Amber Ale
Astoria Brewing Company

Handsome dark orange brew with plenty of foam in the glass. Light grainy aroma. Moderately malty with a tang of hops. Some dark roasted notes and hints of caramel. A bit of sweetness is quite welcome. Rather bitter aftertaste after some sipping. This is the classic American amber ale-- not a favorite style of mine, but well done. From the 12 oz can purchased at the brewery restaurant. Not dated, but one of their regular brews. k

This is more toward orange than amber. It came to the table with a nice white head that tended to last. It had fair lacing. It has a nice fizz and is fairly clear so a person looking for a more traditional beer would like the appearance.

This beer has a light hop nose with little malt aroma.

The taste is clean and light. Minimal hop flavor and a light malt finish. I has a quick finish that is slick and not too lasting. This one is just one step up from the pale ale and not over powering. This is a beer that can be drunk in quantity.

Pacific Rim’s Astoria Amber left me guessing. Was this really an amber? It tasted more like a doppelbock than anything else. Could they have perhaps served me their raspberry dunkelweizen by mistake? A sample at the bar of the dunkel raz reassured me that I had indeed been served the amber. But this beer has a complexity that defies ordinary interpretations of the style. Both the fragrance and the flavor are defined by a persistent herbal mélange reminiscent of Aventinus. The flavor is curious and compelling. There are notes of anise, vanilla, and a shake of black pepper. Perhaps all of these things or none of the above. Very strange.

But also very good. The brew has a smart head of soapy lather that leaves consistent lace. It is the color of shadowed oak and is well bittered. There’s no question that Astoria Amber is easy drinking and has a clean finish. It’s a damn fine beer. But purists should be advised that this one takes great liberties with the style.