SuppliedAlley Kat Brewery
Available at Liquor Merchants on Whyte Ave
As a tribute to the end of this year’s winter, Alley Kat’s Amber ale was reviewed before it gets to be too late for such a hearty brew.
From the outset, this ale gives off an aroma of moss, and particularly its malt. The malt gives of a much sweeter scent, like that of toffee. It pours amber, as its name suggests, with a moderately thin white and longer lasting head. It has a nice mouthfeel, though admittedly nothing spectacular.
This darker ale is a classic from Alley Kat, and while it isn’t incredibly out of the ordinary, there are some notes that make it somewhat distinguishable among the your every day brews. The hops play only a minor role in the overall flavour of such a heavy-bodied beverage, whereas the malt takes center stage with sweeter hints of caramel and chocolate.
These sweeter notes only become a danger when the ale begins to taste more like a liquefied candy bar, minus the milk and nuts. However, if sipped rather than gulped, Amber is much easier on the palate.
Alley Kat Amber is best suited for drinking with a nice hearty meal on a chilly, blustery day. With a 5.0 per cent ABV, you can kick back a couple without suffering much the next morning.
As a pretty average beer, Alley Kat’s Amber ale is a decent brew, but you aren’t missing much if you skip out on this one.
