Drakes Expedition Ale

Brewed by Drakes Brewing Company
Style: American Strong Ale
San Leandro, California USA

12 oz bottle into a Shaker glass. Pours a deep ruby brown color with a very retentive light brown head that stays for the whole glass. Mainly a citrusy hopped aroma with hints of cocoa powder and grass. The flavor hits on a slightly cocoay malt first, which moves directly into a fairly direct Northwestern pined hop note that is backed by the malt and grass notes. Hints of caramel and butter are present on the palate. The hop note sticks around on the sides of the mouth for a bit. Quite a well put together "amber". Very, very true to style!

Bottle courtesy of SDbruboy! Thanks so much Cliff! Medium sized light brown head, creamy appearence. Retention is good, lace is sticky, patchy. Hazy brown color with some orange around the edges. Nose is citrusy, lightly earthy with a whisp of chocolate too. A medium bodied brew, lightly oily, coating palate. C-hop flavors up front, citrus and pine, light roast and chocolate backed up with caramel and a hint buttery. Finish is fairly dry and hoppy. Neat brew. Thanks Cliff!

Bottle from SDBruboy - thanks Cliff!

Pours a deep hazy red-brown with a lasting off-white head. The aroma is....wow! This is no lightweight amber ale; we’re looking at a full-on IPA nose of powerful grapefruit and pine c-hops, lots of leafiness. The flavor backs up the aroma nicely; rich and full hop flavors layer across caramel malts that are assertive but never cross the line into too roasty for the style. Mouthfeel is spot on for the style and the finish is a deep and long bitterness that leaves my mouth watering for more. The downside is that late into the finish the dark roasts provide a hint of burnt-coffee bitterness that detracts from the gorgeous hop flavors, but this is a minor complaint.

I’d probably call this a dark IPA rather than an amber, but if whatever you call it, it’s excellent. I’m really impressed with what I’ve seen from Drakes thus far.

12oz bottle via trade with SDBruboy! - Thanks Cliff! Pours murky brown with a pretty nice offwhite creamy head that stays well and laces the glass. Aromas of caramel and chocolate as well as some smoke. Flavor is caramel, chocolate, some definite smoke.. Some light brown sugar there too and some bitterness on the finish. Full bodied and pretty creamy in the mouth. Definitely the maltiest amber I’ve ever had.. It seemed alot like a scotch ale to me like the rater said before me.. Tasty though for sure..

Bottle: Courtesy of DarkElf via trade. Big malty aroma with lots of caramel and chocolate. There’s also a hint of fruit and smoke. Pours a cloudy brownish-orange with a small off-white head. Lots of caramel and chocolate up front. There’s a slight nuttiness in the background as well as a hint of smoke. Flavors seem to fade rather quickly leaving the finish with sort of a watery bitterness. Definitely suprised by this Amber Ale. Reminds me of a Scotch Ale.

Quite rich and tasty, almost approaching a barleywine in sweetness and strength. Pours brown with a hint of rust, great robust complex nose. Medium-full body.

Bottle received via trade with realale420. Pours dark brown with some red tones, a small frothy light tan head, mostly diminishing, some light spotty lacing. Aroma is fragrant floral, fruity and pine hops, caramel roasted malt and doughy yeast, grassy nose with notes of alcohol and sap. Moderate to heavy bitterness and acidity at the onset, quickly turns to a burning and scorching pine and citrus rind hop flavor, some notes of caramel malt and grass, straw, finish is sappy and has alcohol notes. Medium bodied with a spicy and fizzy palate.

Murky brown in colour, creamy beige coloured head, great lacing, some suspended particles. The aroma is toasty, lots of caramel malts, quite sweet with some brown sugar, light citrus hops. The flavour is of caramel malt sweetness, dark fruits, figs, earthy, some hops (light grapefruit, pine). Lightly bitter mouthfeel, medium body, medium carbonation. Finishes long and lingering with a medium hop bitterness. A fantastic amber ale, quite rich and hoppy, very well balanced.

355ml bottle obtained in a trade with <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/ViewUser.asp?U target=blank>jah noth, thanks Daniel, no best before date.