Moon River Ogeechee Amber

Draught sample at the brewpub. Translucent gold with a lasting wisp of head as on all samples here....absolutely huge, thick nose full of caramelized malt, various dried and baked fruits (cherry and peachy dominant), a bit of maple and a hint of dry wood....sugary-sweet in the body, very thick and malty, a bit nutty, lightly alcoholic strangely but it’s amaretto, not boozy whiskey or anything....really juicy, just massively flavored for the style, perhaps not "correct" or anything but intensely enjoyable and complusively drinkable.

This looks a LOT like their Swamp Fox India Pale Ale, with the clear, light amber body and decent-sized white foam on top. The flavors are very different, though. In the aroma and flavor, this really is hoppier than the IPA, although the bitterness of this is a good bit lower than that of the IPA. Fresh citrusy hops tingle the sinuses. There’s a decent bit of malt underneath in the aroma and the flavor, but this really isn’t malty for an amber. Tasty and easy drinking, but a surprise for the style. Light bodied.

Caramel, grain, toffee malt (M); floral hops (L). Deep gold body. Moderately sweet, lightly acidic flavor becomes a moderately bitter, lightly acidic, grainy finish. Medium-light body, watery texture, lively carbonation. The bottom line is: oversparged.

Very light colored for an amber, even accused the bartender of pouring me an IPA! Decent, flowery, hoppy nose with a trace of spruce, good white head, with adequate lacing. More akin to a pale ale than an amber with more hop accents than malt. Decent, spicy bitterness and thick mouthfeel. Slight furity notes round it out nicely. Fades just a bit near the end of the pint, but not a bad way to sit out a Savannah thunderstorm.

Light Cascade hop aroma. Very pale. Tastes like an American Golden Ale. Light acidity and light fruit, an almost PA character. Longish hoppy finish.