Celtika Ambree (Rohane Blonde)
Brasserie Celtik

 

Beer bottle (33cl), tasted in 2005.

Appearance: amber color, with white foam head (not persistent).
Smell : caramel and malt aromas.
Taste and mouthfeel : notes of caramel, tart and fruity, with a dray finish.
Drinkability: an average beer in the style Belgian Pale ale.

Bottle labled a 'Celtic Amber Ale'.

Poured a medium and cloudy amber color with a large sized off white head. Aromas of light caramel, some yeast, fruits, and light cherries. Tastes of caramel, a little fruity and light yeast. On the sweet side.

Notes from: 12/12/05

Appearance: Pours a cloudy amber color with good head retention that rests as a 1/4 inch of tight bubbles; several shards of lace as well

Smell: Toffee, with spiced light fruit, perhaps cinnamon and honey with some pear and apricot esters

Taste: Opens with a strong sense of toffee, with a hint of vanilla and cinnamon developing; clearly some candi sugar and light fruit flavors up front, as well; after the swallow, there is a nice balance of tart yeast, with some wood and honey at the very end

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, slightly creamy, with a light but persistent carbonation

Drinkability: I wasn't sure what to expect from this beer but it way surpassed my expectations - from France, no less

750 ml. bottle, corked and caged. $5.29 at Total Wine & More, Claymont, DE.

The corked released with a bang, but the foam never rose beyond the neck. Carefully poured it delivered a slightly hazy deep amber / copper body beneath a two-fingered head of creamy yellowed tan. It offers excellent head retention, continually maintaining a solid 1/4" or more throughout the glass, and leaving creamy rings like those left by Guinness.

The aroma immediately reminded me of Chimay Premiere, and I wonder if that was what they were going for, and if they’re using the same yeast. It’s softly fruity with sweetish dark-skinned fruits (plum, raisin, red cherry), a bit of candyish sugar, a waft of vanilla, some earthy/mineralish/musty character that I think of as "cork", grassy hops, and a very mild spiciness.

In the mouth it’s gently effervescent with a light bristle on the tongue before warming to become more cottony and smooth.

More earthy, mineralish, and musty character appears in the flavor, followed by some sweetish, lightly caramelish, brown-sugar-like maltiness and soft clove. There's a thread of refreshing, or 'cutting', acidity to it, and dark-skinned fruitiness steps in at mid-palate, almost immediately followed by an edgy bitterness not unlike that of walnut skins; and some leafy and grassy hops. It finishes long and lingering with a touch of woodiness, some more nuttiness, a suggestion of orange peel, some candy sugar, more grassy and leafy hops, and a dust-pan full of mustiness.

Quite complex and enjoyable! I was impressed, especially considering the price!

Dark Orange-ish gold with a nice full light beige head -- few active bubbles seen (strange). Sweet candi sugar and malt aroma with a touch of Belgian yeastiness. A bit sweet and simple for the style. Light bodied and airy which is strange considering the few to no bubbles rising.

Very average Belgian Pale/Dark Ale hybrid.

Per Label: 5.8% ABV

Best Before: 02/01/07 ('B411' on cork)
Tasted: 11/08/06

($4.99 / 750 ml / 25.4 oz. tall brown wine-like bottle, corked, and caged)

Thanks to IthacaBaron for sharing the bottle at a small but awesome BA folks gathering.

Belgian Pale Ale is the best description that fits this interesting bottle. Slightly hazy auburn pour into my wine glass that emits a sweetness of light malts. Flavor is a dry assertive Belgie Pale with a lingering sugar candy sweetness.

Medium bodied and overall interesting that floats around some styles. I'd try this one again.

The beer poured into the glass copper wtih an off-white and frothy head which rose very tall and fell slowly to coat the glass.

The aroma was a bit funky with a strong earthy character and a bit of caramel malt with some Begian yeast spiciness thrown in for good measure. The spice had a slight character of clove and a bit of cinnamon and perhaps even a smide of coriander. At any rate, interesting was probably the best word to describe the aroma.

The flavor was lightly acidic and slightly sour with a caramel malt flavor and a strong fruity character that reminded me of cherries. The flavor also contained a bit of earthy bittering, but the main emphasis was spice. The spicy flavors were a bit of cinnamon and some clove, and once again, perhaps a hint of coriander.

The finish was dry with a lasting earthy character and spice long into the aftertaste. The body was just medium. The sourness was subtle and unexpected. The spice was unexpected as well. This one sort of grows on you with a lean toward some Brett and a bit of spice and later even a bready character. Seems like a beer Russian River would produce and while my initial reaction was surprize, I give it good marks. Gotta see if I can find more and the other two varieties.

330 ml bottle. 5.8% ABV on front label and best before 1 31 07 on back label.