Celtika Ambrée

Brewed by Brasserie Celtik (formerly: Douar Men)
Style: Amber Ale
Cléguérec, France

750 ml. bottle, corked and caged. $5.29 at Total Wine & More, Claymont, DE. The corked released with a bang, but the foam never rose beyond the neck. Carefully poured it delivered a slightly hazy deep amber / copper body beneath a two-fingered head of creamy yellowed tan. It offers excellent head retention, continually maintaining a solid 1/4" or more throughout the glass, and leaving creamy rings like those left by Guinness. The aroma immediately reminded me of Chimay Premiere, and I wonder if that was what they were going for, and if they’re using the same yeast. It’s softly fruity with sweetish dark-skinned fruits (plum, raisin), a waft of vanilla, some earthy/mineralish/musty character that I think of as "cork", grassy hops, and a very mild spiciness. In the mouth it’s gently effervescent with a light bristle on the tongue before warming to become more cottony and smooth. More earthy, mineralish, and musty character appears in the flavor, followed by some sweetish, lightly caramelish maltiness. The dark-skinned fruitiness steps in at mid-palate, and is immediately followed by an edgy bitterness. It finishes with a touch of woodiness, some nuttiness, a suggestion of orange peel, some candy sugar, and more grassy hops and mustiness. Quite complex and enjoyable!

A small (330ml?) bottle with a crown cap, part of gift pack I got for Xmas from my brother. This one has an ABV of 6.5%. Slightly hazy, deep copper, with a thin mottled head which lasts fairly well. Nice toffee’d, malty nose. Good body, has a sweet edge which lingers on the finish. The 6.5% is quite noticable but doesn’t make it less drinkable. Nice strong ale, one to savour.

(330ml bottle, best by 1-31-07) Big beige head atop a cloudy amber body. Aroma is medium sweet, herbal, yeasty, light mint. Taste is moderately sweet, herbal, yeasty, orange, some peach, melon. Light-medium body, quite drinkable. Other than the sweetness being a bit too much, this is quite enjoyable.

Bottle sampled on 8/16/06: Pours a clear copper amber with a well-lacing, big off-white head. Aroma of dry biscuity malt and mild tart cherries. Body starts with a touch of caramel sweetness turning more tart and fruity toward a drier finish. Fairly well-balanced and drinkable.

Very interesting beer. Has strong notes of orange in the flavor, which really makes this a wonderfully refreshing beer for the summer.

Bottle at Ricklikebeer’s YEHA ’05 thanks to Joeec5. Cloudy amber color with a large white head. Fruity, yeasty aroma with some coriander. Sweet, fruity flavor with some yeast and a bit of citrus at the end.

Bottle labled a ’Celtic Amber Ale’. Poured a medium and cloudy amber color with a large sized off white head. Aromas of light caramel, some yeast, fruits, and light cherries. Tastes of caramel, a little fruity and light yeast. On the sweet side.

Blew the damn cork off of the bottle. Good head with light carbonation. Head reforms nicely upon swirling. Soft peaches and cream aroma with some apricots. Light crisp flavor. Some soft malts and more apricots. Dry palate with a nice hops presence. An interesting brew from france. The aroma is very good but the rest of the brew falls short.