Ambrosia Maibock | Elysian Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Elysian Brewing Company
Washington, United States
elysianbrewing.com
Style: Maibock / Helles Bock
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.59%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by kbub6f on 05-11-2003
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 25 | Reviews: 16
Reviews by NorCalYeti:
More User Reviews:
2.81/5 rDev -24.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Appearance Thick, orange body underneath a big head that went down fairly quickly and left just a tad of lacing.
Smell This smells like a vanilla coke with malt and melted butter. The vanilla is overpowering. Ive never smelled a beer like this before in my life. Truly bizarre.
Taste The big vanilla and butter flavors come out even more in the taste. I can sense the malt thats typical of the style, but there are some weird flavors in this one.
Drinkabilty This was actually quite smooth. Strange, but smooth.
Comments I hate to be the lowball (twice in one day) but I cant for the life of me figure out what this awesome brewery was trying to do here.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Appearance Thick, orange body underneath a big head that went down fairly quickly and left just a tad of lacing.
Smell This smells like a vanilla coke with malt and melted butter. The vanilla is overpowering. Ive never smelled a beer like this before in my life. Truly bizarre.
Taste The big vanilla and butter flavors come out even more in the taste. I can sense the malt thats typical of the style, but there are some weird flavors in this one.
Drinkabilty This was actually quite smooth. Strange, but smooth.
Comments I hate to be the lowball (twice in one day) but I cant for the life of me figure out what this awesome brewery was trying to do here.
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3.8/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Review from 4/2010 notes. Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a dark orange amber with a fine white head with decent retention. Aroma of sweet malt and light fruit. Flavor is malt, maybe a touch of wood, light fruit and citrus. Finishes with light hops and tannic dryness. Main flavor is nice, but finishes a bit bitter. Medium bodied. A pleasant, somewhat understated maibock.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Review from 4/2010 notes. Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a dark orange amber with a fine white head with decent retention. Aroma of sweet malt and light fruit. Flavor is malt, maybe a touch of wood, light fruit and citrus. Finishes with light hops and tannic dryness. Main flavor is nice, but finishes a bit bitter. Medium bodied. A pleasant, somewhat understated maibock.
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4.32/5 rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This helles style beer pours somewhat cloudy copper with a light yellowish two finger head that exhibits moderate retention and minimal lacing. The nose is full of malt. It smells like a hot batch of wort, which is fantastic. Almost no hops can be detected in the nose. Inhaling as the beer is entering your mouth makes nearly manifest the malty sweetness that follows when the beer is actually on the palate. There is a spicy hop undercurrent for the duration of the drink, but the malt is the predominate taste. That said the beer is very balanced. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and soft. Its fresh while not being particularly crisp. This is a very drinkable beer. Very good for spring or autumn days.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This helles style beer pours somewhat cloudy copper with a light yellowish two finger head that exhibits moderate retention and minimal lacing. The nose is full of malt. It smells like a hot batch of wort, which is fantastic. Almost no hops can be detected in the nose. Inhaling as the beer is entering your mouth makes nearly manifest the malty sweetness that follows when the beer is actually on the palate. There is a spicy hop undercurrent for the duration of the drink, but the malt is the predominate taste. That said the beer is very balanced. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and soft. Its fresh while not being particularly crisp. This is a very drinkable beer. Very good for spring or autumn days.
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3.45/5 rDev -7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
pours a semi-hazy dark orange with a large off-white head, and great lacing.
smell has some sweetness, fruit, light spice, and a little floral.
taste is sweet yet a little tart, malt, a little spice, toasted hops in back, and slightly bitter, ends somewhat sweet, and a little bitter.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
pours a semi-hazy dark orange with a large off-white head, and great lacing.
smell has some sweetness, fruit, light spice, and a little floral.
taste is sweet yet a little tart, malt, a little spice, toasted hops in back, and slightly bitter, ends somewhat sweet, and a little bitter.
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3.88/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from 22oz bomber into a pint glass. My bottle indicates 5.9% ABV rather than the 6.59% listed above.
Appearance: rich orange hue with nice effervescence and a touch of haze. Two fingers of fizzy ivory head crown the beer.
Smell: sweet, fruity malt aroma. Nice, but quite light; I would have liked a little more intensity.
Taste: nice malty flavor with hints of caramel and biscuit malt. Less of the fruity character that is present in the aroma, but there's still a nice little hint of pear in there. Bitterness is present but comes in right at the end ... a pretty pleasing experience.
Mouthfeel: medium-light body with a big fizziness that makes for a creamy feel. I like it.
Drinkability: quite refreshing, despite the ABV. This would be killer on a hot day in the sun; I'd gladly drink this again.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from 22oz bomber into a pint glass. My bottle indicates 5.9% ABV rather than the 6.59% listed above.
Appearance: rich orange hue with nice effervescence and a touch of haze. Two fingers of fizzy ivory head crown the beer.
Smell: sweet, fruity malt aroma. Nice, but quite light; I would have liked a little more intensity.
Taste: nice malty flavor with hints of caramel and biscuit malt. Less of the fruity character that is present in the aroma, but there's still a nice little hint of pear in there. Bitterness is present but comes in right at the end ... a pretty pleasing experience.
Mouthfeel: medium-light body with a big fizziness that makes for a creamy feel. I like it.
Drinkability: quite refreshing, despite the ABV. This would be killer on a hot day in the sun; I'd gladly drink this again.
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3.6/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Medium gold color. Small head. Aroma is malty, sweet and fruity. Malty and somewhat hoppy. Complex flavor, somewhat oaky with a hint of vanilla. Nicely balanced. Mouthfeel is full, round and rich. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter
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look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Medium gold color. Small head. Aroma is malty, sweet and fruity. Malty and somewhat hoppy. Complex flavor, somewhat oaky with a hint of vanilla. Nicely balanced. Mouthfeel is full, round and rich. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter
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3.08/5 rDev -17.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Had on-tap at Elysian Brewery in Seattle.
Pours a clear golden hue, with a minimal, but pleasant creamy white head. Some sudsy lace forms. Body is very light, leaving swirling, very free carbonation. Looks decent enough.
Nose is mild and sweet, with very little else going for it. No bite, no phenolics, no hops. I mean, not much of anything, to be honest. There's the malt, a hint of sweat and that sugary note which makes up the bulk of it. It's like really bland toffee.
Taste is similar. Some honey characters with some malt and a bit of a grainy, savoury note towards the back. There are some phenolics here, but they're the only thing which provide anything in the way of a cut to the sweetness. Feel is smooth, but it's a brief glimpse of something better in an otherwise very dull wasteland.
Pretty bland and uninteresting. I can't say I'm overly impressed. It's neither stylistically very good, or interesting, and to be honest, I'd prefer Elysian to just try to be interesting.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Had on-tap at Elysian Brewery in Seattle.
Pours a clear golden hue, with a minimal, but pleasant creamy white head. Some sudsy lace forms. Body is very light, leaving swirling, very free carbonation. Looks decent enough.
Nose is mild and sweet, with very little else going for it. No bite, no phenolics, no hops. I mean, not much of anything, to be honest. There's the malt, a hint of sweat and that sugary note which makes up the bulk of it. It's like really bland toffee.
Taste is similar. Some honey characters with some malt and a bit of a grainy, savoury note towards the back. There are some phenolics here, but they're the only thing which provide anything in the way of a cut to the sweetness. Feel is smooth, but it's a brief glimpse of something better in an otherwise very dull wasteland.
Pretty bland and uninteresting. I can't say I'm overly impressed. It's neither stylistically very good, or interesting, and to be honest, I'd prefer Elysian to just try to be interesting.
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4.17/5 rDev +12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2003 22oz bomber bought from the fridge at the brewpub in Seattle, a week and a half in my fridge, reviewed 45F-65F.
A small, dense, cream-colored head leaves thin, spotty, sticky lacing. The beer is mostly clear, with a deep amber color.
Sweet caramel dominates the nose, but there's a little grapes smell in there too. And a little grass. The front is nice, with some sweet toffee. The middle is creamy, sweet dark malt with some hops starting to make an annoucement. The finish is quite hoppy and the aftertaste shows some grain.
I had this on tap at the brewpub, but the bottle tastes quite a bit different: more hops, less medicine. I think I like the bottle better with the big malt start and the big hop finish. If I could get this locally I might end up drinking quite a bit of it.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2003 22oz bomber bought from the fridge at the brewpub in Seattle, a week and a half in my fridge, reviewed 45F-65F.
A small, dense, cream-colored head leaves thin, spotty, sticky lacing. The beer is mostly clear, with a deep amber color.
Sweet caramel dominates the nose, but there's a little grapes smell in there too. And a little grass. The front is nice, with some sweet toffee. The middle is creamy, sweet dark malt with some hops starting to make an annoucement. The finish is quite hoppy and the aftertaste shows some grain.
I had this on tap at the brewpub, but the bottle tastes quite a bit different: more hops, less medicine. I think I like the bottle better with the big malt start and the big hop finish. If I could get this locally I might end up drinking quite a bit of it.
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3.48/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Deep claer orange color with a huge head from a rather gentle pour. Head slowly fades and leave decent lacing.
S - Sweet caramel malts dominate the nose. A fruitiness lingers underneath, a little grape juice perchance.
T - Very bready maltiness with hints of caramel. Very straight forward taste. Not good, not bad. Light fruitiness still ingers in the taste as well.
M/D - Medium bodied and a very sessionable beer. The lack of taste brings the drinkability down a notch, but overall, very drinkable.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Deep claer orange color with a huge head from a rather gentle pour. Head slowly fades and leave decent lacing.
S - Sweet caramel malts dominate the nose. A fruitiness lingers underneath, a little grape juice perchance.
T - Very bready maltiness with hints of caramel. Very straight forward taste. Not good, not bad. Light fruitiness still ingers in the taste as well.
M/D - Medium bodied and a very sessionable beer. The lack of taste brings the drinkability down a notch, but overall, very drinkable.
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4.07/5 rDev +9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
paired this vs. boulevard's maibock in an attempt to convince a dear friend that a Maibock can be delicious.
Shazam! A cloud of orange rises from the bottom of the glass, a nice little head on her and the floral and earthy hops arise, ascending to my nose, playing off the malt sweetness. it is a touch sweet, but the hops come to thieve the beer, delivering just the right punch of hops, fragrant, but not overpowering.
this is delightful, and i quickly switch glasses so i am not left with the boulevard. 22 oz of this amongst 3 people was gone before the 12 of the boule.
i hope on my next trip to the Elysian, that i might have this on tap. as long as they don't have 3 more new exciting beers. we can only hope.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
paired this vs. boulevard's maibock in an attempt to convince a dear friend that a Maibock can be delicious.
Shazam! A cloud of orange rises from the bottom of the glass, a nice little head on her and the floral and earthy hops arise, ascending to my nose, playing off the malt sweetness. it is a touch sweet, but the hops come to thieve the beer, delivering just the right punch of hops, fragrant, but not overpowering.
this is delightful, and i quickly switch glasses so i am not left with the boulevard. 22 oz of this amongst 3 people was gone before the 12 of the boule.
i hope on my next trip to the Elysian, that i might have this on tap. as long as they don't have 3 more new exciting beers. we can only hope.
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3.89/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Sampled in a 16oz Straight Pint at the Brewery.
Soft grainy aroma in a light orangey golden beer with just the barest hint of haze (Nothing compared to the Bete Blanche)
As the beer warms and CO2 evolves cardamom appears in the nose's closing touches.
Body is thick and viscous and sweet with a grassy grainy flavor in the front and a sharp hint of acid in the finish.
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look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Sampled in a 16oz Straight Pint at the Brewery.
Soft grainy aroma in a light orangey golden beer with just the barest hint of haze (Nothing compared to the Bete Blanche)
As the beer warms and CO2 evolves cardamom appears in the nose's closing touches.
Body is thick and viscous and sweet with a grassy grainy flavor in the front and a sharp hint of acid in the finish.
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3.91/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a reddish gold, very slightly cloudy, big head and very slight lacing that slides right back down into the beer. Fairly carbonated, and a little sediment at the bottom of the glass. Smells slightly sour but mostly yeasty.
Taste is malty and sweet with a long lasting bitter aftertaste (maybe tannic) -- not hoppy or piney at all. Great summer beer.
Mouthfeel is good -- thick and bready, makes me want more beer. Quite drinkable -- it's not so bitter it's hard to drink, and it's not so sweet it's overwhelming. Pretty well balanced.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a reddish gold, very slightly cloudy, big head and very slight lacing that slides right back down into the beer. Fairly carbonated, and a little sediment at the bottom of the glass. Smells slightly sour but mostly yeasty.
Taste is malty and sweet with a long lasting bitter aftertaste (maybe tannic) -- not hoppy or piney at all. Great summer beer.
Mouthfeel is good -- thick and bready, makes me want more beer. Quite drinkable -- it's not so bitter it's hard to drink, and it's not so sweet it's overwhelming. Pretty well balanced.
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3.66/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
The pour was pretty and eye catching. Dark gold body topped with a bone white half inch of head. Nose is unsettling. There's an initial cross between citrus hops and perfume. A split second later my nose is flooeded with a vegetable like aroma. Taste is nice and hoppy, although I would guess just a bit too hoppy for the style? Seems to me to lean more towards an IPA. Taste conjures images or lemon, rose petals, and orange. Mouthfeel is very good. Huge body that is at once creamy and luscious. Drinkability suffers from the strange tastes.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
The pour was pretty and eye catching. Dark gold body topped with a bone white half inch of head. Nose is unsettling. There's an initial cross between citrus hops and perfume. A split second later my nose is flooeded with a vegetable like aroma. Taste is nice and hoppy, although I would guess just a bit too hoppy for the style? Seems to me to lean more towards an IPA. Taste conjures images or lemon, rose petals, and orange. Mouthfeel is very good. Huge body that is at once creamy and luscious. Drinkability suffers from the strange tastes.
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3.5/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Sample at the Pike Street location. This brew is a clear orange color with a dense off-white head that dissipates slowly. Thick top ring of lacing with latticework underneath. The aroma is malty with a good amount of citrus, and touches of cereal and grain. Medium-bodied with flavors of citrus and toasted malt primarily, and some hops as well. The finish is citrusy and lasting. Decent all around.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Sample at the Pike Street location. This brew is a clear orange color with a dense off-white head that dissipates slowly. Thick top ring of lacing with latticework underneath. The aroma is malty with a good amount of citrus, and touches of cereal and grain. Medium-bodied with flavors of citrus and toasted malt primarily, and some hops as well. The finish is citrusy and lasting. Decent all around.
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3.7/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Dark browish amber with a lot of fizziness, decent white head of ffine bubbles. Sweet, citrusy scent with a rasberry character.
Tasted of honey with a wineline smoothness, fruit tones, and an apparent and very hidden smokelike flavor.
Smooth and kinda thick, coats the tongue with goodness. All said, nice but quite strong.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Dark browish amber with a lot of fizziness, decent white head of ffine bubbles. Sweet, citrusy scent with a rasberry character.
Tasted of honey with a wineline smoothness, fruit tones, and an apparent and very hidden smokelike flavor.
Smooth and kinda thick, coats the tongue with goodness. All said, nice but quite strong.
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Ambrosia Maibock from Elysian Brewing Company
3.72
out of 5
based on 25 ratings.
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
taste- sweet citrus, very drinkable
color- honey
smell- belgian-like, estery, light alcohol, malt aroma
body- light to medium
overall impression- very pleasurable
notes and comments- excellent spring beer, nice mellow maibock...this beer is available spring into summer
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