This is a classic where I come from. You can find it everywhere and most of the craft beer geeks has gone through it at one point in their life. It's not one of the most appreciated style of IPAs nowadays although it's a great beer to have at a party or when you are low on your craft beer budget.
“…it satisfies to the category of an English IPA.”
St-Ambroise IPA
Brewed by: McAuslan Brewery
Type: English IPA
Region: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
ABV: 6.2%
IBU: 56
Malts: Malted Barley
Hops: Chinook, Golding, Cascade
Appearance: 5/10
The description on the back of the label is akin to others of the same series. A bit of information depicts the brewing process with meaningless details on the character of the beer. The description on the website improves dramatically, with the inspiration and the use of hops and malts. As with their Pale Ale, the Best Before date printed on the back makes it possible to appreciate the product at its freshest, important feature for an IPA. The list of ingredients is present but comes up short as it only mentions water, hops & malted barley. Very similar to their APA again, the quantity, the ABV and the beer style are indicated on the front, although the inspiration of the IPA is lacking. Tasting indications and advice would’ve been appreciated such as the proper glass & temperature, the flavour profile, some pairings, the aging potential. Information for more advanced connoisseurs too, such as the initial and final gravity, the hops & the malts that were used, the SRM and the IBUs. The robe is amber with a modest effervescence, a thin foamy head of sand-ish white. The retention is moderate and the lacing is surprisingly decent. The SRM of around 9 falls in the middle of the accepted range for English IPAs (6–14) and the froth is irreproachable as per the BJCP guidelines. By the looks of it, I am expecting a fairly spotless classic English IPA.
Nose: 10.5/15
The first emanations are evoking a faint butterscotch caramel, the crumb of a freshly made loaf & an intense citrus amalgam exposing lemon, lime and grapefruit; so sharp it's almost soapy. As I get used to the head bouquet, I begin to perceive some mild coconut and banana, some ripe stone fruit, especially apricot, and a delicate earthy cedar note which kinds of tones down the powerful citrus aromas. A more intense caramel aroma leaves some place to the malts, but it falls in the category of diacetyl with a more butterscotch profile. Although generally accepted in low quantity in an English IPA, the diacetyl is a bit too present without it being dominant nor unpleasant. The overall experience is somewhat disappointing. The style is respected, but the buttery and soapy odours are on the brink of being unsavoury.
Mouth: 9.5/15
The robust bitterness assaults the taste buds as soon as it enters the mouth. Follows through a gentle sweetness easing and balancing out the hops for a cleaner bitter profile. A welcomed effervescence compensates a slightly oily texture probably coming from the diacetyl as does the faint tannic sensation. The mouthfeel is surprisingly pleasant and not as slick as I expected it to be. The flavours are still axed on some citrus from the hops and a buttery caramel from the yeast and the malts, however, the cedar notes present on the nose are expressed in a more herbal and resiny way, adding complexity to the hop profile. Unfortunately, the diacetyl is more intense on the palate, this, in addition to the amplified soapiness makes for some unpleasant flavours in this English IPA.
Finish: 7/10
The bitterness is biting and it leaves a raspy feeling. The sweetness diminishes greatly and improves this bitter sensation. The unpleasant flavours are softened and a more delicate lemon shines as does the caramel with a dampened butter profile.
Overall: 64/100
This IPA is a good interpretation of the English style albeit the buttery flavour and the soapy hops. The diacetyl despite being too dominant is not harsh and the soapiness can easily be misplaced for intense citrus to an untrained palate. The mouthfeel makes it effortlessly drinkable and the caramelly sweetness brings a certain harmony to the sharp bitterness. It has all the vital characteristics so it satisfies to the category of an English IPA. The balance of the beer was noticeably more on the hops than the malts which is required in such a beer.
3 word description:
Mouthfeel, Citrusy & Caramel.
The Reference
More information @mcauslan.com