Coronado Brewing 'Mermaid's Red' Amber Ale

Coronado Brewing 'Mermaid's Red' Amber Ale. 5.7% abv. Dark ruby color. Two fingers of tan foamy head. Excellent retention and lace. Nose of bright herb, mild caramel malt, with floral spice becoming more fragrant as the temp drops. Front taste of bitter herbal hops, light caramel, dank citrus. Aftertaste of cloves, herbal hoppy bite, earthy notes on the sustain. Medium body. Mouthfeel is foamy, tangy, musty.

This is a good amber ale with a flavor profile unique to its category. The usual malty taste takes a backseat to herbal and floral hops with bright notes of cloves. The aroma starts mildly herbal and malty but becomes quite spicy in time, with the cloves emerging well. They set out to make a different amber ale and they have succeeded. Whether or not this is a good thing is up to you. Personally, I enjoyed this beer, but I prefer less spice and more of a malt backbone in my ambers. Mildly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Mermaid's Red bucks the shallow mid-range red ale stereotype. Loaded with Cascade hops, it delivers a fresh floral aroma and sharp bitter notes, all while delivering a solid kick of roasted malts that fades seamlessly into a rich, chocolaty finish with hints of clove and caramel."

[source: coronadobrewingcompany.com]