Unicorn Amber Ale
McKenzie Brew House

One of McKenzie's five regular brews, the Unicorn Amber fits in nicely between Wicked Will's Pale and Black Lab Stout. It's crimson-tinged chestnut body rests gently beneath its short-lived, newsprint white head. There's next to no lacing, and it leaves only minor spots about the glass. The nose is subtle, lightly caramelish in nature, without any hops. The flavor is subtle as well, balanced towards malt, with a very low-key chocolate note. It's a mild brown ale, just a half step-beyond "amber". Some leafy and grassy hops appear towards the swallow; and iIt finishes drying with some residual lingering malt, but it's not necessarily sweet, just lightly caramelish.

Appearance: dark copper in color with a 1/2" head that falls quickly to a spotty surface foam. A spot or two of lacing develops.

Smell: light caramel.

Taste: caramel, ripe red fruits, brown sugar, and a soft touch of bitterness. This beer had a nice malt level but was a leaning towards the sweeter side.

Mouthfeel: smooth from start to finish. Medium bodied. Very short caramel aftertaste.

Drinkability: pretty good, but this tends to get a bit boring as the pint empties. Overall its a decent beer I can see having again.

This is a growler of Unicorn ale purchased and opened on May 13, 2006. The growler was finished on May 14, 2006 and the review is based off of the 2nd day.

Appearance: The ale has a beautiful amber color, deep reddish and very clear. There is little head, as most of the carbonation has escaped.

Smell: The aromas have diminished a bit, leaving a clear malt and hop aroma, but not much more in the way of guidance. Drink this one fresh to enjoy the nice balance.

Taste: The ale is very well balanced. The malts are sweet and cereally and mix nicely with the low grade hops that add just enough bitterness to meet but not exceed the malts.

Mouthfeel: Without most of the carbonation, the ale has lost a bit of its kick, but the flavor mix is still good.

Drinkability: The of this beer is peculiar, conjuring up something other than a rugged red ale. Despite that, the growler and the beer itself held up well over the 2 or so days that the growler was open.

Sampled at the Malvern location in a standard pint glass. The beer poured a clear vibrant amber color with a moderately thick white head and active carbonation in the body. The aroma was of fresh floral hops, a bit fruity and some earthy, bready tones. The taste was a well balanced mix of hop bitterness with the malty sweetness and fruit tones. Overall an easy drinking amber with some respectable taste.

enjoyed at the brewpub. presented as a dark amber drink with modest white head. Smell is dough-like with some notes of dark fruit present. Taste is mainly of toasted malt combined with a backgroung hoppiness. Finishe is mainly malt with little hop noted. A very easy drinking beer that is nothing out of the ordinary.

Appearance: As it touts, this has an amber-body with a hue of red. Clear, with moderate carbonation, and poor head retention. A thin lacing instead lines the edges of the surface.

Smell: Smells of a (sub?) standard ESB, mostly carmel, some doughy biscuit, weak hops.

Taste: I'm not too impressed with this one. It's what it is; another brewpub's amber/ESB. Nothing jumps out, the carmelized malts taste a little heavier than they smell with some dark wooden undertones. The hops don't show the balance they ought to; I'm not even sure that they used noble hops. In any case, this ends up somewhat flat, and mostly unininspired.

Mouthfeel: The carbonation keeps this alive, but just barely. Not heavy or cloying, and it's a good thing the body is kept in the middle range. Eh.

Drinkability: I'm bored. It's not bad, in fact, the only thing wrong with it in my opinion is a lack of hop flavor. It's understandable as they want to cover all the 'styles' and need a lightly hopped, sweet, malt-focused beer like this to round out the menu containing light lager, golden, pale ale, and stout. Cookie cutter in every sense.

A damn good amber ale from "The Dude"! This is a dark red brew with a nice head of foam that dies quickly. The aromas are of fresh hops, bready malts, some fruits, and a bit of wood. The taste is a very nice blend of malts and hops with the mentioned fruit flavors coming into the mix as well. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and the drinkability is good as well. Interesting.

Fairly deep, ruddy brown color, very clear, with some red highlights in the core. Very smallish head, fades to a film within seconds. Smell is nicely malted, a touch of coco and caramel and quite a bit of fruit. Taste is again, malty, with nice crystal malt sweetness and lots of fruit. Somewhat middle of the road perhaps, but still very drinkable. Hop aroma and bitterness nil, just right for the style. Finishes very smooth, moderate carbonation with a little tartness. Overall a very nice session beer, a bit one dimensional perhaps but quite true to style.

Served as part of a sampler tray at their brewery. This was a dark golden color, borderline brown. Thin white head. This beer is slightly bitter and sour, also. The hop aromas are subdued. With a mid range malt body and semi sweetness, this beer is quite drinkable. There’s a tang in the finish. Light and drinkable.