Vetusta
Okay, I am going to start by picking nits. This is not an English Ale. Simply because there are no Amber Ales in Europe, and this is way too dark to be the obviously loving homage to English Pale Ale and English Summer Ale that it is. The latter in particular is what I thought of immediately when I first drank this. Refreshing, thirst quenching, muted floral hops supporting a sweet aftertaste and a stone-fruit tinged malt flavor. However, it is much darker than would be allowed in either of the English styles, and the brewers say Amber Ale, so American Amber Ale it is, at least for evaluation below.
That nomenclature argument out of the way, let’s move on to the beer itself.
Style Guidelines
- Color: Copper (15 SRM)
- Standard: Gold to copper-colored (5-12(10-24 EBC) SRM)
- Clarity: Clear, no haze
- Standard: Chill haze is allowable at cold temperatures
- Perceived Malt Aroma & Flavor: High malt flavor, medium caramel
- Standard: Low to medium residual malt sweetness should be present
- Perceived Hop Aroma & Flavor: Medium-low hop flavor
- Standard: Low to medium residual malt sweetness should be present
- Perceived Bitterness: Medium bitterness (30 IBUs)
- Standard: Medium (20-35 IBUs)
- Fermentation Characteristics: Bubble gum ester flavors
- Standard: Mild carbonation traditionally characterizes draft-cask versions, but in bottled versions, a slight increase in carbon dioxide content is acceptable. Fruity esters are acceptable. Diacetyl is usually absent in these beers but may be present at low levels.
- Body: Medium
- Standard: Low to medium
Tasting Notes
Fuggles + Golding = British pub smell, to me at least. Slight mint and grass aromas giving way to some earthy floral smells and tastes. Lot’s of big malt flavors here, as is European tradition, but with the dark amber color and slightly higher carbonation typical of American Amber Ale.
