Capistrano Amber Ale

Brewed by Capistrano Brewing Company
Style: Amber Ale
San Juan Capistrano, California USA

Bottle; purchased at Hi-Time, which is the only place I have ever seen it. Color was a reddish/brown amber with very little head. Aroma was extremely fruity to me, with some sweet malt or caramel. I hope that this beer is a bit past its prime, because it definitely was approaching some nasty sourness. Infected? Some caramel and toasted malt. I probably should rate this again, but being surrounded by so much other good stuff might prevent that from ever happening.

01-Jun-08 (12-oz bottle: Purchased 12-May-08 for $2.09 at Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa, CA) This is a nice amber ale. It’s dry and toasty rather than sweet and caramely, and the floral and citrusy hops add nice balance of flavor and mild bitterness. Some husky character in the finish, but it’s not astringent and seems to fit just fine, even if it’s technically not desirable. The very toasty nose shows a light touch of corn husks and a hint of sourness, but the hops are barely detectable. Light-medium in body with no drop-off in the finish. Carbonation is light-medium. The beer is dry and mildly hoppy, and this makes this amber ale quite refreshing on the palate. Clear and coppery-amber in color with a small, off-white head that settles to a wide ring. Only a few spots of lace stick to the glass. Fairly simple overall, and a bit more weight wouldn’t hurt, but it’s tasty, easy to drink, and quite enjoyable.

Orange amber color with a decent white head that didn’t last. Aroma is sort of carmel wheat. Near medium body with creamy carbonation. Flavor is sort of an orangy wheat plus a slight sour. Finish iw rather dry with a bitter resembling grapefruit rind. Not very malty at all. Not really to style.

This hazy amber brew poured with a decent beige head thata dissipated quickly. It has a sour orange flavor with very little substance.

Bottle thanks to riversideAK. Pours a light orange amber, with a small white head. The aroma is a sweet malt and earthy qualities. The taste is quite light overall; some hops, a earthy sweet malt, and really light sweet candy like flavors. Thin and pretty safe. Not bad.

Light and sweet caramel malts with just a touch of butterscotch and a little nuttiness. Light amber in color no head. Flavor is a little nutty and a lightly sweet caramel malts. The palate is super thin, almost watery. The finish is a little crisp, but thats about it. Its better than their other beers. I would drink it if there was nothing else.

Bottle: Clear amber, thick head and nice lacing. Nose of hops, diacetyl and caramel. The flavor is nutty and rich with diacetyl. Sweet and balanced though. Lots of toffee. Finishes thin, blah. Would be a good brown ale.

12oz bottle poured a hazy amber color with a small off white head. Aroma was a nasty butterscotch. Taste was bland with diacetyl notes. Something I would not recommend to anyone.