Amber Ale

Brewed by Hawkes Bay Independent Brewery
Style: Amber Ale
Napier, New Zealand

330ml bottle, comes in a very cool looking bottle that looks like a fancy little wine bottle with wine bottle looking labels and with a company logo on the end of a beer (wine?) barrel protruding from it, extra points for appearance. The beers hue is lovely, it does indeed have a deep copper colour and a thick creamy (white to off-white) head as promised... however the head almost fully diminished very quickly, fair lacing. Aromas are not particularly strong but there is light caramel, marshmallow, leather. As it warmed some nice light citrus notes came through briefly. Flavour is light biscuity caramel sweet initially for a short time, short very light bitter finish. Light body, dry watery texture, soft carbonation. Nice enough but needs more substance (aroma flavour and body) to make it a better beer.

Bottle. Pours clear brown with a small white head. Light sweet malt aroma with notes of caramel. The flavour is sweet malt, caramel and very light citrus. Thin bodied. Soft carbonation with low bitterness. It’s rather light in all aspects but an OK amber ale.