Steep Trail Amber Ale
Black Diamond Brewing Co.

Steep Trail Amber AleSteep Trail Amber Ale
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From:
Black Diamond Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
American Amber / Red Ale
ABV:
5.7%
Score:
78
Avg:
3.27 | pDev: 14.07%
Reviews:
20
Ratings:
35
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jun 14, 2014
Added:
Oct 04, 2003
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  3
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Offa:
Photo of Offa
Reviewed by Offa from California

3.53/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This is a fairly good ale, more like a drier English-style ale in character rather than American or typical west coast ale.

From the bottle, it is copper, it has an utterly huge off-white head, usually out of control, sometimes just really large. The head slowly shrinks to a foamy, rocky head and leaves some foamy lace.

The aroma is a bit subdued, somewhat English, yeasty, caramelly, with a little toasted grain, dry hay that has gotten damp, hint of wet wood, leaves, resin, and metal.

The taste is somewhat restrained and rather dry but still basically flavourful. It is a bit English in character with light sweet-sour fruit, tangy teastiness, light caramelly bready sweetness, light spicey-leafy bitterness that is faintly peppery and a faint nutty-vanilla undertone. The finish is drysih, light leafy-peppery bitterness with slight caramelly-bready sweetness.
Aug 18, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by wrightst from Maryland

Jun 14, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by avisong from Virginia

Jan 19, 2014
 
Rated: 2.75 by JAHMUR from Connecticut

Sep 02, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by GraduatedCashew from California

Aug 29, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by TwoTrees from Washington

Jul 30, 2013
Photo of Aleks_P
Reviewed by Aleks_P from Florida

3.52/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: Rich color, transparent copper/ruby with a light tan head. Carbonation is apparent upon pour.

Smell: Smell is average, pick up some hops/citrus but really just smells like beer.

Taste: I liked it at first, again picking up a lot of grapefruit citrus, seems a little metallic in the aftertaste though. Malts and hops are pretty balanced.

Mouthfeel: Good mouthfeel, very light and carbonated, pretty smooth initially.

Overall: Good beer, not the best amber ale I've had in the last few weeks but it passes. I might order this if I was going to have a couple of beers after a round of golf in Colorado and it was on draft.
Jul 15, 2013
 
Rated: 2.5 by DSkilling from California

Jul 01, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by WillieThreebiers from Connecticut

Apr 05, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by artoolemomo from Oregon

Mar 31, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by h4ger from Connecticut

Mar 29, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by mendvicdog from Maryland

Feb 02, 2013
Photo of Brad007
Reviewed by Brad007 from Vermont

2.93/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
One out of 3 Black Diamond ales I picked up to try. Pours a mild amber color as expected with a head that's large enough to leave lacing.

Sweet, buttery malt and not much more. Mild pine hop essence if you smell hard enough.

Ditto for flavor. Cloyingly sweet. Can't tell if it was bottled in July of this year or if it was best-before July?

Palate numbing mouthfeel is unwelcome for the style.

My mind suspects the former as far as bottling is concerned but still, what a disappointment.
Sep 23, 2012
Photo of BBThunderbolt
Reviewed by BBThunderbolt from Kiribati

3.47/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured into straight pint glass. Poured a hazy/cloudy medium orange-amber color with less than a half-inch of off-white head that had low-to-moderate retention and very light lacing.

The aroma featured some floral hops mixed with sweet malts and a trace of pineyness in the background. The flavors were pretty much the same, a well balanced blend of floral and pine hops, mixed with a slightly sweet malt profile.

The body was the typically medium of the style, was a bit stickier at the finish than some examples, and had a tart hoppiness that lingered. Drinkability was pretty good, I could have a couple of these. Overall, a decent take on the style. Possibly a good entry level brew for someone new to craft beer. Worth trying when you see it.
Jun 07, 2012
Photo of t420o
Reviewed by t420o from Colorado

3.47/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Black diamond amber ale

A- pour produces a 1 finger off white/light tan head that dissipates quick leaving very little in the way of lacing. Beer is amber in color and great clarity 3

S- toasted nuts, caramel, chocolate malt, bready, slightly herbal, slight alcohol 3.5  

T- toasted nuts, chocolate malt, toffee, bready, slight earth/herbal hop taste. Slightly dry finish. Good but nothing special 3.5   

M- good mouthfeel. nice carbonation and slightly light in the body 3.5

O- this was a good beer and one I'd have again at the right price but there are far better Ambers around. Above average drinkability 3.5

B-
May 17, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by shelby415 from Oregon

May 10, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by loupap from Rhode Island

Jan 14, 2012
Photo of barleyroad
Reviewed by barleyroad from Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +24.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Dark amber in appearance. Smell, is hoppy and nice malt. Taste is nice hops with a sweet finsh. This brew is nicely blended and has hints of complex notes. Mouthfeel is great, good in and out of the mouth. Overall this is a very nicely balanced brew, one that will sit nicely in the fridge. Have one with beef on weck.
Dec 15, 2011
 
Rated: 3 by ROGUE16 from Delaware

Dec 14, 2011
Steep Trail Amber Ale from Black Diamond Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 78 out of 100 with 35 ratings