Fat Weasel Ale

Brewed by August Schell Brewing Company
Style: Amber Ale
New Ulm, Minnesota USA

Serve in English pint, Shaker

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Date: 04/11/2007
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting

clear copper, wispy white head, sweet malty aroma with a strong corn presence, rich malt flavor, lots of corn flavor, light bitterness, lots of flavor for the style

Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 9/20
Rating: 2.5/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4

The aroma is rather innocuous. The beer has a vague malty-yeasty character with a light spiciness. Finishes with a light alcohol note. An ok take on a strong ale, but nothing I feel like seeking out again. This one was brewed at Mendocino.

(12oz bottle) Clear golden body with white head. Aroma is medium sweet, fruity. Taste is moderately sweet, cereal, some peach syrup, alcohol laden. Medium body, some stickiness.

Sort of a light spicy, citrus aroma. Golden color like a lager, with a frothy white head that almost laces. The spice becomes definitely noticeable as the glass approaches the lips. Thin. Fizzy. Nice floral notes, something of breadiness, and a bitter that is mild but florally attractive. Not really all that citrusy, but the spice notes appear in the finish. It is rather light, especially for an amber, but it is rather tasty.

Bottle 12 oz from TraderJoe’s. Cloudy golden amber with a medium white head that diminshed quickly. Soft malty sweet aroma. Light to medium body. Medium malt and hop flavor with a small bitter finish. Tasted once.

12oz bottle acquired in trade with ughsmash (thanks!). Poured a medium and clear golden/amber color with a larger sized off white head. Aromas of spiciness, citrus, and biscuity. Tastes of the same. Thinner body. Boring.

Pours a transparent bright golden with a thin, wispy white head. Aroma of slightly sweet caramel malt with a touch of citrusy hops. Body starts fairly full and malty sweet with a touch of DMS and some earthiness toward an overly-bitter, dry finish. Not very true to style, and has a strange balance to it.

Bottled. Poured a light, clear amber with a short cap of white head. The nose was of sweet pale and caramel malts... plus artificial sweetener. Flavor picked up sweet caramel malts and alcohol... highly astringent... Light on the palate, but with sharp alcohol notes and artificial sweetener around the tongue and at the finish. Not very good.

The bottle that I picked up at the Trader Joe’s in Orland Park, IL, indicates it was brewed by Schell, not Firestone, and has a 7.1% ABV. It pours a clear light yellow (amber?) with a two-fingered white head. It has a sweet, grainy aroma with a touch of lemon. The flavor is sweet and grainy with alcohol and an oily, earthy bitterness. I’d be interested in trying a Firestone version... not that it seems it would be better, but I’m curious as to whether it’s the Amber Ale of the two.

12 ounce bottle from Trader Joe’s in Short Pump/Glen Allen, VA. Pours a clear orange-ish pale amber with a medium head, low retention and moderate lacing. Grainy malt aroma with some slight caramel and fruity notes. Taste is caramel, pear and some stone fruits. Not much bitterness. Medium body.