-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
African Amber
Mac and Jack's Brewery
- From:
- Mac and Jack's Brewery
- Washington, United States
- Style:
- American Amber / Red Ale
Ranked #25 - ABV:
- 5.2%
- Score:
- 87
Ranked #16,048 - Avg:
- 3.89 | pDev: 13.11%
- Reviews:
- 149
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 18, 2024
- 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
30 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
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
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, 2023Reviewed 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
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, 2023Rated by LukeGude from Iowa
3.87/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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, 2022Reviewed by DefenCorps from Oregon
3.74/5 rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
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, 2022A 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!
Reviewed by pianoguy from Washington
3.88/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
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, 2022Pours 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 !
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
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, 2021Smell - sweet caramel toffee
Taste - about the same as the smell with a slight bitterness
Feel - lighter body and carb
Overall - pretty good amber
Reviewed by TheBricenator from Oregon
4.01/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
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, 2021Aroma: 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
African Amber from Mac and Jack's Brewery
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
469 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!