Ambree 5.2º
Brasserie De Monaco

Cost is a cunting 7 euro a pint at the brewpub.

Billed as an Amber, Ambree's dark colour is suggestive more of a stout...until one takes a closer look. Translucence at the bottom of the beer/glass reveals it's indeed an Amber - albeit a very dark one. Head is creamy, soft-looking, and long-lasting (with a 10+ minute retention), though its frothy khaki colour head is also more in line with a stout. Leaves no lacing as it recedes.

Aroma is faint chocolate malt, Amber malts, cream, dark malt sweetness, even Hazelnut. Caramel. The malt backbone seems quite fresh. Aromatic intensity is average. Suggests an Amber with a stout bend, and surprising subtlety.

Taste is, again, stout-redolent, with chocolate malt and cream dominating the flavour profile, in addition to some pleasant hazelnut. Amber and dark malt sweetness gives this its moderately sweet taste, and though it's not cloying I do find myself wishing for some balancing toastiness or even roasty bitterness.

Texture is creamy and medium, packing a bit more oomph and weight than the flavour profile warrants. Smooth, wet, well-carbonated. It's shockingly thin and weak on the palate in spite of its weight and body, having almost a nitro-draught feel.

Overall, it's not a gestalt whole of a beer and its stout leanings throw it out of Amber ale style conventions. Though drinkable, its price point will prevent most drinkers from craving another. Especially with far better executed beers in the style available even in adjacent France. I don't care for it much, mainly due to its poor mouthfeel and unbalanced taste. Definitely a subpar Amber.

That said, I do have to concede it's easily in the Top 5 beers brewed in the entire country at the time of this writing - if only on a facetious technicality. I wouldn't recommend it to others, but I'm glad I tried it.

C-

 

Tall 0.3 litre glass on the outside of the brewpub on 18th Sep 2013: the beer I liked the most out of the three they had on that day.

Murky brown/amber body, not much of a head arrived with the beer.

Caramel and other malty molasses type aromas (toffee mostly), it had a sweet smell and the taste followed suit. There was a slight hop bitterness in the finish, but otherwise this was just a basic sweet cloudy amber brew (and their best for my taste buds).

On tap at the brewpub. Ordered a wheat and wound up with this...lost in translation.

Sweet, unusual floral aroma. Copper caramel color. Full body and balanced with a slight edge to maltiness. Caramel flavor comes through as it warms. Slight frutiness.

Funny that as I reviewed it as a wheat, I was able to pick up the amber traits. Becoming a better reviewer I hope.

Slight hazy deep amber with half finger off-white head, dense patchy lacing. Aroma is sweetish malt.

Taste is toasty sweetish malt with very low fruity esters, hints of nuts and dry finish with sweet citrusy aftertaste. Mouthfeel is light with average carbonation.

Overall, the beer is quite good, but there are better beers made by this brewery.