Left Coast Una Mas Amber Lager
Left Coast Brewing Company
Beer Geek Stats:
| Print Shelf Talker
- Style:
- Lager - Vienna
Ranked #156 - ABV:
- 6.4%
- Score:
- 79
Ranked #45,223 - Avg:
- 3.47 | pDev: 13.83%
- Reviews:
- 19
- Ratings:
- From:
- Left Coast Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Avail:
- Rotating/Seasonal
- Wants
- 4
- Gots
- 23
SCORE
79
Okay
79
Okay
Notes:
Reviews: 19
| Ratings: 98
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jadpsu from Georgia
3.89/5 rDev +12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
From the Emmaus Shangy pick 6.
LOOK: Pours a clear and lightly tinted amber with a bubbly near pure 2 finger white head in my Pilsner glass.
Head retention is a miss, as it fades quickly but does leave some significant side glass lace.
AROMA: Caramel malts, toasty bread malts prevail.
TASTE: Pretty much all malts. Sweet up front. Again, caramel and toasty bread.
Feel: Thin on the palate.
Finish is drying.
Beer was all right.
May 11, 2018
3.89/5 rDev +12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
From the Emmaus Shangy pick 6.
LOOK: Pours a clear and lightly tinted amber with a bubbly near pure 2 finger white head in my Pilsner glass.
Head retention is a miss, as it fades quickly but does leave some significant side glass lace.
AROMA: Caramel malts, toasty bread malts prevail.
TASTE: Pretty much all malts. Sweet up front. Again, caramel and toasty bread.
Feel: Thin on the palate.
Finish is drying.
Beer was all right.
May 11, 2018
TonyLema1 from South Carolina
3.47/5 rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
L: muddy, copper color, thin tan head
S: bready, malty
T: light caramel, biscuity
F: medium body, lingering mouthfeel
O: not a style that I'm overly familiar with, it's a good brew, I wouldn't have more than one
Jan 24, 2016
3.47/5 rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
L: muddy, copper color, thin tan head
S: bready, malty
T: light caramel, biscuity
F: medium body, lingering mouthfeel
O: not a style that I'm overly familiar with, it's a good brew, I wouldn't have more than one
Jan 24, 2016
superspak from Michigan
3.43/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
12 ounce bottle into lager glass, no bottle dating. Pours slightly hazy/cloudy deep amber/copper color with a 1 finger dense light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings down the glass. Aromas of brown sugar, brown bread, toasted biscuit, light nuttiness, herbal, grass, light pepper, and yeast earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity of dark/bready malt and moderate earthy hop notes; with solid strength. Taste of brown sugar, brown bread, toasted biscuit, light nuttiness, herbal, grass, light pepper, and yeast earthiness. Light herbal/spicy bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of brown sugar, brown bread, toasted biscuit, light nuttiness, and herbal/yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Good balance, complexity, and robustness of dark/bready malt and light-moderate earthy hop flavors; with a good malt/bitterness balance and no cloying flavors after the finish. Fairly clean on lager flavors with some light estery off flavor notes present. Light-medium carbonation and medium bodied; with a very smooth and lightly creamy/bready moutthfeel that is good. Alcohol is well hidden with minimal warming present after the finish. Overall this is a solid vienna lager. All around good robustness and balance of dark/bready malt and light-moderate earthy hop flavors; and very smooth and easy to drink. No idea on age of this bottle; but some definite signs of age are there, with some off flavors from the yeast as well. Might be better when it’s fresh. A fairly enjoyable offering as it was.
Sep 12, 2015
3.43/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
12 ounce bottle into lager glass, no bottle dating. Pours slightly hazy/cloudy deep amber/copper color with a 1 finger dense light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings down the glass. Aromas of brown sugar, brown bread, toasted biscuit, light nuttiness, herbal, grass, light pepper, and yeast earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity of dark/bready malt and moderate earthy hop notes; with solid strength. Taste of brown sugar, brown bread, toasted biscuit, light nuttiness, herbal, grass, light pepper, and yeast earthiness. Light herbal/spicy bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of brown sugar, brown bread, toasted biscuit, light nuttiness, and herbal/yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Good balance, complexity, and robustness of dark/bready malt and light-moderate earthy hop flavors; with a good malt/bitterness balance and no cloying flavors after the finish. Fairly clean on lager flavors with some light estery off flavor notes present. Light-medium carbonation and medium bodied; with a very smooth and lightly creamy/bready moutthfeel that is good. Alcohol is well hidden with minimal warming present after the finish. Overall this is a solid vienna lager. All around good robustness and balance of dark/bready malt and light-moderate earthy hop flavors; and very smooth and easy to drink. No idea on age of this bottle; but some definite signs of age are there, with some off flavors from the yeast as well. Might be better when it’s fresh. A fairly enjoyable offering as it was.
Sep 12, 2015
SpatenPony from Rhode Island
3.76/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75
L - Slightly hazy orange, copper color. Near white head that mostly dissipates after a short time.
S - Mild roasty caramel smell, little bit of hops but not much. Smells like an amber. Slight citrus.
T - Fairly bright flavor, but lacking a bit in richness. Slight metallic finish, but not the worst. Very approachable, but not much in the way of uniqueness.
F - Mouthfeel seems just right for the style, not too fizzy but just enough pop to tickle the tongue.
O - It's an amber... I would have been proud to homebrew this, but it doesn't have the perfect finish or creaminess of the best out there. Not bad, not excellent. The 5.8% ABV in the bottle I got from my liquor store owner friend was however not overpowering.
May 05, 2015
3.76/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75
L - Slightly hazy orange, copper color. Near white head that mostly dissipates after a short time.
S - Mild roasty caramel smell, little bit of hops but not much. Smells like an amber. Slight citrus.
T - Fairly bright flavor, but lacking a bit in richness. Slight metallic finish, but not the worst. Very approachable, but not much in the way of uniqueness.
F - Mouthfeel seems just right for the style, not too fizzy but just enough pop to tickle the tongue.
O - It's an amber... I would have been proud to homebrew this, but it doesn't have the perfect finish or creaminess of the best out there. Not bad, not excellent. The 5.8% ABV in the bottle I got from my liquor store owner friend was however not overpowering.
May 05, 2015
ThisWangsChung from Maryland
3.07/5 rDev -11.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12 oz bottle into a mug.
Appearance: Pours a dark, almost murky copper color. The murkiness is a bit off-putting for a lager. The head is less than a finger high, and off-white in shade. With pathetic retention and no lacing left on the glass, this is not an attractive beer. (2.5)
Smell: Very strong malts - caramel, brown sugar, toast, toffee, dark fruit, and even chocolaty hints pop up. I wish it was hoppier, but it's not turning me off, either. (3)
Taste: It starts off with a caramel-laden sweetness, before transitioning into toasty finish. The back end also seems a little 'tart' - hardly like a sour ale, but maybe invoking some lemon/lime flavor, or a distant hoppiness. Pretty simplistic, like the nose suggested. Still, it works. (3.25)
Mouthfeel: While it's very malty, it's not oppressively heavy on the tongue. While it stops short of being really refreshing, it does go down easily. I don't seem to notice a lot of carbonation. (3)
Overall: The bottle invokes a "Mexican lager" vibe to it - and indeed, this brew would pair well with a good burrito, or tacos, or other things that made me wish I had a nearby street vendor selling the best Mexican food ever (oh well Californians, I have crabs). Would work well on a beach, too. Pretty average all told, but decent at doing those things I said. (3)
3.07/5: No está mal
Feb 13, 2015
3.07/5 rDev -11.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12 oz bottle into a mug.
Appearance: Pours a dark, almost murky copper color. The murkiness is a bit off-putting for a lager. The head is less than a finger high, and off-white in shade. With pathetic retention and no lacing left on the glass, this is not an attractive beer. (2.5)
Smell: Very strong malts - caramel, brown sugar, toast, toffee, dark fruit, and even chocolaty hints pop up. I wish it was hoppier, but it's not turning me off, either. (3)
Taste: It starts off with a caramel-laden sweetness, before transitioning into toasty finish. The back end also seems a little 'tart' - hardly like a sour ale, but maybe invoking some lemon/lime flavor, or a distant hoppiness. Pretty simplistic, like the nose suggested. Still, it works. (3.25)
Mouthfeel: While it's very malty, it's not oppressively heavy on the tongue. While it stops short of being really refreshing, it does go down easily. I don't seem to notice a lot of carbonation. (3)
Overall: The bottle invokes a "Mexican lager" vibe to it - and indeed, this brew would pair well with a good burrito, or tacos, or other things that made me wish I had a nearby street vendor selling the best Mexican food ever (oh well Californians, I have crabs). Would work well on a beach, too. Pretty average all told, but decent at doing those things I said. (3)
3.07/5: No está mal
Feb 13, 2015
ChainGangGuy from Georgia
2.78/5 rDev -19.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
12 ounce bottle - $2.29 at Total Wine & More in Kennesaw, Georgia.
Appearance: Pours a crystal clear, toasted brown body with a small-sized, wispy, near white head.
Smell: Toasted malts with an instantaneous, distinct husky scent that grabs you, though not in a good way. A little wisp of herbal hops, though, there's little to the aroma beyond the huskiness.
Taste: Bready, lightly toasty malts with a noticed husky quality to it. Lightly sweet, with a low touch of caramel. Modestly fruity. Herb tinged hoppiness, also low, with little bitterness present. Encroaching wearying wateriness as you proceed to the empty finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Medium-light carbonation.
Overall: A lacking, humdrum lager. No Mas.
Feb 09, 2015
2.78/5 rDev -19.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
12 ounce bottle - $2.29 at Total Wine & More in Kennesaw, Georgia.
Appearance: Pours a crystal clear, toasted brown body with a small-sized, wispy, near white head.
Smell: Toasted malts with an instantaneous, distinct husky scent that grabs you, though not in a good way. A little wisp of herbal hops, though, there's little to the aroma beyond the huskiness.
Taste: Bready, lightly toasty malts with a noticed husky quality to it. Lightly sweet, with a low touch of caramel. Modestly fruity. Herb tinged hoppiness, also low, with little bitterness present. Encroaching wearying wateriness as you proceed to the empty finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Medium-light carbonation.
Overall: A lacking, humdrum lager. No Mas.
Feb 09, 2015
Zach136 from Georgia
4.14/5 rDev +19.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Appearance: Crystal clear amber and solid off white cap, OK lacing.
Aroma: Big caramel malt sweetness probably more intense than any other amber lager i've had.
Flavor: Medium+ notes of caramel sweetness, some bready malt flavor as well.
Mouthfeel: Medium- body and fairly crisp finish.
Overall: A great, for my tastes, amber lager. It seems to be they brewed an Amber Ale with Lager yeast, rather than a lager with some specialty malts. I'm not positive I can slam it back like some easier drinking amber lagers, but the first one sure does go down better.
Oct 14, 2014
4.14/5 rDev +19.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Appearance: Crystal clear amber and solid off white cap, OK lacing.
Aroma: Big caramel malt sweetness probably more intense than any other amber lager i've had.
Flavor: Medium+ notes of caramel sweetness, some bready malt flavor as well.
Mouthfeel: Medium- body and fairly crisp finish.
Overall: A great, for my tastes, amber lager. It seems to be they brewed an Amber Ale with Lager yeast, rather than a lager with some specialty malts. I'm not positive I can slam it back like some easier drinking amber lagers, but the first one sure does go down better.
Oct 14, 2014
woodychandler from Pennsylvania
4.36/5 rDev +25.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
I am now committed to reducing, if not eradicating, my backlog of bottles. This one was part of a local, in-person trade with tone77.
From the bottle: "This dark copper lager (ale in Texas) is light in body and bursting with flavor. Styled after the popular Amber Lagers south of the border, Una Mas is the perfect Spring brew. Small amounts of dark roasted malts add rich color without making it thick or chewy. Munich malt adds a rich toasty finish to the brew. Una Mas will leave you wanting one more!"
It began foaming through the neck as soon as I popped the cap, which is always my cue to begin a gentle pour. As you might imagine, I was faced with a LOT of head, so I decided to let things settle through a rest before continuing. Finally, a dense finger of light-tan head that was collapsing in on itself like a black hole! Color was a deep coppery-amber (SRM = > 13, < 17) with NE-quality clarity. Nose was sweet, but pleasant, with notes of caramel, freshly baked bread and honey. That is what I am usually looking for in a lager - the honey-like sweetness! Mouthfeel was medium-to-full, almost, but not quite, creamy. It was sweet, of course, and the bready malt was in balance with the honey sweetness. I was really digging this, especially following another AAL. Finish was semi-sweet with a taste like honey-drizzled biscuits. I would certainly drink Uno Mas of these!
Jul 20, 2014
4.36/5 rDev +25.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
I am now committed to reducing, if not eradicating, my backlog of bottles. This one was part of a local, in-person trade with tone77.
From the bottle: "This dark copper lager (ale in Texas) is light in body and bursting with flavor. Styled after the popular Amber Lagers south of the border, Una Mas is the perfect Spring brew. Small amounts of dark roasted malts add rich color without making it thick or chewy. Munich malt adds a rich toasty finish to the brew. Una Mas will leave you wanting one more!"
It began foaming through the neck as soon as I popped the cap, which is always my cue to begin a gentle pour. As you might imagine, I was faced with a LOT of head, so I decided to let things settle through a rest before continuing. Finally, a dense finger of light-tan head that was collapsing in on itself like a black hole! Color was a deep coppery-amber (SRM = > 13, < 17) with NE-quality clarity. Nose was sweet, but pleasant, with notes of caramel, freshly baked bread and honey. That is what I am usually looking for in a lager - the honey-like sweetness! Mouthfeel was medium-to-full, almost, but not quite, creamy. It was sweet, of course, and the bready malt was in balance with the honey sweetness. I was really digging this, especially following another AAL. Finish was semi-sweet with a taste like honey-drizzled biscuits. I would certainly drink Uno Mas of these!
Jul 20, 2014
ctxfenris from Arkansas
3.03/5 rDev -12.7%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Poured into a pint glass.
Dark amber color, zero head to speak of.
Smells like.... not much. Some malt and caramel notes.
Tastes pretty bland. The higher than normal ABV is hidden well though.
Very malty, no hop bite. Could use more hops. Some caramel notes.
Eh. Mediocre.
Jul 12, 2014
3.03/5 rDev -12.7%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Poured into a pint glass.
Dark amber color, zero head to speak of.
Smells like.... not much. Some malt and caramel notes.
Tastes pretty bland. The higher than normal ABV is hidden well though.
Very malty, no hop bite. Could use more hops. Some caramel notes.
Eh. Mediocre.
Jul 12, 2014
tone77 from Pennsylvania
3.53/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a dark bronze color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of light malts, grains. Taste is malts, caramel, some hops, very refreshing and easy drinking. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is good summertime beer.
Jul 05, 2014
3.53/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a dark bronze color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of light malts, grains. Taste is malts, caramel, some hops, very refreshing and easy drinking. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is good summertime beer.
Jul 05, 2014
TheManiacalOne from Rhode Island
3.71/5 rDev +6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.
A: The beer is a light golden brown color, with a thin off-white head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.
S: The aroma contains caramelized malts, lager yeast, and some hops.
T: The taste starts out with some mild sweetness from flavors of caramel and fruit. Then some breadiness comes in from the lager yeast and a hearty but not too heavy malt character. There’s also some mild smokiness in the background. The hops presence is mild but complementary and brings a decent balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.
M: Crisp and a little smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.
O: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, decent kick, good representation of style, this is a solid beer to drink for a while.
Oct 13, 2013
3.71/5 rDev +6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.
A: The beer is a light golden brown color, with a thin off-white head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.
S: The aroma contains caramelized malts, lager yeast, and some hops.
T: The taste starts out with some mild sweetness from flavors of caramel and fruit. Then some breadiness comes in from the lager yeast and a hearty but not too heavy malt character. There’s also some mild smokiness in the background. The hops presence is mild but complementary and brings a decent balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.
M: Crisp and a little smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.
O: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, decent kick, good representation of style, this is a solid beer to drink for a while.
Oct 13, 2013
StonedTrippin from Colorado
3.75/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
as amber lagers go, this is a great one, pairs well with fresh street tacos too! luscious white head, lacy and robust, several inches tall and long lasting. medium amber color, clear but leaning dark, smells like lager yeast more than grains, but dry red malt is ahead of sweeter caramel malts on the nose at least. a little sweeter in the flavor, even brown sugar notes here, but everything is so relaxed, its just sort of a refreshing nondescript all day drinker for me. nobody would ever know this is over 6% abv, feels barely like 5%. clean as lagers are, but this one is super down easy, even washes away Serrano pepper heat rather effectively. better than many ive had from lost coast, a real crowd pleaser here, with a medium but refreshing body, happy carbonation, and enough hops to balance out a slightly more elaborate grain bill. it works for me, especially with Mexican food, and I suspect it would work for anyone in that context. beyond that, maybe a little boring, but a tasty brew overall that looks superb and overall does the trick.
Oct 12, 2013
3.75/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
as amber lagers go, this is a great one, pairs well with fresh street tacos too! luscious white head, lacy and robust, several inches tall and long lasting. medium amber color, clear but leaning dark, smells like lager yeast more than grains, but dry red malt is ahead of sweeter caramel malts on the nose at least. a little sweeter in the flavor, even brown sugar notes here, but everything is so relaxed, its just sort of a refreshing nondescript all day drinker for me. nobody would ever know this is over 6% abv, feels barely like 5%. clean as lagers are, but this one is super down easy, even washes away Serrano pepper heat rather effectively. better than many ive had from lost coast, a real crowd pleaser here, with a medium but refreshing body, happy carbonation, and enough hops to balance out a slightly more elaborate grain bill. it works for me, especially with Mexican food, and I suspect it would work for anyone in that context. beyond that, maybe a little boring, but a tasty brew overall that looks superb and overall does the trick.
Oct 12, 2013
UCLABrewN84 from California
3.2/5 rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Pours a murky honey brown with a 2 inch foamy orange-tan head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy swaths of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of toasted malt, caramel, and some slight sour cherry aromas. Taste is of toasted and slightly burnt malt, caramel, and a slight sour fruit note on the finish. There is a mild roasty bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty average beer flavor wise and definitely not something I would go after again.
Jul 05, 2012
3.2/5 rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Pours a murky honey brown with a 2 inch foamy orange-tan head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy swaths of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of toasted malt, caramel, and some slight sour cherry aromas. Taste is of toasted and slightly burnt malt, caramel, and a slight sour fruit note on the finish. There is a mild roasty bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty average beer flavor wise and definitely not something I would go after again.
Jul 05, 2012
SkeeterHawk from Texas
3.83/5 rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The note on this site says that it is 5.3%ABV, but the bottle says that it is 6.4%, so that is notable. I don't recall where I picked this one up, but it doesn't really matter for me to review it. Let's give it a shot.
Appearance: Pours a clear amber color with a large 2" head that was maintained by tons of bubbles rising. The head was a light tan with more density at the bottom due to the bubbles rising. There is quite a bit of lacing left on the glass after drinking and the head finally starts to fade a bit.
Aroma: The aroma initially was clean with a subtle American hop profile and some very noticeable crystal malt. Second sniff gives a little bit of graininess, but it doesn't seem "off" or anything.
Taste: The flavor is very malty for an Amber, and the graininess isn't really there in the flavor. With all of the carbonation, the beer comes across the palate pretty quickly and leaves a little bit of creaminess and some sweetness, but the hops are reserved in this beer the whole time. They are there in the finish to provide some balance, but overall this beer swings firmly toward the malt. The alcohol isn't noticeable.
Opinion: Overall this is a pretty decent beer. I personally like the malty balance, but they may have over-done it a bit for this style. I like the high carbonation, and it definitely keeps the beer from getting boring. If you are a big fan of the Amber style, I would definitely recommend that you pick this one up to recalibrate yourself toward the malty side of this style as it is still probably within the guidelines, but it is a bit of a loner for a brewery on the West coast.
Sep 16, 2011
3.83/5 rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The note on this site says that it is 5.3%ABV, but the bottle says that it is 6.4%, so that is notable. I don't recall where I picked this one up, but it doesn't really matter for me to review it. Let's give it a shot.
Appearance: Pours a clear amber color with a large 2" head that was maintained by tons of bubbles rising. The head was a light tan with more density at the bottom due to the bubbles rising. There is quite a bit of lacing left on the glass after drinking and the head finally starts to fade a bit.
Aroma: The aroma initially was clean with a subtle American hop profile and some very noticeable crystal malt. Second sniff gives a little bit of graininess, but it doesn't seem "off" or anything.
Taste: The flavor is very malty for an Amber, and the graininess isn't really there in the flavor. With all of the carbonation, the beer comes across the palate pretty quickly and leaves a little bit of creaminess and some sweetness, but the hops are reserved in this beer the whole time. They are there in the finish to provide some balance, but overall this beer swings firmly toward the malt. The alcohol isn't noticeable.
Opinion: Overall this is a pretty decent beer. I personally like the malty balance, but they may have over-done it a bit for this style. I like the high carbonation, and it definitely keeps the beer from getting boring. If you are a big fan of the Amber style, I would definitely recommend that you pick this one up to recalibrate yourself toward the malty side of this style as it is still probably within the guidelines, but it is a bit of a loner for a brewery on the West coast.
Sep 16, 2011
mactrail from Washington
3.58/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Nice mouthful of malt. Caramel is the pleasant taste. Hops come along before long. Surprisingly tart after a few sips. A bit of a dirty taste after a while. Nice roasted malt nose, a hint of fruit. Quite attractive coppery amber in the tulip glass, nice lacing. Clean and well made, a good quaff. Each sip renews the malty flavor with just a touch of sweetness.
Sep 11, 2011
3.58/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Nice mouthful of malt. Caramel is the pleasant taste. Hops come along before long. Surprisingly tart after a few sips. A bit of a dirty taste after a while. Nice roasted malt nose, a hint of fruit. Quite attractive coppery amber in the tulip glass, nice lacing. Clean and well made, a good quaff. Each sip renews the malty flavor with just a touch of sweetness.
Sep 11, 2011
twiggamortis420 from Texas
3.5/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
22 oz bomber pours a very clear copper color with a modest cap of tan head. Lacing is spotty at best and the retention is forgettable.
Nose is caramely and nutty with a twang of buttered popcorn and burnt toast. No hop aroma whatsoever.
Taste is definitely caramely on the malts, fairly sweet and has some butter-flavored diacetyl issues that actually work ok for this style of brew. Moderate toasty flavors but never nears harsh, and it probably helps that I cannot detect any hops at all. If I did not know better, I would have said no way this is a lager...tastes more like an ale with a nutty yeast presence. I like it well enough though and would reach for this before a Fat Tire anyday. After trying 5 different Left Coast beers, I feel like Im going back to the early 90's to a brewery at the forefront of the craft beer movement. I think these beers would have been looked at as fantastic back in 1992, but now they struggle to be even average compared to their modern counterparts. Id be more willing to drop 7 bucks on a sixer of this than ever pay 6 bucks for a bomber again.
Aug 28, 2011
3.5/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
22 oz bomber pours a very clear copper color with a modest cap of tan head. Lacing is spotty at best and the retention is forgettable.
Nose is caramely and nutty with a twang of buttered popcorn and burnt toast. No hop aroma whatsoever.
Taste is definitely caramely on the malts, fairly sweet and has some butter-flavored diacetyl issues that actually work ok for this style of brew. Moderate toasty flavors but never nears harsh, and it probably helps that I cannot detect any hops at all. If I did not know better, I would have said no way this is a lager...tastes more like an ale with a nutty yeast presence. I like it well enough though and would reach for this before a Fat Tire anyday. After trying 5 different Left Coast beers, I feel like Im going back to the early 90's to a brewery at the forefront of the craft beer movement. I think these beers would have been looked at as fantastic back in 1992, but now they struggle to be even average compared to their modern counterparts. Id be more willing to drop 7 bucks on a sixer of this than ever pay 6 bucks for a bomber again.
Aug 28, 2011
mithrascruor from California
3.18/5 rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
22 oz. bottle poured into a mug.
Appearance: Pours a nice, clear amber color. Off-white head has little retention, but turns into a lot of bubbles on the edges.
Smell: Very mild aroma; I can really just get some caramel hints out of it.
Taste: Initial taste is somewhat watery, though there's definitely caramel there too. Some hops (or bitterness at least) come in towards the finish, rather low in the mix.
Mouthfeel: Generally smooth (a touch of grain) with moderate carbonation. Light- to medium-bodied.
Drinkability: Pretty easy to drink, especially good on a warmer day. Slightly stronger ABV (6.4%) than I would have expected, but nothing too strong.
A decent beer - fairly simplistic (not much complexity at all), but nothing particularly bad about it. One of the more pleasant beers I've had from Left Coast, however. Just not one I think I'd pick up again.
Jul 09, 2011
3.18/5 rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
22 oz. bottle poured into a mug.
Appearance: Pours a nice, clear amber color. Off-white head has little retention, but turns into a lot of bubbles on the edges.
Smell: Very mild aroma; I can really just get some caramel hints out of it.
Taste: Initial taste is somewhat watery, though there's definitely caramel there too. Some hops (or bitterness at least) come in towards the finish, rather low in the mix.
Mouthfeel: Generally smooth (a touch of grain) with moderate carbonation. Light- to medium-bodied.
Drinkability: Pretty easy to drink, especially good on a warmer day. Slightly stronger ABV (6.4%) than I would have expected, but nothing too strong.
A decent beer - fairly simplistic (not much complexity at all), but nothing particularly bad about it. One of the more pleasant beers I've had from Left Coast, however. Just not one I think I'd pick up again.
Jul 09, 2011
NerveStorm from California
3.36/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Not a bad beer, for a hot day, but not too complex. Lacking any strong hop flavor so the finish is a little flat, but a wholly drinkable beer that is a step up from the mass market stuff.That said it is priced with premium beers that are more interesting. I would use this as a good beer to introduce craft beer to someone, as a step up from factory beer.
Jul 04, 2011
3.36/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Not a bad beer, for a hot day, but not too complex. Lacking any strong hop flavor so the finish is a little flat, but a wholly drinkable beer that is a step up from the mass market stuff.That said it is priced with premium beers that are more interesting. I would use this as a good beer to introduce craft beer to someone, as a step up from factory beer.
Jul 04, 2011
Zorro from California
3.23/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
22 oz bomber from High times in Costa Mesa.
The bottle says this is 6.4% ABV.
Clear amber colored beer with a medium sized tan to yellowish colored head.
Smell is sweet and malty with a little scorched sugar aroma and a bigger caramel scent. Little bit of Nobel hop smell but this one is really all about the malt.
Starts out sweet and malty with a patent malt flavor I had not expected. Not much bitterness here it is decidedly malty heavy. Taste very similar to Fat Tire ale.
Mouthfeel is good.
Drinkability is OK. OK beer to sweet for my tastes.
Jun 21, 2011
3.23/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
22 oz bomber from High times in Costa Mesa.
The bottle says this is 6.4% ABV.
Clear amber colored beer with a medium sized tan to yellowish colored head.
Smell is sweet and malty with a little scorched sugar aroma and a bigger caramel scent. Little bit of Nobel hop smell but this one is really all about the malt.
Starts out sweet and malty with a patent malt flavor I had not expected. Not much bitterness here it is decidedly malty heavy. Taste very similar to Fat Tire ale.
Mouthfeel is good.
Drinkability is OK. OK beer to sweet for my tastes.
Jun 21, 2011
Left Coast Una Mas Amber Lager from Left Coast Brewing Company
Beer rating:
79 out of
100 with
98 ratings
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