Sunset Amber
Ocean Lab Brewing Company

The beer sytle that's largely forgotten by brewers but find a soft spot in the hearts of seasoned beer drinkers, the American Amber Ale finds comfort at Ocean Lab Brewing.

Deep honey amber, Sunset Amber pours expectedly dark and red with hints of brown and copper before resting underneath a soft eggshell froth. As a melange of toasted sweetness aligns with citrusy hops, the aromas include hints of pine and fresh grass clippings. As the taste reveals a deep caramelization that includes toffee and toast, subtle suggestions of coffee and nuttiness arise. Balanced with citrusy hops, the flavors develop a caramelized grapefruit and orange zestiness before developing a balancing bitterness of peppery pine, woodsy and grassy flavors.

Medium bodied and bitter-sweet, the session wraps up with an even-keel balance with an extended ho bitterness that slightly outlasts the malt sweetness.

12 ounce draft pour at the brewery.

Dark ruby brown with one inch persistent white head. Thick foam leaves some lace.
Aroma is malty and a bit English. Taste is more hoppy with moderate woody bitterness. Medium-weight smooth body, moderate carbonation. An OK hoppy amber overall.

L - amber with a an off-white head that dissipates somewhat quickly leaving behind a thin cap
S - some nice hop bitterness with some caramel malt and biscuit notes
T - follows the nose - some hop bitterness, caramel and toasted biscuit notes. Slight honey
F - light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation
O - not too much going on, better than a madella but not by much

Poured from 12oz bottle into a tumbler.

Appearance: medium amber hue with a light effervescence and just a dash of haze. Head is a thin finger of frothy ivory foam. Pretty much looks the part.

Smell: toasty malt with a rather biscuity note and a little bit of fruitiness. Overall, it's pretty light; not bad, but I don't love the biscuity character.

Taste: the fruitiness and toastiness continue through to the flavor; but the finish is rather bitter and astringent for the style. Up front it's OK, but the finish isn't great.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a pretty good level of carbonation and creaminess. Actually not too bad.

Overall: this beer isn't terrible, but I just can't get past that rather harsh finish.

 

 

Presentation: 12 oz. brown bottle with no dates, served in a Samuel Adams pint glass.

Appearance: It's a beautiful, crystal clear, deep, dark amber color. It actually leans
more towards a reddish brown. The one and a quarter finger head goes away pretty quickly leaving behind a lot of lacing that coats the entire glass.

Smell: It's a sweet, mostly malty aroma with notes of caramel and honey.

Taste: It's quite complex. It starts off with some hoppy bitterness and orange peel, moves towards some sweet caramel and lightly toasted malt notes and finally ends with a hint of coffee in the aftertaste which is nice.

Mouthfeel: It's medium bodied, very smooth and quite dry with medium-high carbonation.

Overall: A stronger-than average amber with a nice variety of flavors and beautiful looks. A very well made and interesting beer.

 

citrus, minimal hops; not much going for it.