Ballast Point Calico Amber Ale

Brewed by Ballast Point Brewing Company
Style: Amber Ale
San Diego, California USA

On growler. Spumous, off-white head; creamy fluff. Luxurious rings and sheets of lace. Clear, amber body. Malty aroma with honey and caramel highlighting, yeast, alcoholic hops, fruity and citrusy, a touch of dark bread. Mouth is medium, lightly wet, lightly carbonated, lightly dry. Malty flavor with pollen, sugar, grapefruit rind, pine--rather bitter. Long bitter aftertaste, with underlying malts that provide a protective shield over the tongue, while still allowing the bitterness through.

Courtesy of a fine Mystery beer swap participant. Aroma is a blend of spicy/citric hops and rich caramel. Body is orange.brown and holds a fluffy white head about a finger thick and mostly lasting. flavor matches the aroma...spicy/citrus hops with caramel malts beneath. Nice sweet/bitter interplay. Finish leaves sweet caramel malt playing ont he tongue with muted notes of pine intermingled.

12oz bottle poured a clear amber color with an off white head. Aroma was citrus hops and a nice sweet caramel with some notes of fruit from the yeast. The taste had a great citrus bitterness with a good malt backing. I would consider this one more of an American Amber than a Bitter.

Yet another good bottle from Zug4abby. Thanks again! Pours a deep copper with an off white head. Nice color. Nice citrus hop aroma, like an IPA. For an amber, this is hoppy, which is ok by me. Toffee and nutty malt flavors nicely offset by the spicy and herbal hops. Bitter finish with some fruitiness sneaking out. West coast bitterness meets English style maltiness. This is more like a pale or IPA to me. But damn good.

I really enjoyed this brew, but thought it was more of an IPA than an ESB. However, I have not been exposed to very many hoppy bitters. The body was dark amber colored with a light khaki colored head. The aroma was chocolate and grapefruit with some pine. The taste was dry chocolate with some wood. There was also a decent dry finish. This was interesting and would make a nice session beer.

On tap at Ballast Point. This copper ale poured with a medium off-white head. The malt flavors are very well blended, but are a bit overwhelmed by the hops. Overall, this was a very; satisfying brew.

Pours a clear orange copper with a moderate beige head. Aroma of some piney citrus, caramel malts, some toasted grain. This is quite hoppy and bitter, though the balance is there. The flavor is more pine and then turns to citrus. Medium bodied, soft moderate carbonation. Good beer.

22 oz bottle. Point Loma Seafood - San Diego. Ballast Point redeems itself after the Yellowtail incident. Drank perfect with a hearty fish sandwich. Copper color - thick head. Medium body with FULL flavor. Bitter finish. Beautiful beer. My full rec.