El Toro Poppy Jasper Amber Ale

Brewed by El Toro Brewing Co.
Style: Amber Ale
Morgan Hill, California USA

Bottle from Bev Mo Fresno. When purchased it was covered with dust so I am assuming it was relatively old. I purchased because I wanted to rate it. It also has Brew 1135 stamped on the bottle. Probably the freshness/dating code. Whatever. Pours a muddy amber color. Aroma is some grass, some roasty caramel malt flavor, and a little sour citrus. Flavor is pretty much malt dominated. Started with a sweet dirt and malt flavor accompanied by metallic notes. As it warmed it became more sweet and toasty. Not bad for how old it probably was. A decent amber. No residual sugars or resiny hops linger. Pretty wattery mouthfeel and body.

WTF? this beer was awful! for a fairly highly rated amber, it was definately not the same beer. it was definately oxidized, but i could tell that this beer would suck when fresh. pours dark copper with a small fizzy tan head. nose is green apples all the way-infection! this is just awful. 2 sips and drain pour!

A true amber. Wonderful, nutty, rich, sweet, malty flavor, light hops. Much better on tap!

Thanks to Beerdrenched for sharing this. Pours hazy amber with a light tan head. The aroma has grainy apples - red and green, then malt and no hops. Medium body with moderately sharp carbonation. The taste is very sharp and sour with funky apple junk. The finish was even more sour and just off. I hope this was just a old bottle because it was atrocious.

This score is way too high. Thanks to the wifey for this one. Pours dark brownish with medium sized off-white head. I got caramel malt, brown sugar, slight berry, and slight hops in the nose. The flavor was caramel malty, not sweet, with some brown sugar, and finishing hop notes. Not bad but overrated here.

Bottle from Irishboy. Thanks Richard. The score seems a bit high for this. I am not a big fan of Amber Ale’s and this is right up there with the so-so brews in thie style. Some hops and some funk but..

12 oz bottle. Halfway-clear brown with active carb and a long lasting pillowy tan head. Tiny bits in the bottom. Sweet spruce and musty brown sugar. Sour lemon candies with an interesting buzzy carb that numbs. Grassy hop bitterness mellows into dough. Medium body.

I had this beer at a bar in San Francisco, it was hoppy and flavorful and I ordered a third. I really enjoyed it.