Great Divide Ridgeline Amber Ale (Arapahoe Amber)

Amber color with some head. Not a whole lot of aroma but what there is is little malt. Light hop tastes balances with the maltiness.

From 12-oz bottle, acquired from Cellar’s Wine & Spirits in St Paul, MN. Pours a semi-cloudy amber brew with a thin off-white head that quickly dissipates to a thin white ring and some spotty lacing. Aroma of light roasted caramel malt, some flowery hops, a touch of roasted walnuts and fruit. Taste is medium bodied, light carbonation with a more caramel malt than hop bitterness or character. Finish is semi-sweet, with a nutty and fruity malt aftertaste.

light brown ale with a malty flavor (esp. after all the hoppy others from the multipack). Significant bubbles and sweet finish. I wouldn’t go out of my way to find it; but if in Denver I would ask for it on tap often.

Bottle@Home. Malty and perfume aroma. Reddish amber, beige head, good lace. Sweet, malty, fruity, bitter, light perfumey. Sticky with a thinnish finish. Ok, not exceptional.

Bottle. Thick and sweet nose, fruity (strawberry and peach) bubblegum and hop resin. Cloudy amber, thin white heady with lots of bubbles. Mild lacing. Interesting flavor, a good deal of honey and pine at the open, finishes with a nutty crystal malt earthiness. A touch harsh on the palate but smooths out at the end. Highly unbalanced.

Pours a light brown that borders upon amber in certain light. A great effervescence that rises into the thick tan head. Nose is of nuts and caramel malts with faint whispers of hops. Nutty and malty flavor with bitterness in the background, finishing slightly nutty. Medium-light bodied with strong carbonation.

Bottle. From a multipack that I bought. Pours with a decent head that leaves as quickly as it developed. Great color and clarity. Interesting nose of malt sweetness. Flavor is more roasted and slight hops than sweet malt. Not a bad brew, but surely not a great one. Overrated in my opinion.

Pours a clear copper with a dense, creamy, beige head with patchy lacing. The nose is malty, nutty and peaty, almost like a Scottish ale. The light side of medium-bodied, the mouthfeel is slick with a toasted, dry finish. The flavor is a lightly sweet toasted malt front with backing notes of nuts and peat. It reminds me a bit of GD’s now retired HotShot ESB, but with added nuttiness and an amped up flavor profile. Despite the general consensus, this is now one of my favorite ambers.