Sweet Amber Ale
Hawks Brewing

This beer is already extinct, as Hawks went out of business at the end of June, 2006. But there may still be a few bottles in circulation in which case I strongly recommend grabbing one if you can. “Sweet Amber” was brewed in August 2005. It is actually a barleywine and was supposed to be released earlier than spring 2006 but, as I understand it, Hawks originally wanted to give this brew another name – one that involved the word “ass” and wasn’t getting the green light from the regulatory agencies that approve bottle labels. With their impending demise, Hawks quickly bottled this beer under a less controversial name and slapped the cheapest paper label it could on the bomber.

But the name and label betray the true majesty of this ale. It is classically warm honey-amber with a notably well-sustained head derived from a rolling boil of carbonation. The aroma is a light waft of honeycomb with luscious notes of ripe strawberry, apricot, and plum. The taste has mellow fruited contours with American-style bittering. Alcohol flavor is negligible.

Given the opportunity to breathe, Sweet Amber releases greater malt aroma over time. The infinitesimally small bubbles feed a rounded mouthfeel. A residual sugary stickiness lingers on the glass.

Hawks Sweet Amber has potent sustain in every dimension. All this and it goes supremely well with cold chicken.

A classy last waltz for Hawks, a respected pioneer in organic brewing.