Sunset Amber Ale
Grand Canyon Brewing Company
Beer Geek Stats:
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- Style:
- Red Ale - American Amber / Red
Ranked #1,055 - ABV:
- 5.4%
- Score:
- 78
Ranked #47,182 - Avg:
- 3.41 | pDev: 17.01%
- Reviews:
- 22
- Ratings:
- From:
- Grand Canyon Brewing Company
- Arizona, United States
- Avail:
- Year-round
- Wants
- 1
- Gots
- 33
SCORE
78
Okay
78
Okay
Notes:
Reviews: 22
| Ratings: 102
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Reviews by tpd975:
tpd975 from Florida
3.5/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Picked up in the Grand Canyon National Park. Had lots of good craft brews in the General Store, this one was a new rate for me so I picked it up.
A: Nice amber pour with an average off white head.
S: Aromas of candy malt, mostly caramel with tones of brown sugar. No real hops at all.
T: Nice and sweet. Nutty toffee and caramel malt. Very light grassy tones as well.
M: Medium in body, smooth, with okay carbonation.
D: Just okay. Glad to have tried this one. Even more glad that I made it to the Grand Canyon to purchase it.
Aug 06, 2010
3.5/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Picked up in the Grand Canyon National Park. Had lots of good craft brews in the General Store, this one was a new rate for me so I picked it up.
A: Nice amber pour with an average off white head.
S: Aromas of candy malt, mostly caramel with tones of brown sugar. No real hops at all.
T: Nice and sweet. Nutty toffee and caramel malt. Very light grassy tones as well.
M: Medium in body, smooth, with okay carbonation.
D: Just okay. Glad to have tried this one. Even more glad that I made it to the Grand Canyon to purchase it.
Aug 06, 2010
More User Reviews:
tempest from New York
3.2/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
Picked up a 6-pack at AJ's to split. This amber is malty and hoppy, but too sweet. Sweet and biting hops does not feel pleasant. The barley has a nutty caramel character and the hops are lemony and a little grassy, like Cascade hops. But the body is too thick and cloying. I like that there's a pleasant hop flavor, but I'll pass. No thanks.
Feb 09, 2012
3.2/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
Picked up a 6-pack at AJ's to split. This amber is malty and hoppy, but too sweet. Sweet and biting hops does not feel pleasant. The barley has a nutty caramel character and the hops are lemony and a little grassy, like Cascade hops. But the body is too thick and cloying. I like that there's a pleasant hop flavor, but I'll pass. No thanks.
Feb 09, 2012
ccrida from Oregon
2.86/5 rDev -16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
Poured into a tall tumbler, Sunset Amber is amber with an off-white head that leaves scattered lace.
Smell is very sweet malt, a little bread dough. Candied, it's too much.
Taste is also pretty sweet, it's malt forward, but tempered, barely, with some hop bitterness.
Mouthfeel is light bodied, dry, a little sticky.
Drinkability is so-so, it's a pretty generic amber, too sweet for my taste.
Sep 23, 2011
2.86/5 rDev -16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
Poured into a tall tumbler, Sunset Amber is amber with an off-white head that leaves scattered lace.
Smell is very sweet malt, a little bread dough. Candied, it's too much.
Taste is also pretty sweet, it's malt forward, but tempered, barely, with some hop bitterness.
Mouthfeel is light bodied, dry, a little sticky.
Drinkability is so-so, it's a pretty generic amber, too sweet for my taste.
Sep 23, 2011
BlackHaddock from England
3.5/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4
12 Fl Oz bottle poured into a plastic cup, it is 10.30 on Sunday Morning (Mothers Day) on the Grand Canyon Railway (Williams to the South Rim).
The beer was a deep dark amber, clear and clean looking. The head was a light tan colour, deep and steady throughout the tasting.
The smell and taste were very simular, malty, sweet and with hints of caramel. The beer wasn't over sweet, but it wasn't a hop heavy beer in any form.
I thought it a bit thin, but more than drinkable.
May 31, 2010
3.5/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4
12 Fl Oz bottle poured into a plastic cup, it is 10.30 on Sunday Morning (Mothers Day) on the Grand Canyon Railway (Williams to the South Rim).
The beer was a deep dark amber, clear and clean looking. The head was a light tan colour, deep and steady throughout the tasting.
The smell and taste were very simular, malty, sweet and with hints of caramel. The beer wasn't over sweet, but it wasn't a hop heavy beer in any form.
I thought it a bit thin, but more than drinkable.
May 31, 2010
dstc from Florida
3.72/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a clear ruby copper color with a tan head. Head falls to just about nothing. Thinnest of lace.
Nice caramel malt aroma. Smells a bit sweet.
Same taste. Sweet caramel malts. Hops come through in the end with a slight bitterness. Bit of a metallic finish.
Medium bodied and biting on the tongue.
Decent enough. Not crazy about the aftertaste.
Oct 27, 2010
3.72/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a clear ruby copper color with a tan head. Head falls to just about nothing. Thinnest of lace.
Nice caramel malt aroma. Smells a bit sweet.
Same taste. Sweet caramel malts. Hops come through in the end with a slight bitterness. Bit of a metallic finish.
Medium bodied and biting on the tongue.
Decent enough. Not crazy about the aftertaste.
Oct 27, 2010
LXIXME from New Mexico
3.83/5 rDev +12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Pours a clear amber caramel color with a small light tan head that quickly settles into a pretty decent lacing.
Sweet roasted-toasted caramel grain malts that is very noticeable and pleasant.
Lightly roasted caramel grain malts dominate a sweetish light amber beer taste.
A light toasted caramel malt aftertaste that has a light sweetness to it on this medium bodied beer.
A decent lighter amber ale that is more my style amber with the totally overbearing caramel malt taste yet it has a very drinkable and present taste.
Feb 27, 2013
3.83/5 rDev +12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Pours a clear amber caramel color with a small light tan head that quickly settles into a pretty decent lacing.
Sweet roasted-toasted caramel grain malts that is very noticeable and pleasant.
Lightly roasted caramel grain malts dominate a sweetish light amber beer taste.
A light toasted caramel malt aftertaste that has a light sweetness to it on this medium bodied beer.
A decent lighter amber ale that is more my style amber with the totally overbearing caramel malt taste yet it has a very drinkable and present taste.
Feb 27, 2013
Bockrules from New Mexico
3.4/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25
poured from the bottle into a pint glass
A - Pours a hazy amber with slightly burnt orange highlights. Very little carbonation rises to the one finger, off-white head. Head falls apart about half way down the glass. Leaves behind a few splotches of lacing on the lower portion of the glass.
S - Mostly toasted caramel malt with a hint of dark rum and chocolate.
T - Caramel malt sweetness upfront. The body is a nice combination of toasty carmel malt, dark rum and a light red apple fruitiness. More red apple and rum as the beer passes over the back of the tongue gives way to a toasted caramel apple finish.
M - On the weaker side of medium bodied with low-moderate carbonation. Felt lackluster overall.
Sunset amber is a middle of the road amber ale that has a somewhat interesting and complex flavor profile, but the boring mouthfeel belays any attempt to bring this brew much above average. I probably would't get this again except for a laugh the next time I visit the Grand Canyon. Still it's drinkable enough to satisfy your average macro tourist....
Jan 16, 2013
3.4/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25
poured from the bottle into a pint glass
A - Pours a hazy amber with slightly burnt orange highlights. Very little carbonation rises to the one finger, off-white head. Head falls apart about half way down the glass. Leaves behind a few splotches of lacing on the lower portion of the glass.
S - Mostly toasted caramel malt with a hint of dark rum and chocolate.
T - Caramel malt sweetness upfront. The body is a nice combination of toasty carmel malt, dark rum and a light red apple fruitiness. More red apple and rum as the beer passes over the back of the tongue gives way to a toasted caramel apple finish.
M - On the weaker side of medium bodied with low-moderate carbonation. Felt lackluster overall.
Sunset amber is a middle of the road amber ale that has a somewhat interesting and complex flavor profile, but the boring mouthfeel belays any attempt to bring this brew much above average. I probably would't get this again except for a laugh the next time I visit the Grand Canyon. Still it's drinkable enough to satisfy your average macro tourist....
Jan 16, 2013
sunsjammer from Arizona
3.27/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
May 04, 2016
3.27/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
May 04, 2016
farrago from New Jersey
2.86/5 rDev -16.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
Yields a very meager head, barely coats the surface, no surprise that it doesn’t leave much lacing behind. The liquid is certainly a dark amber color, more towards red than orange, clear on the whole but up close you can see a fair amount of particulate floating about, no visible bubbles. The nose is all malted milk balls, chocolate and scone and pastry flakes, more of a metallic presence than fruity, something like corn syrup in there too. Medium-bodied, kind of sluggish with low carbonation and a general flat feel. The high level of sweetness also adds to the sappy texture. Cocoa, chocolate, toffee, there is a burnt edge as well, like bitter chocolate or roasted coffee. More of that breadiness, nutty as well, roasted and dappled in honey. Again, curious about the lack of fruit, some peach or apricot notes at best. The metallic, earthy stuff drops a notch or two here. Its blockish finish prevents a refreshing appeal. It’s basically alright, that’s kinda it.
Nov 13, 2014
2.86/5 rDev -16.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
Yields a very meager head, barely coats the surface, no surprise that it doesn’t leave much lacing behind. The liquid is certainly a dark amber color, more towards red than orange, clear on the whole but up close you can see a fair amount of particulate floating about, no visible bubbles. The nose is all malted milk balls, chocolate and scone and pastry flakes, more of a metallic presence than fruity, something like corn syrup in there too. Medium-bodied, kind of sluggish with low carbonation and a general flat feel. The high level of sweetness also adds to the sappy texture. Cocoa, chocolate, toffee, there is a burnt edge as well, like bitter chocolate or roasted coffee. More of that breadiness, nutty as well, roasted and dappled in honey. Again, curious about the lack of fruit, some peach or apricot notes at best. The metallic, earthy stuff drops a notch or two here. Its blockish finish prevents a refreshing appeal. It’s basically alright, that’s kinda it.
Nov 13, 2014
ONUMello from Ohio
3.41/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12oz can poured into a plastic glass
A: Clean amber color with a one-finger head
S: Lightly toasted grain, not much else going on
T: Lightly toasted grain again, a hint of caramel. Simple but nice
M: Light-medium bodied, crisp
O: Not very complex but pleasant & easy to drink; would make a nice session beer
Mar 14, 2013
3.41/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12oz can poured into a plastic glass
A: Clean amber color with a one-finger head
S: Lightly toasted grain, not much else going on
T: Lightly toasted grain again, a hint of caramel. Simple but nice
M: Light-medium bodied, crisp
O: Not very complex but pleasant & easy to drink; would make a nice session beer
Mar 14, 2013
Phelps from Arizona
3.5/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: poured from the tap and into my pint glass a nice-looking deep auburn, clear, with a fluffy head of light khaki that recedes more quickly than you'd expect, leaving a filmy oil slick along with a persistent ring.
Smell: sweet almonds and cashews, buttered breakfast biscuits, ritz crackers. Slightly sweet and slightly toasty, with an odd soapiness in the background.
Taste: bubble gum, peanuts, toasted biscuits and a light, earthy hoppiness. The soapiness emerges again, faintly calling from the background.
Feel: thin. Fizzy, medium-low carbonation and a somewhat light, watery body.
Drink: insubstantial body aside, this is a pretty tasty amber. Pleasantly nutty, nicely balanced and good-looking. Boost up the body a notch or two and we're in business.
Oct 12, 2010
3.5/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: poured from the tap and into my pint glass a nice-looking deep auburn, clear, with a fluffy head of light khaki that recedes more quickly than you'd expect, leaving a filmy oil slick along with a persistent ring.
Smell: sweet almonds and cashews, buttered breakfast biscuits, ritz crackers. Slightly sweet and slightly toasty, with an odd soapiness in the background.
Taste: bubble gum, peanuts, toasted biscuits and a light, earthy hoppiness. The soapiness emerges again, faintly calling from the background.
Feel: thin. Fizzy, medium-low carbonation and a somewhat light, watery body.
Drink: insubstantial body aside, this is a pretty tasty amber. Pleasantly nutty, nicely balanced and good-looking. Boost up the body a notch or two and we're in business.
Oct 12, 2010
Knapp85 from Pennsylvania
2.88/5 rDev -15.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
This was given to me by a friends who went on vacation to Arizona and brought home a 6 pack. This is an average Amber Ale to say the least. The color was a nice deep red, the head faded within a few minutes. The smell was mostly hops which I enjoyed, The mouthfeel was well carbonated, and medium bodied. The flavors reminded me of a Killian's Irish Red. It was mostly hoppy and had some sweetness to it but not much. Good to try but wouldn't drink on a regular basis.
Apr 07, 2011
2.88/5 rDev -15.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
This was given to me by a friends who went on vacation to Arizona and brought home a 6 pack. This is an average Amber Ale to say the least. The color was a nice deep red, the head faded within a few minutes. The smell was mostly hops which I enjoyed, The mouthfeel was well carbonated, and medium bodied. The flavors reminded me of a Killian's Irish Red. It was mostly hoppy and had some sweetness to it but not much. Good to try but wouldn't drink on a regular basis.
Apr 07, 2011
ovaltine from Indiana
3.5/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Feb 28, 2015
3.5/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Feb 28, 2015
Nerudamann from Oregon
3.67/5 rDev +7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a bottle into a Pint glass.
Look - light amber color, clear, with about half a finger of khaki-colored foam that dissipates somewhat slowly.
Smell - a bit malty, with a caramel aroma. Also a little worty-smelling.
Taste and Mouthfeel - very good "amber" taste. Tastes a bit caramel-roasted. Reminds me of a good English lager. A little musky on the palate, with just a slight tinge of bitterness that fades quickly. Texture is pretty well-balanced.
Overall - not terribly fascinating, but still very good-tasting and fun to drink.
May 26, 2011
3.67/5 rDev +7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a bottle into a Pint glass.
Look - light amber color, clear, with about half a finger of khaki-colored foam that dissipates somewhat slowly.
Smell - a bit malty, with a caramel aroma. Also a little worty-smelling.
Taste and Mouthfeel - very good "amber" taste. Tastes a bit caramel-roasted. Reminds me of a good English lager. A little musky on the palate, with just a slight tinge of bitterness that fades quickly. Texture is pretty well-balanced.
Overall - not terribly fascinating, but still very good-tasting and fun to drink.
May 26, 2011
MrJolly from Arizona
3.31/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
May 15, 2015
3.31/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
May 15, 2015
dbraz45 from Arizona
4.17/5 rDev +22.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
This is certainly one to try. The appearance is indicative of the style, amber with mild carbonation, and a thick white head. The aroma is a fusion of malts. This leaves a strong stream of lacing on the glass as this is consumed. The taste is somewhat mild when compared to the aroma, but good nonetheless.
Dec 28, 2012
4.17/5 rDev +22.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
This is certainly one to try. The appearance is indicative of the style, amber with mild carbonation, and a thick white head. The aroma is a fusion of malts. This leaves a strong stream of lacing on the glass as this is consumed. The taste is somewhat mild when compared to the aroma, but good nonetheless.
Dec 28, 2012
gefinley from California
3.12/5 rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
Apr 18, 2015
3.12/5 rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
Apr 18, 2015
Sunset Amber Ale from Grand Canyon Brewing Company
Beer rating:
78 out of
100 with
102 ratings
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