James Squire Amber Ale
Malt Shovel Brewery

James Squire Amber AleJames Squire Amber Ale
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From:
Malt Shovel Brewery
 
Australia
Style:
English Brown Ale
ABV:
5%
Score:
80
Avg:
3.47 | pDev: 14.41%
Reviews:
70
Ratings:
111
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jun 03, 2021
Added:
Feb 18, 2002
Wants:
  7
Gots:
  6
No description / notes.
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Ratings by foles:
Photo of foles
Reviewed by foles from Australia

3.53/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A pretty solid ale - it has the characteristics of an english ale, but scaled right down to suit the average aussie drinker who may not be familiar with the style. Subtle english noble hop presence, with a possibly excessive caramel backbone. Somewhat watery and lacking body, but this doesnt detract too much from the overall product.

Was well served with a decent head and looked impressive with the coppery transparent hue.

Not too bad. Seems better on draught than in the bottle in my opinion.
Jul 02, 2008
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.28 by Daneve76 from Australia

Jun 03, 2021
Photo of Nomad54
Reviewed by Nomad54 from District of Columbia

1.06/5  rDev -69.5%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.25 | overall: 1
From a bottle in Port Douglas, Australia. Would I buy it again: Never. Too boring.

A- Light amber color.

S- Enough smell that you know it's beer.

T- Not enough. Boring
Nov 17, 2016
 
Rated: 3.61 by benloho from Utah

Aug 24, 2015
Photo of Brad071
Reviewed by Brad071 from Australia

4.53/5  rDev +30.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This is the beer that gave me my epiphany about beer. The one that started the whole "there's more to life than Tooheys New and VB"...I love this one as it is so rich and creamy, but goes down soooo smoothly on a hot afternoon.
May 23, 2015
Photo of Act25
Reviewed by Act25 from New Jersey

3.35/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Just off the plane in Sydney, after walking the city and buying gifts for the family, I'm ready to check in my hotel and while I wait, after many excellent macchiatos around town, a brown amber ale.

A: Poured a dark cloudy amber. A tad thin, short lived copper head, but unlike other reviewers, not much of a head or lacing.

S: Classic English Brown Ale profile, with malt, a bit medicinal, caramel. Too faint.

T: Best part of the beer, more sweet than bitter. A bit thin, but only a little hop. Pleasant but watery, and this is not my style. Never had one I liked.

F: Not a bad finish, good with pub food, and still too malty for me, modest carbonation and a nice crispness in the finish.

O: Better than fosters, this James Squire is the patriot, original convict brewer of AUS. One must try 1, but then move on.
Apr 18, 2015
 
Rated: 3.4 by Spaceman_Jer from Colorado

Feb 03, 2015
 
Rated: 3.43 by foster07 from Australia

Jan 20, 2015
Photo of Beerhunter500
Rated by Beerhunter500

4.35/5  rDev +25.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
My aussie beer of choice lovely toasted caramel feel
Jan 15, 2015
Photo of SmashPants
Reviewed by SmashPants from Australia

3.93/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Format: a good solid 345mL brown bottle with a reasonable boutique label. Personally I preferred the old labels, but hey - as long as the beer tastes the same!

Appearance: pours out a deep copper bronze with a light cloud. A half-finger of off-white head lasts for a good time. decent lace.

Aroma: moderate aromas of earthy hops, nuts and toasted bread malts. Smells good.

Taste: quite a dry earth quality with some grass hops. The bitterness builds with time. There is a warming alcohol behind. Nice.

Aftertaste: a lovely secondary warmth from the alcohol, bringing the flavours back full-strength.

Mouth feel: moderate in body with a smooth feel. A moderate amount of carbonation brings the flavours forward well.

Overall: at $55 a case, this one is well and truly worth-while. Tasty, sessional and well-rounded. One of my favourites to be had in a session, a great Australian beer.
Dec 11, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by NeoClassicist from New York

Sep 12, 2014
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Rated by samparkique4 from England

3.75/5  rDev +8.1%
with
Hot and spicy Mexican style salsa and pasta sauce is goody
caramel nutty and nutty ambery tone is supporting on palate
3.89/5
Aug 30, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Stuckey_Stuckey from Australia

Aug 12, 2014
 
Rated: 2 by Kroehny_Loves_Hops from Australia

May 27, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Bobhoya from Arizona

Feb 20, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by Vanz from Australia

Feb 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by MylesMac from Canada (MB)

Nov 28, 2013
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

3.74/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
one of my staple aussie beers. one of my first loves as far as craft beer goes, and one of the only sweet beers I actually like. it pours a clear coppery red color, with a robust lace head just off white. aromatics of rich red malt, sweet caramel, and of all things roasted corn. its got that starchy sweetness and late summer vibe. the taste is malty of course, but its layered, with various sweets from honey to toffee to molasses each appearing and receding. not a whole lot of hops here, just some English bittering stuff towards the finish. the feel is great too, its clean for a sweeter beer, not a big long drying aftertaste but a short burst of fresh grains followed by basically nothing. unique in the beer world, especially in this style. good enough bubbles, hyper refreshing when ice cold, and one of the better james squire offerings. I cant tell you how many liters of this I consumed from 2007-2010! wish we could get this in the united states through commercial rather than subversive avenues.
Oct 15, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by LathouXaris from Australia

Sep 15, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by Agentveba from North Carolina

Sep 12, 2013
James Squire Amber Ale from Malt Shovel Brewery
Beer rating: 80 out of 100 with 111 ratings