More MadTree! Hooray! I'm continuing my looks at the canned beers from Cincinnati's own MadTree with the beer we have here today. Happy Amber, a 6.0% ABV dry hopped amber ale. Amber's have never really been my favorite style. I realize the appeal and I get why breweries want them to have them in their lineup. Everybody's got to have a simple, approachable beer to appeal to the folks who aren't quite ready for IPAs and big stouts and this and that. But I dig what the guys ad MadTree do, so let's give it a shot. To the beer!
Happy Amber pours a crystal clear vibrant bronze in color. It's topped by a finger of off white head that, while it recedes fairly quickly, it does leave spotty lacing.
The aromas on this beer are a bit surprising. I was expecting some toasty, biscuity, caramel malt. And no doubt, there's plenty of that in here, but hops are really leading the way here. Bright, citrusy, slightly resiny hop aromas are very prominent. I'm always hesitant to try and call out specific hop varieties but I think I'm getting some nice Cascade aromas. (I've brewed with Cascade before, I feel like I can pick it out.) So anyway, we've got an amber ale that leads with bright, fruity hops backed by a robust toasty, biscuity caramel malt. I like what I'm getting so far.
The flavors mimic the aromas here. Happy Amber leads with a nice bit of carbonation and punchy flavors of citrusy tangerine and grapefruit. The hop flavor dominates the flavor for about the first two thirds of the sip. After that point though, a dry creamy biscuity caramel toffee malt flavor takes over. It finishes crisp and leaves a pleasant mild lingering bitterness.
Two for two. What MadTree has crafted here is a very fascinating Amber Ale. Approachable, but at the same time challenging and interesting. It's very subtle, but the way the hop flavors and aromas lead the way in an understated yet strong way. I really like this one. Check it out.
HD
Ambers are my fave! I guess because I am simple and approachable as well... :)
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