In a world filled with hopped-up IPAs, oak-aged imperial stouts, and extreme beers of all stripes, one should never overlook the merits of a very good, very well-brewed, basic amber ale. Like this one.
Beer Details: Boont Amber Ale from Anderson Valley Brewing Company, Boonville, CA (Amber Ale, 5.8% ABV, 15 IBUs)
Appearance: This beer shows russet-red against the light, ranging from gold at the edges to deep red toward the middle. A tight cap of parchment-colored foam tops the glass.
Aroma: Lemony floral hops lead off the aroma, giving way to earthy spice and caramel notes.
Taste: Sunny lemon hops float over warm and toasty candied nut flavors. Some yeasty fruitiness bridges the gap between the bitter and sweet, and prickles of effervescence on the tongue makes the whole sip come off clean and crisp. More woodsy spice notes emerge as the beer warms; don't gulp this so fast that you miss that!
This beer is the definition of balanced. The light bitterness matches the roasty malts one for one. Super mellow, super drinkable, this beer is a keeper.
Food Pairings: Oh goodness, you could drink this beer with anything from bar food to a cobb salad and be happier for it.
Have you ever tried this beer?
Related: Cellaring Beer: Let Those Good Beers Age!
(Image: Emma Christensen)
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Love this beer! It's a little difficult to find in the Midwest, so I get really excited whenever I see it on a beer list. It's delicious with just about anything and generally served in cans, which adds to the charm.
I've been big on IPAs this past year, but this is consistently one of my favorite non-IPAs. Love that I can get it on tap at a few of my favorites places in Midtown/Downtown Sacramento!
This is easily one of my favorite beers. It is such a great beer when I want something flavorful but not as strong as an IPA.
Amber ales are always some of my favorites; this was the first kind of beer I really enjoyed and it's usually my standard go-to for a good solid beer that goes with all sorts of food (or fine on its own).
I've really started to explore beers from California this past year; I was familiar with NC craft brews but once I moved to San Francisco I realized I had to start over getting used to local beers in a completely new area. But I discovered Anderson Valley this fall and have really been enjoying their beers, especially the amber and their Winter Solstice.
This is my favorite beer and got so excited when you featured it. I used to work at a restaurant that had it on tap and it was always the go to after a long shift!