Grays Rathskeller Amber Ale

Brewed by Grays Brewing Company
Style: Amber Ale
Janesville, Wisconsin USA

Date: 08/07/2008
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewpub

Appearance: amber with a light haze, fine beige head, bits of lace,
Aroma: sweet caramel malt aroma with light floral hops,
Body: slick body,
Flavor: rich caramel malt flavor, touch of candy sweetness, light dyactyl, well balanced with earthy hops, light bitter finish,

Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 4/10; Overall: 9/20
Rating: 2.4/5.0
Drinkability: 6/10
Score: *4

12oz bottle. Poured a deep orange, almost copper color with a small sized off white head. Aromas of caramel, toasted malts, and a little bready. Tastes of caramel, bread, and light citrus. Thin and watery body.

Personal Milestone: Wisconsin Rating #200 (out of 2801)!
Unfortunately, it’s an uninspired brew. It pours a clear amber/coopper body with a 2-fingered head that dissolves into a film almost instantly. The aroma is caramel, apples, toast, and apple skins. It tastes of old caramel, old apples, old bread dough, and handful of old dirt.

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Bottled under Rathskeller Amber Ale. Orange copper color with a diminished beige head. Light pale malt mingles with a touch of mild citrus fruit. I actually like the aroma which is somewhat unusual for an amber. Still the flavors bounce me back to reality. Not not bad, just a normal amber. Slightly dryer than many with a hint of caramel and rye bread. Mild sweet floral hops. Dry toasty grain finish. A very respectable amber.

12 oz bottle purchased at the Woodmans on Gammon Road, Madison WI. Clear, thick amber with a tiny bit of fizzy head that dies immediately leaving a flat, plain surface, hmm not a good sign...caramel, touch bready, fairly light and innocuous malty nose...sweet, simple initial flavor, caramel again with some light burnt qualities, bit of cinnamon...towards the finish a cardboardy dry character develops leading to a somewhat cottony and dull mouthfeel. Certainly not among Grays’ best.

Froma bottle. Poured as a dark amber body with a persistent off white head. The aroma is bread with some light citrus. There is a flowery fresh scent here. The taste is a little sweet with some earthy hops. There is definitely caramel and brown sugar here. A little bit of toast is present. Pretty good for the style.

Bottle and served in ye olde pint glass: Yep it is amber with a fading frothy head and okay lace. Yep is smells like caramel and bread with a dash of floral hops and some acidic fruits. Yep the taste is rather ordinary with sweet malt and some apple like acidity supported my very light bitterness. Yep the mouth feel is just there, not offensive nor exciting either. Yep this is a run of the mill Amber, yep.

Picked up a six-pack from Bob McFarland’s Liquors in McFarland, Wisconsin. Pours a brown coppery amber brew with a fast dissolving iff white head that leaves behind a fine film. No lacing or ring after dissolve. Aroma of caramel malt, flowery hops, and a touch of overly ripe apples. Taste is medium bodied, light carbonated, with dark bready malt, some oatmeal and a touch of leather. Finish is slightly dried citrus peel, some soy sauce and a metalic texture in the aftertaste.