St-Ambroise Pale Ale | McAuslan Brewing
Brewed by:
McAuslan Brewing
Quebec, Canada
mcauslan.com
Style: American Pale Ale (APA)
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.00%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
Hops: Cascade, Willamette, Golding, Hallertau
IBU: 35
Added by Jason on 10-26-2000
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 224 | Ratings: 410
4.02/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I found this single 11.5oz brown bottle at the Binnys store in Plainfield, IL for $1.99. No freshness date or any information about the beer on the label.
The beer poured a reddish/golden topaz color - like the November birthstone. Not much of a head and not much lacing either.
The smell is mostly caramel and bready malts with some mild hops in the background.
This is a really well balanced and tasty beer. Not too sweet and not too bitter. The sweet caramel and bready malts are blended with both fruity and woody hops to create a deliucios mix.
The body leans towards the thin side, but the higgh carbonation keeps it spritzy and refreshing.
I could drink several of these, but unfortuneately I just picked up a single bottle. A very well made pale ale.
★ 763 characters
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I found this single 11.5oz brown bottle at the Binnys store in Plainfield, IL for $1.99. No freshness date or any information about the beer on the label.
The beer poured a reddish/golden topaz color - like the November birthstone. Not much of a head and not much lacing either.
The smell is mostly caramel and bready malts with some mild hops in the background.
This is a really well balanced and tasty beer. Not too sweet and not too bitter. The sweet caramel and bready malts are blended with both fruity and woody hops to create a deliucios mix.
The body leans towards the thin side, but the higgh carbonation keeps it spritzy and refreshing.
I could drink several of these, but unfortuneately I just picked up a single bottle. A very well made pale ale.
★ 763 characters
3.7/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured into a Sam Adams Lager glass and allowed to warm a bit.
A=Nice amber tinted gold color, a bit cloudy; foam was about two fingers for about four minutes or so.
S=Sweet smell with hint of hops.
T=First 3-4 sips were overly sweet and had a strong honey like presence; the honey flavor and sweetness diminished a bit, but overpowered any flavor from hops.
M=Good, overall, but with a slight coating remaining after a sip.
D=The sweetness makes this difficult to consume quickly, and I can't see my self drinking this one after another. It looks like it should be a great beer, and maybe I had high expectations based on other reviews, but the flavor is a bit lacking and a bit too sweet for me.
★ 702 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured into a Sam Adams Lager glass and allowed to warm a bit.
A=Nice amber tinted gold color, a bit cloudy; foam was about two fingers for about four minutes or so.
S=Sweet smell with hint of hops.
T=First 3-4 sips were overly sweet and had a strong honey like presence; the honey flavor and sweetness diminished a bit, but overpowered any flavor from hops.
M=Good, overall, but with a slight coating remaining after a sip.
D=The sweetness makes this difficult to consume quickly, and I can't see my self drinking this one after another. It looks like it should be a great beer, and maybe I had high expectations based on other reviews, but the flavor is a bit lacking and a bit too sweet for me.
★ 702 characters
4.2/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: It has a nice golden/amber colour to it. It has a nice white head that dies down moderalty and lacing is present.
Smell: The aromas definitly give out hints of fruity hops and a bit of caremaly malts.
Taste: Like the aromas, it has a nice fruity/hoppy flavour that gives it a slight bitterness and it ends with more of a carmely/malty flavour.
Mouthfeel: It has a low to medium carbonation with a very nice balance of hops and malts.
Drinkability: It's a very smooth drinkable beer accompanied with great flavours and aromas. It's an overall great beer.
★ 571 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: It has a nice golden/amber colour to it. It has a nice white head that dies down moderalty and lacing is present.
Smell: The aromas definitly give out hints of fruity hops and a bit of caremaly malts.
Taste: Like the aromas, it has a nice fruity/hoppy flavour that gives it a slight bitterness and it ends with more of a carmely/malty flavour.
Mouthfeel: It has a low to medium carbonation with a very nice balance of hops and malts.
Drinkability: It's a very smooth drinkable beer accompanied with great flavours and aromas. It's an overall great beer.
★ 571 characters
3.53/5 rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
First time trying anything from this brewery, going through their whole lineup this month. Found a 4 pack at my local LCBO.
Pours a very bright, gem-like amber colour with a decent head that lasts a few minutes and leaves a nice trail of lace.
Malty aroma with strong caramel or toffee tones and a decent spiciness to it. A bit on the sweet side for me, but appealing nonetheless.
This beer feels medium-bodied and has a low-medium carbonation to it. Maybe a bit yeasty on the aftertaste.
The taste is quite pleasant, if not a tad mild. There is a toasted woodiness to the malt that gives this beer its main body with just enough bitterness to keep things balanced and a crisp, dry finish with citrus tones to it.
Thanks to its somewhat light characteristics, I find St Ambroise Pale Ale very drinkable, though I usually prefer something with just a bit more bite to it.
★ 875 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
First time trying anything from this brewery, going through their whole lineup this month. Found a 4 pack at my local LCBO.
Pours a very bright, gem-like amber colour with a decent head that lasts a few minutes and leaves a nice trail of lace.
Malty aroma with strong caramel or toffee tones and a decent spiciness to it. A bit on the sweet side for me, but appealing nonetheless.
This beer feels medium-bodied and has a low-medium carbonation to it. Maybe a bit yeasty on the aftertaste.
The taste is quite pleasant, if not a tad mild. There is a toasted woodiness to the malt that gives this beer its main body with just enough bitterness to keep things balanced and a crisp, dry finish with citrus tones to it.
Thanks to its somewhat light characteristics, I find St Ambroise Pale Ale very drinkable, though I usually prefer something with just a bit more bite to it.
★ 875 characters
4.3/5 rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured into a St. Ambroise pint glass.
Pours a light ruby color with a dirty/khaki head of two fingers. Head drops over a few minutes to minumal layer of foam, made up of mainly medium sized bubbles and lace.
Aromas of ripe pears, dates, hard candy. Not much of a hop aroma.
First sip is of figs, fresh baked bread, a slight carbonic bite, citrus rinds, white wine, a little tannic. Finish is medium, with a tannic/winey edge.
Mouthfeel is medium, a little chewy malt.
Very drinkable and sessionable. Could drink this all night, and not tire of the flavors or finish. Very nice, easy drinking beer.
★ 603 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured into a St. Ambroise pint glass.
Pours a light ruby color with a dirty/khaki head of two fingers. Head drops over a few minutes to minumal layer of foam, made up of mainly medium sized bubbles and lace.
Aromas of ripe pears, dates, hard candy. Not much of a hop aroma.
First sip is of figs, fresh baked bread, a slight carbonic bite, citrus rinds, white wine, a little tannic. Finish is medium, with a tannic/winey edge.
Mouthfeel is medium, a little chewy malt.
Very drinkable and sessionable. Could drink this all night, and not tire of the flavors or finish. Very nice, easy drinking beer.
★ 603 characters
3.7/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
This beer is miscategorized. If you look at all the top beers in this category, they are all floral, cascades hops based, american brewed beers.
As much as i love those beers, it's hard to rate this great beer against them.
What i like about this beer is its simple but unique character. Like most St Ambroise products, it is well balanced and consistent in quality.
★ 370 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
This beer is miscategorized. If you look at all the top beers in this category, they are all floral, cascades hops based, american brewed beers.
As much as i love those beers, it's hard to rate this great beer against them.
What i like about this beer is its simple but unique character. Like most St Ambroise products, it is well balanced and consistent in quality.
★ 370 characters
3.95/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A: The beer is slightly hazy amber in color and poured with a thin white head. A moderate amount of carbonation is visible from the rising bubbles.
S: There are aromas of apples and citrus hops in the nose.
T: Like the smell, there are some flavors of apples in the initial taste but these quickly transition over to bready malts with notes of caramel; there is a mild amount of bitterness from the hops.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. There is a slight amount of dryness in the finish.
D: This beer goes down very easily and is quite sessionable.
★ 605 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A: The beer is slightly hazy amber in color and poured with a thin white head. A moderate amount of carbonation is visible from the rising bubbles.
S: There are aromas of apples and citrus hops in the nose.
T: Like the smell, there are some flavors of apples in the initial taste but these quickly transition over to bready malts with notes of caramel; there is a mild amount of bitterness from the hops.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. There is a slight amount of dryness in the finish.
D: This beer goes down very easily and is quite sessionable.
★ 605 characters
4.1/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
I've had this on several occasions, but this is my first formal review of it.
A - Pours a crystal clear golden colour, finger of light fluffy head with decent retention which settles into small islands leaving no real lacing.
S - Floral hops with pine and cedar coming through followed by some caramel malts and buttered bread.
T - The woody cedar and pine hops come through nicely off the top and are nicely balanced by some toffee and caramel malts on the finish.
M - Nice medium bodied ale that fills the tongue nicely and goes down smooth. The finish is a touch dry, though consistent with the style.
D - This beer is delicious, easily sessionable with a nice hop presence and balanced malt finish. I could drink this stuff all day and it is sure to please any pale ale fan.
★ 783 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
I've had this on several occasions, but this is my first formal review of it.
A - Pours a crystal clear golden colour, finger of light fluffy head with decent retention which settles into small islands leaving no real lacing.
S - Floral hops with pine and cedar coming through followed by some caramel malts and buttered bread.
T - The woody cedar and pine hops come through nicely off the top and are nicely balanced by some toffee and caramel malts on the finish.
M - Nice medium bodied ale that fills the tongue nicely and goes down smooth. The finish is a touch dry, though consistent with the style.
D - This beer is delicious, easily sessionable with a nice hop presence and balanced malt finish. I could drink this stuff all day and it is sure to please any pale ale fan.
★ 783 characters
4.35/5 rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Nice golden amber color with minimal head. It is difficult to pull anything specific out of the aroma or taste - what is amazing about this beer is how integrated everything is.
Nice appropriate bitterness for the style. Hops and malt are well balanced and very tasty. In an age where everything seems to be double, imperial, big OG, IBU's, this stands out as an elegant well-made, and very drinkable ale. A good choice for keeping in the frig at all times!
★ 459 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Nice golden amber color with minimal head. It is difficult to pull anything specific out of the aroma or taste - what is amazing about this beer is how integrated everything is.
Nice appropriate bitterness for the style. Hops and malt are well balanced and very tasty. In an age where everything seems to be double, imperial, big OG, IBU's, this stands out as an elegant well-made, and very drinkable ale. A good choice for keeping in the frig at all times!
★ 459 characters
3.8/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5
341 ml served in a chilled glass..
Appearance - beer pours with a great amount of head that quickly disappears. Beer is a amber colour and not much carbonation is present. Some nice lacing is occuring.
Smell - I can smell some hops as well as citrus hints. This is a nicely put together beer.
Taste - good tasting beer, I would say a slight bitterness upfront and smooth on the backend. Minimal taste of hops, all around a smooth tasting beer.
Mouthfeel - little carbonation added and you can taste the hops come fwd. The beer is a little less bitter actually and has a smooth finish.
Drinkability - I'd stock this beer and drink it again. Very nice beer with lots of taste and nice ending.
★ 696 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5
341 ml served in a chilled glass..
Appearance - beer pours with a great amount of head that quickly disappears. Beer is a amber colour and not much carbonation is present. Some nice lacing is occuring.
Smell - I can smell some hops as well as citrus hints. This is a nicely put together beer.
Taste - good tasting beer, I would say a slight bitterness upfront and smooth on the backend. Minimal taste of hops, all around a smooth tasting beer.
Mouthfeel - little carbonation added and you can taste the hops come fwd. The beer is a little less bitter actually and has a smooth finish.
Drinkability - I'd stock this beer and drink it again. Very nice beer with lots of taste and nice ending.
★ 696 characters
3.78/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A - A fairly aggressive pour results in a 3 finger white head in my pint glass. Bright and dark gold in colour. Head is loose but looks like it might stick around for a while. Medium amount of carbonation. Generous lacing half way through.
S - Nice fruity hops with some mild malts. Good balance in the aroma. Grapefruit is present for sure. Mild amounts of hops make for a good compliment.
T - Good malts up front with hops to balance. Very mild bitterness. Nothing too crazy but good nonetheless.
M - Light body. Could use a bit more carbonation.
D - Fairly high. I've sessioned this before and I don't see why anyone wouldn't. It's a good example of a milder APA.
★ 671 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A - A fairly aggressive pour results in a 3 finger white head in my pint glass. Bright and dark gold in colour. Head is loose but looks like it might stick around for a while. Medium amount of carbonation. Generous lacing half way through.
S - Nice fruity hops with some mild malts. Good balance in the aroma. Grapefruit is present for sure. Mild amounts of hops make for a good compliment.
T - Good malts up front with hops to balance. Very mild bitterness. Nothing too crazy but good nonetheless.
M - Light body. Could use a bit more carbonation.
D - Fairly high. I've sessioned this before and I don't see why anyone wouldn't. It's a good example of a milder APA.
★ 671 characters
4.3/5 rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
from a St. Ambroise variety pack
A - very clear copper, with a tower of off white head that had very nice retention and lacing up the glass
S - grainy and caramelly malts, light leafy and fruity hops, with a light buttery corn hint
T - nice crispy bready malt, a mix of grassy, floral, and fruity hops with a slightly oily flavour, and buttery sweet grain taste
M - medium body that starts crisp and smooth, moving to a light hop bitter mixed with a somewhat oily feel, complex
D - a great mix of malt and hop flavours, complex feels from start to finish, and very easy drinking, this beer alone is worth the variety pack purchase
★ 630 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
from a St. Ambroise variety pack
A - very clear copper, with a tower of off white head that had very nice retention and lacing up the glass
S - grainy and caramelly malts, light leafy and fruity hops, with a light buttery corn hint
T - nice crispy bready malt, a mix of grassy, floral, and fruity hops with a slightly oily flavour, and buttery sweet grain taste
M - medium body that starts crisp and smooth, moving to a light hop bitter mixed with a somewhat oily feel, complex
D - a great mix of malt and hop flavours, complex feels from start to finish, and very easy drinking, this beer alone is worth the variety pack purchase
★ 630 characters
4.25/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a deep golden-amber into a pint glass with a frothy off-white head that recedes to a thin ring and leaves lots of web-like lacing in its wake.
The aroma is wonderful-- you're hit with a mix of pale and bready malt, and fruity, floral hops, just inviting you to delve further and have a drink.
The malt profile is a mix of bready and pale malt flavour, neither overpowering the other, but culminating in a slightly sweet flavour. The hops perfectly balance out the malt, with a fruity, slightly grassy flavour that also has hints of citrus.
Medium-bodied and moderately carbonated, this is my perfect session beer. Slightly hop-forward but well-balanced, this is a great option when introducing people to craft beer, or as a sixer to bring to a BBQ. This is my reliable go-to beer when I'm not sure what to pick up.
★ 824 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a deep golden-amber into a pint glass with a frothy off-white head that recedes to a thin ring and leaves lots of web-like lacing in its wake.
The aroma is wonderful-- you're hit with a mix of pale and bready malt, and fruity, floral hops, just inviting you to delve further and have a drink.
The malt profile is a mix of bready and pale malt flavour, neither overpowering the other, but culminating in a slightly sweet flavour. The hops perfectly balance out the malt, with a fruity, slightly grassy flavour that also has hints of citrus.
Medium-bodied and moderately carbonated, this is my perfect session beer. Slightly hop-forward but well-balanced, this is a great option when introducing people to craft beer, or as a sixer to bring to a BBQ. This is my reliable go-to beer when I'm not sure what to pick up.
★ 824 characters
4.05/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Draft poured into a pint glass
Appearance - The beer pours a golden amber colour with a massive off white foamy and frothy head. There is some excellent lacing and the head sticks around for a while.
Smell - I can smell toasted nuts, malts, a honey sweetness and some hops.
Taste & Mouth - The beer has an average mouth feel, it might benefit from a little more carbonation, but it is good nonetheless. It feels smooth and velvety, and the first thing I can pick up on is the bitter hops, followed by a cantaloupe like sweetness. The beer is medium bodied and finishes smooth with just a hint of sweet and sour. The finish comes through as a little watery, but still good.
Drink - A fantastic beer that is one of my go to's. Give it a try if you happen to see it on a menu.
★ 777 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Draft poured into a pint glass
Appearance - The beer pours a golden amber colour with a massive off white foamy and frothy head. There is some excellent lacing and the head sticks around for a while.
Smell - I can smell toasted nuts, malts, a honey sweetness and some hops.
Taste & Mouth - The beer has an average mouth feel, it might benefit from a little more carbonation, but it is good nonetheless. It feels smooth and velvety, and the first thing I can pick up on is the bitter hops, followed by a cantaloupe like sweetness. The beer is medium bodied and finishes smooth with just a hint of sweet and sour. The finish comes through as a little watery, but still good.
Drink - A fantastic beer that is one of my go to's. Give it a try if you happen to see it on a menu.
★ 777 characters
3.68/5 rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A great extra that i recieved from a great trader. Decided to crack this one open this afternoon. Served cold and poured into a pint glass, this one was consumed on 08/04/2010.
Pours a nice and clean amber color with a good sized head of about two inches that falls down quickly but leaves a ton of lacing down the sides of the glass.
aroma is light grains, hints of a small citric hop profile, touches of bready grains and a smooth biscuit like touch. Clean and very crisp taste, starts with a light touch of hops and follows through with nice bready malt character that comes through cleanly on the palate and offers a decent amount of balance. Nice and light, well carbonated body makes it a breeze to drink and seriously one of the most well rounded pales in terms of solid drinkability.
Overall a very nice representation of the style. Light, clean and easy to drink. Would have no issues with going after this one again.
★ 929 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A great extra that i recieved from a great trader. Decided to crack this one open this afternoon. Served cold and poured into a pint glass, this one was consumed on 08/04/2010.
Pours a nice and clean amber color with a good sized head of about two inches that falls down quickly but leaves a ton of lacing down the sides of the glass.
aroma is light grains, hints of a small citric hop profile, touches of bready grains and a smooth biscuit like touch. Clean and very crisp taste, starts with a light touch of hops and follows through with nice bready malt character that comes through cleanly on the palate and offers a decent amount of balance. Nice and light, well carbonated body makes it a breeze to drink and seriously one of the most well rounded pales in terms of solid drinkability.
Overall a very nice representation of the style. Light, clean and easy to drink. Would have no issues with going after this one again.
★ 929 characters
4/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I can't believe I haven't reviewed this beer as Ive had it numerous times. This pale ale pours with a fluffy white head, nice lacing and is copper in color.
Smells of pale bready malts, fruits and faint citric hopiness.
Has a good hop bitterness on the palate also more bread and malt sweetness. This is a well balanced easy drinking beer.
★ 341 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I can't believe I haven't reviewed this beer as Ive had it numerous times. This pale ale pours with a fluffy white head, nice lacing and is copper in color.
Smells of pale bready malts, fruits and faint citric hopiness.
Has a good hop bitterness on the palate also more bread and malt sweetness. This is a well balanced easy drinking beer.
★ 341 characters
3.86/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Courtesy of Liamt07, cheers!
A - finger of head disappearing to nice lace. Excellent orange amber, very good clarity.
S - Sweet malt, fruity/strawberry nose.
T - Bitter up front and in the back, but a malt sweetness coming through in the middle. Dry finish.
M - Carbonation a bit high maybe. The mouthfeel is sharp and the bitterness from the hops doesn't help.
D - I'd have another.
★ 392 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Courtesy of Liamt07, cheers!
A - finger of head disappearing to nice lace. Excellent orange amber, very good clarity.
S - Sweet malt, fruity/strawberry nose.
T - Bitter up front and in the back, but a malt sweetness coming through in the middle. Dry finish.
M - Carbonation a bit high maybe. The mouthfeel is sharp and the bitterness from the hops doesn't help.
D - I'd have another.
★ 392 characters
3.38/5 rDev -13.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Got this in trade courtesy of korguy123. 341 ML into a standard pint glass. Poured a golden amber with a two-finger head which dissapted rapidly to a coating. Nose has some floral elements up front, as well as some citrus, caramel and biscuit. Taste is slightly bitter with notes of coriander and orange, held up by the biscuity malt. There are some citrus hops but they aren't forward. Finish is slightly bitter and sticky. Carbonation is certainly visible but not felt. Mouthfeel is on the light side of medium. A decent APA but not my favorite style, for sure.
★ 563 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Got this in trade courtesy of korguy123. 341 ML into a standard pint glass. Poured a golden amber with a two-finger head which dissapted rapidly to a coating. Nose has some floral elements up front, as well as some citrus, caramel and biscuit. Taste is slightly bitter with notes of coriander and orange, held up by the biscuity malt. There are some citrus hops but they aren't forward. Finish is slightly bitter and sticky. Carbonation is certainly visible but not felt. Mouthfeel is on the light side of medium. A decent APA but not my favorite style, for sure.
★ 563 characters
4.08/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5
12oz poured into my SA Perfect Pint.
A- Clear copper color. 1 1/2 finger white head gracefully floating on top. Excellent lacing.
S- Sweet malts, mandarin, strawberries, yeasty bready smells.
T- Faint fruity (pineapple, strawberries, orange rind) earthy/bready. Excellent malt/hop balance.
M- Almost juicy feeling like an IPA but I was a little let down to how watery this feels to me.
D- Excellent pale ale from an excellent Canadian brewer. I could drink these things all day.
★ 483 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5
12oz poured into my SA Perfect Pint.
A- Clear copper color. 1 1/2 finger white head gracefully floating on top. Excellent lacing.
S- Sweet malts, mandarin, strawberries, yeasty bready smells.
T- Faint fruity (pineapple, strawberries, orange rind) earthy/bready. Excellent malt/hop balance.
M- Almost juicy feeling like an IPA but I was a little let down to how watery this feels to me.
D- Excellent pale ale from an excellent Canadian brewer. I could drink these things all day.
★ 483 characters
4.26/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured into a beer mug, coppery, deep amber with lots of bubbles rising moderately slowly all around. Two fingers of head that died back slowly around the glass leaving a pillowy centre that retained well and eventually died down to a film that stayed around for the duration and left nice lacing on the glass. Hard to beat that...looks really good.
Smell seemed fairly muted, a gentle mix of hops and malts. Nicely balanced, but it wasn't inspiring for whatever reason.
Taste, though, is great. Very very nice. Right from the get-go, an excellent balance of bready, malty, citrusy, lightly bitter hoppy, yummy flavours. It's really good.
Mouthfeel is moderate to full, with an excellent balance of carbonation to keep it even.
This is scary drinkable. Generally, I'm so-so on pale ales, but I really like this one. Highly recommended.
★ 840 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured into a beer mug, coppery, deep amber with lots of bubbles rising moderately slowly all around. Two fingers of head that died back slowly around the glass leaving a pillowy centre that retained well and eventually died down to a film that stayed around for the duration and left nice lacing on the glass. Hard to beat that...looks really good.
Smell seemed fairly muted, a gentle mix of hops and malts. Nicely balanced, but it wasn't inspiring for whatever reason.
Taste, though, is great. Very very nice. Right from the get-go, an excellent balance of bready, malty, citrusy, lightly bitter hoppy, yummy flavours. It's really good.
Mouthfeel is moderate to full, with an excellent balance of carbonation to keep it even.
This is scary drinkable. Generally, I'm so-so on pale ales, but I really like this one. Highly recommended.
★ 840 characters
4.05/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a nice dark gold with a thin white head, some nice lacing.
Smells of grassy grains and sweet malts and fruits, strawberries, and hint of hops in the aroma.
Tastes malty and sweet up front, some grassiness, pretty fruity with a nice hoppy finish. Not as hoppy as I would of liked but still a very good balance.
Decent mouthfeel, and highly drinkable. This is always a good refreshing beer to have on hand.
★ 413 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a nice dark gold with a thin white head, some nice lacing.
Smells of grassy grains and sweet malts and fruits, strawberries, and hint of hops in the aroma.
Tastes malty and sweet up front, some grassiness, pretty fruity with a nice hoppy finish. Not as hoppy as I would of liked but still a very good balance.
Decent mouthfeel, and highly drinkable. This is always a good refreshing beer to have on hand.
★ 413 characters
4/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
McAuslan Pale Ale pours a pleasing golden color with a slightly off-white head.
The smell has a breadiness, a citrus quality and a bit sweetness.
Taste is balanced with all of the above-listed notes playing a part. The flavor is more like an English Pale Ale than an APA to me.
Mouthfeel is medium-bodied with a slight, pleasant aftertaste.
Drinkability is pretty good. It would be no trouble to enjoy a few of these at a sitting. Recommended.
★ 447 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
McAuslan Pale Ale pours a pleasing golden color with a slightly off-white head.
The smell has a breadiness, a citrus quality and a bit sweetness.
Taste is balanced with all of the above-listed notes playing a part. The flavor is more like an English Pale Ale than an APA to me.
Mouthfeel is medium-bodied with a slight, pleasant aftertaste.
Drinkability is pretty good. It would be no trouble to enjoy a few of these at a sitting. Recommended.
★ 447 characters
2.6/5 rDev -33.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Poured into a pint glass from a bottle. One finger of quickly dissipating head. A warm golden shade with steady lacing throughout the drink.
Fully alcoholic scent, few other scents, off malt notes?.
No real hop profile to speak of. If this is a pale ale, it's a very tame one. Not even a lingering flavor. While highly drinkable and probably appealing to even the most novice of beer newbies, but there's nothing unique or special here.
Note: My opinion didn't change throughout the six pack.
★ 496 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Poured into a pint glass from a bottle. One finger of quickly dissipating head. A warm golden shade with steady lacing throughout the drink.
Fully alcoholic scent, few other scents, off malt notes?.
No real hop profile to speak of. If this is a pale ale, it's a very tame one. Not even a lingering flavor. While highly drinkable and probably appealing to even the most novice of beer newbies, but there's nothing unique or special here.
Note: My opinion didn't change throughout the six pack.
★ 496 characters
3.92/5 rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a 341ml bottle into my Duvel tulip. Golden brown colour, with a few fingers of head (poured a bit aggressively on my part by accident) that settled down to a small layer head for the remainder of the beer; web-like lacing too. Smell of sweet hops, a bit of hops in there. Taste is good, pretty balanced with a nice bitterness and the sweet, kind of sugary malt flavour with it too. Good mouthfeel, medium/low carbonation and definitely sessionable in terms of drinkability! Solid pale ale.
★ 501 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a 341ml bottle into my Duvel tulip. Golden brown colour, with a few fingers of head (poured a bit aggressively on my part by accident) that settled down to a small layer head for the remainder of the beer; web-like lacing too. Smell of sweet hops, a bit of hops in there. Taste is good, pretty balanced with a nice bitterness and the sweet, kind of sugary malt flavour with it too. Good mouthfeel, medium/low carbonation and definitely sessionable in terms of drinkability! Solid pale ale.
★ 501 characters
St-Ambroise Pale Ale from McAuslan Brewing
3.92
out of 5
based on 410 ratings.
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
I've had this brew on tap a few times before, but this is my first chance to really sit down with it. From a four pack picked up at the LCBO.
Poured into a nonic glass. A stunning colour - really fantastic - copper golden, clear, and with a few bubbles rising from the depths. Terrific sticky lacing up and down the glass, good retention on the 1/2 inch head. Looks brilliant.
Nose is malty, with soft notes of peach, apple, caramel and grassy hops.
This is one tasty little pale ale - sweet at first, with a crisp cracker malt flavor, fruit and caramel, followed by a palate cleansing bitter hop finish with a touch of tart apple. Woodsy. The sweetness is a bit off pace, but generally speaking St. Ambroise is a pleasure to drink.
Crisp carbonation, slightly creamy, medium-thin bodied.
Would make for a fine session beer over the course of an evening. Pricy, but certainly worth a pickup. Another great brew from a great Quebec brewery!
★ 945 characters