St-Ambroise Érable
McAuslan Brewing

St-Ambroise ÉrableSt-Ambroise Érable
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From:
McAuslan Brewing
 
Quebec, Canada
Style:
Herb and Spice Beer
ABV:
4.5%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.73 | pDev: 15.28%
Reviews:
12
Ratings:
42
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 15, 2020
Added:
Feb 25, 2013
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  10
St-Ambroise celebrates the unique traditions Maple sugaring. With its combination of the best hops, crystal malt, roasted barley and real maple syrup from Quebec, it is the perfect beer for your next visit to the cabin. Cheers!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by SenorBiggles:
Photo of SenorBiggles
Rated by SenorBiggles from Canada (ON)

3.08/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
The maple flavour masks most of the other flavours. I found it rather fake-tasting and one-dimensional, although at least it's not too sweet.
Jun 17, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of Shanex
Reviewed by Shanex from France

3.9/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Bought in a local beer store

Labeled as a « maple beer » from Quebec, Canada.

Poured the bottle into my Chimay chalice leaving a very thin white head fading fast.

On the nose, maple and caramel notes

On the palate, syrupy and maple - no warmth of alcohol and fairly refreshing.

Overall: an interesting take on the genre and I liked it, a bit pricey considering the shipping here but worth it for a change.
Jan 15, 2020
 
Rated: 3.77 by Eltrandos from France

Sep 15, 2019
Photo of josanguapo
Reviewed by josanguapo from Spain

4.03/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
De Hopt.es. En copa Teku. Jugando a Los Pilares de la Tierra. Muy conseguido el sabor a jarabe de arce, otorgádole un perfil original sin saturar. Muy buena sensación en boca, invitando a trago largo.
Mar 29, 2019
 
Rated: 2.92 by Johnnyrafer from California

Jul 13, 2018
 
Rated: 3.56 by kylepod from Canada (QC)

Jun 03, 2018
Photo of Organdrew
Reviewed by Organdrew from Canada (QC)

4.06/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Bought a 4-pack for 9$ +tax. Poured into a flute-like glass at 5 Celsius.

Appearance: Pours a maple colored liquid which turns ruby-amber-cola when glass is filled. Not really any head, Noticeable bubbly carbonation.

Aroma: Sweet, syrupy, maple, malts, coffee-like, butterscotch. Smells like I'm drinking weak coffee.

Taste: Yum! Notes of maple and butterscotch immediately pervade the mouth. Which subsides to leave a bit of hop backbone noticeable. Almost coffee-like at times.

Mouthfeel: Lots of carbonation at first. More on the thin side. Not sticky or syrupy. Carbonation subsides quick enough.

Overall: It's an amber ale with mild hop backbone with strong and sweet notes of maple and butterscotch. Easy drinking, low IBU.

A real tasty treat. It's less on strength and complexity, but more focused on the maple notes, which is the highlight of the drink. Fairly well put together with no downside beside feeling a bit lighter than I like. I definitely recommend if you'd like to try something new. or need something easy to session. I finished a glass in 10 minutes it's so easy to drink.

I would definitely try again, but wouldn't put this on the top for the best beer, but good for those who like something sweeter and lighter.

Unfortunately they sell only in 4-packs in Montreal and at the same price or higher than 6-packs of other beers, but definitely worth trying.
Apr 08, 2018
 
Rated: 4.81 by Nattesferd from Italy

Dec 23, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by Beer-Ed from Netherlands

Aug 24, 2017
Photo of Poljazz22
Reviewed by Poljazz22 from Canada (QC)

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours same color as maple syrup!
Smells like maple taffy!
Tastes like a red ale, lots of malty toasty flavors, maple syrup on snow, Nicely balanced English hops. This not a sweet belgian beer but a real maple tasting ale. The maple flavor comes back as a dry maple aftertaste.
A well balanced special maple brew from St-Ambroise. Well worth a try if you find it.

Bought at Loblaws (Provigo ) here in Montreal. $12 canadian fora 4 pack.
P.S Bought again, the 2018 version is excellent also!
Apr 16, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by Mack from Canada (QC)

Mar 08, 2017
 
Rated: 2.76 by -chii- from Canada (QC)

May 23, 2016
Photo of ChrisCage
Reviewed by ChrisCage from Canada (AB)

4.19/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A- This pours a crystal clear copper color with perhaps maple undertones and has hints of orange/red when put up against the light. The carbonation is easy to see and rises to the top in an aggressive fashion....there seems to be plenty of it too! The head is relatively thin, but the dense looking layer retains well! The lacing is soapy looking and softly clings to the side of my glass!

S- There is a medley of dessert like aromas happening with this one....there are hints of delicious smelling Quebec maple syrup that has just been freshly tapped initially, with underlying tones of brown sugar, toffee/caramel, milky chocolate, nuts and yeasty toasted biscuits!!

T- The flavors follow the aromas rather well, with maple sugar or syrup being a very nice initial flavor to be detected....what I like about it is that is isn't super sweet or overpowering on the palate....it's rather clean in fact! There are lesser flavors of caramel, toffee, brown sugar and what I do notice is that the flavors all taste very natural and right on the end near the swallow, there is an Earthy woodiness about everything that cleanses the palate and rounds everything out! The finish could perhaps have mellow hop bitterness, but again, doesn't overpower any of the other things going on....wonderful!!

M/O- Overall this is a very nice Ale that blends sweet and savory characteristics together well! The maple added is just the right amount and I feel that this would pair up with a creme brule or with a chocolate caramel truffle dessert. The body leans towards the medium side of things and the carbonation is mellow overall. This is highly drinkable and I feel like it would appease most palates! Another job well done by this Montreal brewery!!
Apr 28, 2016
Photo of Max8787
Rated by Max8787 from Canada (QC)

4.17/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Way better than expected. Well balanced; perfect to pair with a sugar shack meal or a brunch
Mar 28, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by rugene from Canada (QC)

Mar 28, 2016
 
Rated: 2.02 by MetalCath from Canada (QC)

Mar 17, 2016
 
Rated: 3.94 by Tivlavrie from Canada (AB)

Jul 01, 2015
Photo of Pmicdee
Rated by Pmicdee from Canada (ON)

4.75/5  rDev +27.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
One of the best maple beers you can get.
May 14, 2015
Photo of DaveBar
Reviewed by DaveBar from Canada (ON)

4.02/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Purchased at the LCBO as a single. Served at 4deg C in a draught glass

A- Opens well and pours a nice 1" head that lasts for a couple of minutes before film out. Dark gold/light brown color and filtered clear

N- Hints of maple syrup is there. Not overpowering

T- Nice maple sugar flavor. Very nice memory of a sugar shack came back LOL. Some nutmeg and very slight cinnamon. Bubble gum aftertaste

M- Creamy good. Very refreshing for a heavier beer

O- Nice brew. Will buy again if I see it.

Food Pairing

This very good blend went well with........ Bacon and eggs with you guessed it! Maple syrup!

Enjoy
May 11, 2015
Photo of thehyperduck
Reviewed by thehyperduck from Canada (ON)

4.07/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
341 mL bottle from a 4-pack picked up at the LCBO; best before Nov 30 2015 and served slightly chilled.

Pours an intensely deep copper-crimson colour, clear in complexion and topped off with one finger of loose, soapy off-white froth. It wilts fairly rapidly over the next couple of minutes, leaving behind a thin, frothy collar; no lace or cap. I've had a handful of maple beers over the years, but none of them managed to capture the aroma of pure syrup as effectively as this one does. Beneath that layer of maple-y goodness, notes of demerara sugar, maraschino cherry, Medjool dates and toasted, biscuity malts come through, with some leafy, lightly floral English hoppage off in the background. Very enticing.

Yep, this one's a winner. It's quite malt-forward, particularly initially - with bready malt, toasted biscuits and some nutty notes interacting beautifully with the maple syrup flavour. Sponge toffee sweetness and mild hints of wood are next in line, finishing with some leafy, floral hop notes - similar to what I found on the nose, but not as pronounced here, as the maple and malt bill tends to steamroll the hops. Lingering maple flavour in the aftertaste, along with some nuances of toasted nut. Medium-bodied, with moderate carbonation levels that result in a crisp, exceptionally smooth mouthfeel. This is a flat-out delicious beer that I find extremely quaffable, despite its relative lack of balance.

Final Grade: 4.07, a solid A-. St-Ambroise Érable is almost definitely the best maple-themed beer I've yet had the pleasure to try. If you're curious about this one because you're a syrup fanatic, then rest assured - the maple has more than enough oomph to satisfy you - but not so much that it is liable to become cloying to those outside of that camp. This is a superbly sessionable amber ale; one that deserves to be brought into this province every spring. Absolutely worth a try - McAuslan rarely disappoints, and this brew is no exception.
Apr 29, 2015
St-Ambroise Érable from McAuslan Brewing
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 42 ratings