Anchor Brewing – BigLeaf Maple Autumn Red

Anchor Brewing – BigLeaf Maple Autumn Red

Red Ale
BJCP Style:  10B. American Amber Ale
ABV: 6%
Bottled
Tasting on: 10/28/14
Glass: Craft Pint

Aroma: A good hop profile with several different citrus notes and what I would describe as hints of wet, fall leaves, which may be attributed to the addition of maple syrup to the beer.  Undertones of light, almost caramel, sweetness.  10/10

Appearance: Medium orange with yellow hues on the sides. Slightly opaque but not cloudy.  Off-white head with excellent retention. 10/10

Flavor: Moderate bitterness and citrus hops begin the beer with bitterness becoming more pronounced in the middle. The hops become most prominent in the end when the grapefruit notes really shine. There is just enough malt throughout the beer to make the hops not feel unbalanced.  The aftertaste continues to showcase the grapefruit hops with lingering but pleasant bitterness.  17/20

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body with moderate carbonation. 7/10

Overall Impression: A beer with a strong, assertive hop profile that has a nice complexity within the citrus range. A heavier mouthfeel and a bit more malt balance would have added to the beer, but overall this is a good fall seasonal. 46/50

Final Score: 90%