Great Divide Ridgeline Amber Ale (Arapahoe Amber)

(12 oz bottle: The Cellars in Roseville, MN) A friend who was visiting Minnesota bought this beer (and several others) for me, so there’s no telling how long this was sitting on the shelf in the beer store, but it’s kind of sour in both the nose and flavor. I detect a modest maltiness in there somewhere, but this beer is just too far gone to get much out of it. Hazy, amber color with a smallish, off-white head that leaves some patchy lacing on the glass. I need a fresh bottle to try.

I haven’t seen a head this substantial for ages. My wife says that ...., well, no she never ever said that to me. But the first half inch poured a full 6 inches of head. Taste is malty and rich. Not at all a bad beer.

arapahoe bottle / ambers. ambers. hmm. well i want my amber to be highly quaffable, cold not freezing, and light. i poured this amber cold and a massive head attacked and murdered my roomie’s dog in her face. it took awhile for the head to diminish. wooh. poor dog. why am i talking about a dog? because it beats talking about this beer! this is mediocre at best. it seems only so simple. a bit of nuts and caramel, and it is truly smelly. i first thought it was paint, but it’s surpisingly not that offensive. anyway, next! i’ve tasted better chalk at the blackboard. i won’t have this subpar, not bad, beer... thing at another time. meh! UPDATE 4/29/05: ridgeline bottle / almost lemony cheese aroma, which is interesting; not offensive nor that inviting. thick bone white head that sparkles and diminishes quite slowly, lots of lacing, and it’s just pretty, but the body is a dead copper--meh. the flavor is lightly citrus with some nuts and interesting maltiness. amber? it was designated an amber, and now this is a scottish, egh? oh, hum. anyway... i actually uprated this brew. not that good, but not bad... just not my kind of brew!

Rerate On tap at Leon Pub, Tallahassee, Fl. - a bit more bland and boring this time around, Original 3.1 Part of a Birthday Beer Bouquet from Grapevine Liquors in Austin. Pours a light amber color with a creamy frothy white head and decent lacing. Aroma has a bit of dustiness to it with a bit of smelly feet essence to it but somewhat redeems itself with a bit of nuttiness. Flavor has tad bit of spiciness, some nutty maltiness and a bit of underlying hoppiness. Mouthfeel is decent enough. Overall, an average amber.

I didn’t care for this. It makes the right choice in being "bigger" rather than "weaker", which is to be commended, especially in the "amber" style which gets a fair number of imposters. But along the way it made some other less fortunate decisions, in my mind. The appearance was excellent--rich red/amber with a wonderful billowing head that had my little kids impressed. Slightly metallic aroma and hints of caramel, but the tasting was a real turnoff--like toasted chestnuts and walnut shells with some sweet potato pancakes (make that "potatoe" using the Dan Quayle spelling, since there is a street called Arapaho near my house and thus I find the "Arapahoe" to be similarly odd). The palate is decent, smooth and rich, but the lingering edge didn’t suit. Good effort with this one, but in a pure "the taste is the test" way this was not my beer.

Pours a clear light copper with a velvety off-white head.

Its aroma is nutty malts with a little DMS, a touch of hops, and some toffee.

The flavor is slightly sweet caramel malts with some light astringent hoppiness. Medium bodied with good texture.

Overall, a decent amber ale. It did seem to get better the more I drank. Its like a better Fat Tire.

Nice thick head. Clear amber with a leafy, organic aroma. Very, very full appreciable mouthfeel. Malty, earthy taste that might be a little over the top. Hop it a little better.

Slightly hazy light copper body, thin off-white head. Fairly musty caramely/bready aroma with a hint of grassy hops. Nice caramely/fruity malt notes hit the palate immediately and fade to toast and hints of cheerios, finishing with bitter grassy hops and toast. Strong carbonation. Could be a bit denser but this isn’t a bad beer (disclaimer: I enjoy amber ales).