Marin Albion Amber Ale

Brewed by Marin Brewing Company
Style: Amber Ale
Larkspur, California USA

Bottle pours a translucent amber, small off-white pancake batter head, soft carbonation, with very sticky lacing.   Light malts on the aroma, but there seems to be a hop tinge that tends to overshadow the malts.   Mmmmm, a nice malty profile coats the mouth.   Little snippets of hops dance around.   Not much else going on, but what is there is quite nice.   Good body with a rich mouthfeel.   Finishes clean & crisp.   A simple, yet solid hopped up Amber Ale.   Thanks goes out to herbjones for the trade!

Bottle. Clear amber color with smallish head. Taste was a bit sour maltiness with mild tastes of cherry, malt and chocolate. Nothing too exciting but still better than most.

Bottle. A hazy amber brown color with a foamy off-white head. Light citrus and apple notes in the aroma come through as slightly tart flavors on the palate. A fair malt and caramel base. For the style I thought this was pretty good.

Upon its escape from the 22 ounce brown bottle, the beer takes up residence in my glass a slightly bemused copper color with an enormous semi-creamy head that is a winsome light tan in color, as it laggardly dissipates the lace formed is a thin satin sheet to lay upon the glass. Nose is sweet malt dominated with a refreshing hint of hops and a caramel aroma also present which all leads to a crisp and clean back. The start quite sweet with a pleasing malt presence and the top moderate in its feel to the palate, this leads us to the finish which has a common place acidity with hops that are engaging in their spiciness. A drinkable beer with a dry long lasting aftertaste, not great beer but one that pleases the palate after a long day slaving away in the salt mines.

Darkish amber color with a smallish head and very clear. Quite a bit of carbonation. Aroma smells like a brewery...hops definetely come through. Taste is mainly malt with little of the hops from the aroma. Body is thin and watery.

Murky, amber ale with a medium-sized, creamy, ivory-colored head. Great retention. Cascading lacework. The aroma is malty with notes of caramel, toffee and chocolate. Also some notes of brown tea. Malty flavor, as an amber ale should have. Blasts of caramel and toffee in every sip. Not-quite-balanced as the smooth, rich malts win their battle versus the hops. Not as well-hopped as most Left Coast beers. Those crazy Californians usually "hop up" the most malty of styles. Not this one. Medium-bodied with a watery mouthfeel and mild carbonation. Short, clean, grassy finish. MaltHeads will rejoice; hopheads will be disappointed. A real winner within its genre.

balanced malt hop aroma, transparent amber, awesome balance between sweet malt and berry hoppiness

Malty character comes through well in the flavor and aroma. My sample seemed underhopped, especially after seeing other ratings.