St. Arnold Amber: An Ale That Satisfies
Written: Mar 06 '07
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Good balanced taste; Acceptable to all
Cons: Nothing to get excited over
The Bottom Line: This is a good example of a highly drinkable, widely acceptable amber ale.
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| Bryan_Carey's Full Review: Amber Ale |
Looking for a good, all- purpose ale that most people will find drinkable and non- offensive? There are a few that will fit the bill, satisfying both the beer geeks and the Budwesier crowd at the same time. One example is St. Arnold Amber, a medium to light bodied ale.
Basic Characteristics of This Beer:
St. Arnold Amber pours out of its bottle with a golden/tan color and a nose that showcases both caramel malt and hop highlights. There is virtually no head of foam and what little there is disappears in less than one minute, leaving behind some light lacing.
This beer has a pleasant taste that emphasizes caramel malt up front followed by toasted malt in the middle and then a slightly grapefruit/ floral hop taste in the finish. The hops assert themselves, but it a subtle way, leading to a dry but pleasantly hoppy aftertaste.
Brewed with Belgian Caravienne Malt, Two- row pale male, Cascade and Liberty hops, St. Arnold Amber is made to be easy- drinking. It has a bitterness level of 31 IBU and an alcohol content of 5.5 percent by volume.
Food Compatibility:
This is a very good, all- purpose beer for drinking all by itself or for drinking with many different foods. It would be good match for a hamburger and fries, ham and cheese sandwich, and many other casual foods.
Final Thoughts:
St. Arnold Amber is a beer intended to satisfy a wide range of tastes. It offers enough real beer flavor and character to keep the beer connoisseurs happy but with enough lightness and subtlety to satisfy those who don’t normally drink craft ales.
This beer offers perfect clarity and it is a little transparent around the edges- two qualities that are normally associated with a lighter product. And while St. Arnold is certainly not a heavy, full- bodied product, it isn’t light enough to call it a light beer either. It seems like the brewers at St. Arnold wanted to craft an ale that would satisfy the largest number of potential customers. They used quality ingredients but kept them at just the right level to make everyone happy.
St. Arnold is the company’s flagship product and it is the oldest in the St. Arnold lineup. It is a beer without much attitude- one that aims to satisfy without going over the top in any way. And it generally succeeds on all levels. I like the contributions from the caramel- like malt and the Cascade hops and I like the hop- accented aftertaste. It is a beer with good versatility, too. It would not be out of place as a casual everyday drinking beer or as a beer to consume with your favorite meal.
St. Arnold Amber picked up a Bronze Medal in the 1999 Great American Beer Festival and it has a few other wins at many minor beer festivals. The fact that it is on the lighter side yet still capable of winning attention from beer judges is a testament to the brewing expertise that went into this product.
Overall, I’m glad I got to know St. Arnold Amber ale. It isn’t an incredible world class product but it has plenty of good qualities. Chief among them is the ability to satisfy. And St. Arnold Amber Ale is a satisfying beer style with just enough of a good thing to keep you coming back for more without becoming overwhelmed.
Recommended:
Yes
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