Barn Burner
Beau's All Natural Brewing Company

 

 

473 mL can from the LCBO; dated Mar 7 2025 and served barely chilled.

Pours a crystal clear orange-amber colour, topped with one finger of loose, foamy, off white-tinted head that lasts for a couple of minutes. A thin collar lives on, with some spotty lace deposition over the course of the session; looks fine to me. Caramel and candy apple on the nose, with hints of bready, lightly toasted malts & nuttiness, as well as some faint citrus.

It's a boilerplate amber ale; malt-forward and approachable. Toasted grains, bready malts and caramel perform most of the heavy lifting, helped by hints of orchard fruits, candied orange peel and nuts. Malty finish, with hints of earthy, herbal hops. Light-medium in body, with low-ish carbonation that gently agitates the surface of the palate; smooth, satisfying mouthfeel that makes for a highly drinkable amber.

Final Grade: 3.69, a B grade. Beau's Barn Burner is an above average amber ale: a competently brewed example of the style that takes no risks whatsoever, and consequently winds up being quite forgettable. I feel bad for giving this amber a hard time: it's structurally sound, but the truth is Beau's used to be one of the more reliable & prolific breweries in Ontario, and this doesn't hold up when compared to what they were brewing last decade. I understand that they've had a rough time since Covid, but beers like this are barely going to help them tread water.

Poured a 473ml can into a pint glass. A two finger tan head on a clear dark amber. The head diminishes to a layer. Lots of patchy lacing.

Caramel malts in the nose. Tastes of toasted caramel malts. A hint of citrus. A mild herbal hop finish.

A medium light body and moderate carbonation. Overall a decent Amber Ale. Worth a try.

Sept 20 2025