Mac and Jacks African Amber Ale

Brewed by Mac and Jacks Brewing Company
Style: Amber Ale
Redmond, Washington USA

This was the first beer that I didn’t wince at the taste, it’ll be a favorite for a while.

Tap @ Henry’s in Portland. Fat disappointment. I am a big red ale type of guy and this was un-dynamic, grainy and - while sweet - pretty unbalanced and flat. Hops were DOA. Must have been a pretty old keg.

Hazy amber with a viscous tan head. Nice citrusy floral hop aroma. Medium body with a creamy smooth mouthfeel. Fresh tasting, bready malt grist flavor is lightly sweet, with a mild but tasty floral hop flavor in the end. Great malt grist after taste. Probably the most commonly spotted craft brew in the Seattle area, and for good reason.

Draft. Pours amber. slight white head. Malty nose. Strong muscat grape flavors some lemon peel too. Some good hop flavors too. Medium bodied. Very smooth and easy to go down.

Draft @ random Indian place in Seattle. Pours a deep amber-brown color; creamy off-white head with excellent retention and fine-bubbled lacing; gorgeous pour. Dried red fruits and light wet malts in the aroma; nicely dry. Medium mouthfeel: creamy, ideally carbonated presence in the mouth; dried red fruits, earthiness, and a lively perimeter of citrus and mineral bitterness; incredibly drinkable and pleasant amber ale; lovely. Medium finish: dried red fruits, toastiness, and crackers; nicely dry and toasty throughout.

Deep amber colored beer with the heavy smell and taste of the serengeti. Grass is the pre-dominant flavor, but there are serious citrus undertones as well. Easily the best amber ale I’ve ever tasted and it’s a dear wish of mine that the brewery will start bottling it. Note: Over the last year or so I’ve noticed some off flavors in this one, not sure if we’ve just been getting bad kegs or what, but I haven’t gotten the same awesomeness out of it lately. Hopefully the greatness I remember will return soon!

Draft. Rich amber beer beer with a nice off-white head. Light citrus aroma. Citrus, floral hop flavor with light cocoa and malt. Medium body. Nicely balanced. Cocoa, caramel, floral, and citrus linger.

Growler. Aroma of sweet caramel malt, semi-sweet citrus, some other lemony notes, some leafy/floral hops complementing the lemon. Flavor highlights the sweet malt with some touches again of the floral hops playing off of it. Some harsh graininess. Good beer.