Duyck Jenlain Ambrée

Brewed by Duyck
Style: Bière de Garde
Jenlain, France

Labeled farmhouse ale. Pours deep amber into a tulip. Significant off-white head quickly subsides to hug rim. Caramel aromas. Creamy with sweet caramel front-to-back.

Bottle (330ml). At Chaucer’s, in London, ON. Poured an attractive ruby-orange with a small diminishing creamy off-white head. The aroma is very sweet and spicy, perfumy/floral hops, light herbal spices, plenty of juicy malt in the background, it reminded me of strong rosehip tea, with herbal hops emergins some on warming. The taste delivered on the promise of the aroma - sweet, juicy, herbal and floral, slightly tart & funky, very yeasty and spicy. Decent body, lightly carbonated and astringent, started fairly sweet but finished lightly herbal - quite decent, one of their better beers.

Bottle. Quite malty aroma, mildly sweetly citric. Clear grey/amber colour. Small creamy white head. The flavour is malty and a bit peppery. Creamy mouthfeel. Satisfying, satiating aftertaste. Not too exciting, but well-balanced.

12 Oz Bottle labeled French Farmhouse Ale. Aroma is a waft of raspberry caramels and toasted bread corners, with a creeping edge of hallway hops and almonds. Someone opens a barn door. Clear amber pour, with a percolating center of carbonation. Soapy head of ivory. Flavor a more german approach, smooth, soft crisp malt notes, with distant whole grains and chewy creamed corn. Evaporates quickly and leaves you stung with a bite of alcohol. Thin and fusel heavy. Not the character I’m looking for in a Garde. Shallow. Grassy hop notes in the smack are pleasing, but almost too much. Not really all that drinkable. Heavy alcohols and overdone hops really parch out the backend, leaving a harsh impression. I’m glad this wasn’t my introduction to the style; it shouldn’t be anybodys.

Bottle. Rich ruby amber with a nice off-white head. Yeasty spicey aroma. Fruity (peach mostly), yeasty, spicy flavor. Lingering earthy spice. The fruitiness makes it very drinkable. Some sweetness to it.

Bottle. Cherry and other fruit aromas. Golden-red color with a not very big white head. The flavor was a sour cherry. Mouthfeel was light, and it had very little aftertaste. A good, enjoyable beer.

750 ml bottle labeld as Farmhouse Ale. Light-colored, weak head. Slightly hoppy and undistinctive flavor. Enjoyable and very drinkable, but also forgettable.

750 bottle labeled as Farmhouse Ale. Amber body with an off white head. Aroma of malt and some fruit. Somewhat sweet malty flavor with a bit more fruit. Very smooth drinking with a nice mouthfeel. Enjoyable.