McNeills Firehouse Amber

Brewed by McNeills Brewery
Style: Amber Ale
Brattleboro, Vermont USA

(22 oz bottle: Obtained in trade with Eyedrinkale, thanks Mike!) Best before last day of November, so I made it by a few weeks. This amber ale is actually quite hoppy, the moderately bitter and citrusy hops easily being one of the two most prominent flavors. The other is an unmistakeable sourness that seems to pick up as the beer warms up. I’m not sold on the sourness, but it does provide some contrast to make the beer more interesting. A solid fruitiness and mild maltiness work in the background to add body and balance to this flavorful beer. Body is light-medium, trending toward medium, and there is a fairly obvious chalkiness in the mouthfeel. Fairly balanced nose, with a bit more malt coming out than in the flavor. Orange-amber colored body is fairly hazy, but with all the sludge on the bottom of this bottle, later pours are very cloudy. The off-white head pours bubbly and small, quickly receding to a ring. Not a bad beer, and thumbs up for not being just another generic amber ale.

22oz bottle, best before the end of October. Poured a medium and cloudy amber color with an averaged sized off white head. Aromas of caramel, burnt nuts, flowers and some citrus. Tastes of caramel, oranges and flowers. Creamy body that was a little on the weak side.

Thanks to EyeDrinkAle for this one. POurs a clear golden color with a small head. It’s a bit overcarbonated, but has a nice flavor.

shared from Blake. Thanks. a dark orange color w/ a huge tall thick head w/ some nice sticky lacing. Smells really good lots of sweet carmel and oranges nothing like any amber i’ve smelled. Palate is almost over carbonated very light well coated. Flavor tastes nothing like an amber more like an IPA a big dry grassy hop front w/ some hints of citrus and weak carmel a bit sticky/oily. A pretty good beer but a bit odd in the taste.

Traded with EyeDrinkAle and got this. It pours to a slightly hazy golden amber body with a glowing characteristic. The body has tons of visible carbonation. The beer has a huge fully lasting creamy off-white head. Dense foamy lacing. The aroma is sweet caramel malts and orange rind. The flavor is smoothly hoppy and bitter. Light caramel malts. Light floral hops, strong orange and hop oils. The palate has a bright kick from hop oils yet is watery. Excellent carbonation. Quite possibly the best "Amber Ale" I’ve had.

golden amber color, slightly smoothly bitter taste complements hoppy aura. could drink it al night, but not a standout

Sparkling orange, creamy light tan head. Great nose with hints of toasty caramel, grains, florals, and toffee, with lighter notes of orange peel and chocolate. Flavor is similar with a light floral hoppiness up front, but a near perfect backing of sweet caramel playing out late. Some light fruity tones arrive at room temp. Light to medium bodied, prickly carbonation, dry, bittersweet finish. Tasty and even somewhat complex for a lower ABV ale. Really liked it...

It has a nice amber color with oh so faint traces of head on the edges of the glass. Malty aroma. Malty/hoppy taste with the bitterness eventually winning in the end.