oregon

May 22, 2021
Photo of TheBricenator
Reviewed by TheBricenator from Oregon

4.01/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Look: Cloudy amber in color with a generous light tan head that froths up and slowly settles to a pock-marked lid, leaving good lacing behind
Aroma: Warm bread, fruity esters – apple skins, pie cherries, and plums, a little toffee, earthy hop notes, and melanoidin
Taste: A huge onslaught of bready malt kicks things off – fresh bakes bread, raw bread dough, and lightly toasted bread all come through. Waves of toffee and melanoidin take turns entering into the bready depths while earthy hops temper the sweetness and closes with light fruity esters, bread, and toffee
Mouthfeel: Full, medium-high carbonation, fairly clean for how it looks, and soft throughout, especially on the finish
Overall: This is really good stuff. I first tried this years ago when growlers and taprooms first became more mainstream due to the craft beer boom but honestly, I can’t remember the last time I did so the surprise sixer find was an easy purchase. That being said, this is the standard for ambers in my opinion – it’s that good. Tons of bready malt, nice earthy hops, light fruity esters, and a killer mouthfeel all remind me that I need to drink this much more often. Recommended
Mar 31, 2021
African Amber from Mac and Jack's Brewery
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 469 ratings