Ballast Point Calico Amber Ale

Brewed by Ballast Point Brewing Company
Style: Amber Ale
San Diego, California USA

Serve in English pint, Shaker

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Yes, this really does have a deep red color for an amber ale. Topped with a white head, it has an aroma of slightly soapy, herbal, soft, moist hops. The flavor is moderately malty with a touch of caramel and soft, hoppy goodness that finishes slightly bitter. I need more.

Smells hoppy, some citrus. Aroma of malt. Pours red with good head and lacing. Best beer so far in Puerto Rico but then again I just got here. Tastes bitter. Bottle from Stop and Go in San Juan.

On draft at the Blue Monkey. Some nice and balanced notes of caramel malt, eathy tabacco, oats and dry bitter hop. It has a nice sweet and bitter finish. This in the body, but not bad.

Reddish brown pour with little head. Sweet aroma. Slightly fruity taste with decent hopping. Malty yet refreshing. Comparable to Rogue Dead Guy ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

My Bottom Line:
Toasted and caramelized malts are met by wooden hops and their leafy bitterness, but an odd tomato-like finish makes me wonder about the age of my bottle (no dates were to be found, so…).

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A slice of foam leans into the dark amber haze.
-The body is far from anemic for this type of beer.
-The entire profile is harmonious, save for that mild, strange off note which cannot be intentional.
-Hops also contribute citrusy angles.

Bottle.

Bottle from ledgers. Pours dark amber/ruby. Off white head. Aroma is malts with some hops popping threw. Taste is very malt forward with a middle of the mouth sweetness has a crisp bitterness to finish it off.

Clean unpolished copper pour, thin slightly off white head. Nose is roasted malt with a hint of hops lurking in the background. Medium bitterness. Roasted caramel malt rules the roost through the middle. Nice, balanced, grapefruit hoppiness out the back.

Bottle from Brewdog shop. Copper red color, white head. Bitter taste with caramel, citrus, herbs, toast, fruits and floral hops. Nicely balanced body. Dry bitter finish with citrus. Excellent amber ale.

Bottle @ Brewdog, Edinburgh. Pours dark amber to orange with some head. The nose and taste is dominated by a sweet maltiness that reminds me of cake mixture. There’s also something fruity in there that might be stewed apples or raisins. The palate is well balanced - nice medium bodied with some sweetness on the middle section and a nice clean hoppy finish. Overall, very enjoyable.

35 cl bottle @ home. Pours reddish amber with a white head that leaves some lacing. Aroma is caramel, grapefruit, pepper, and pine. Flavour is grapefruit, pepper, and caramel – with a slightly bitter finish.