Beer of the Weekend #59: Boont Amber Ale
Tonight I realized light beer commercials are much better in a language I can’t understand.
A few weeks ago Friday Night Fights got a new sponsor: Tecate, one of Mexico’s most popular brews. Hello, Tecate Friday Night Fights Studio. It’s a base lager, and unfortunately there’s a Light version. A Spanish-only Tecate Light commercial ran between rounds in the first fight. It was out of nowhere — totally unexpected — and I loved it. It was something new, refreshing, and wasn’t full of shit…at least from what I know.
I should sample lagers from Mexico just as I’ve done with those from Canada. There is a wealth of good brews south of the border. Cinco de Mayo is less than a month away.
The beer this weekend is Boont Amber Ale brewed by the Anderson Valley Brewing Company of Boonville, California.
Serving type: Six 12-ounce bottles.
Appearance: Poured a copper red. A finger of creamy head developed on top and dissipated to a thin lacing.
Smell: Caramel malts with grapefruit citrus and a slight touch of pine.
Taste: Very clean and crisp. The caramel dominates, and the citrus is reminiscent of grapefruit and cara cara oranges. The hops are well balanced with the malts and not overly bitter, as I was expecting.
Drinkability: Boont Amber Ale is very impressive. It’s even and well flavored, definitely the best amber I’ve tried.
Fun facts about Boont Amber Ale:
-Serving temperature: 45-50°F.
-Alcohol content: 5.8 percent
-Food pairings: BA recommends sharp cheese like Blue and Cheddar, as well as beef, poultry, and fish. The Anderson Valley website says, “This very smooth and exceptionally drinkable beer is excellent with steaks, chicken, pasta, and other flavorful meals.”
-The AV website also says, “Boont Amber Ale is never sterile filtered nor heat pasteurized…” I’m not sure what that means, but apparently it’s a good thing.
-Boont Amber Ale won the Silver Medal in the American Amber/Red Ale category at the 2003 Great American Beer Festival. It also won the bronze metal for American Amber Ale at the California State Fair in 2005. They judge beer at the state fair? I might have to go this year.
-The San Francisco Bay Guardian named Boont Amber Ale the best beer brewed in Northern California. That is a hell of a bold statement, but it may not be too off target.
-As you may recall from BotW #16, the Boonville area spawned a slang-dominated version of English called Boontling in the 1800s. I’m unsure but willing to bet Boont Amber Ale is named in honor of Boontling. The beer’s webpage features the phrase “It’s bahl hornin’,” which means “It’s good drinking.”
The Quiet Man’s grade: A-.
A few weeks ago Friday Night Fights got a new sponsor: Tecate, one of Mexico’s most popular brews. Hello, Tecate Friday Night Fights Studio. It’s a base lager, and unfortunately there’s a Light version. A Spanish-only Tecate Light commercial ran between rounds in the first fight. It was out of nowhere — totally unexpected — and I loved it. It was something new, refreshing, and wasn’t full of shit…at least from what I know.
I should sample lagers from Mexico just as I’ve done with those from Canada. There is a wealth of good brews south of the border. Cinco de Mayo is less than a month away.
The beer this weekend is Boont Amber Ale brewed by the Anderson Valley Brewing Company of Boonville, California.
Serving type: Six 12-ounce bottles.
Appearance: Poured a copper red. A finger of creamy head developed on top and dissipated to a thin lacing.
Smell: Caramel malts with grapefruit citrus and a slight touch of pine.
Taste: Very clean and crisp. The caramel dominates, and the citrus is reminiscent of grapefruit and cara cara oranges. The hops are well balanced with the malts and not overly bitter, as I was expecting.
Drinkability: Boont Amber Ale is very impressive. It’s even and well flavored, definitely the best amber I’ve tried.
Fun facts about Boont Amber Ale:
-Serving temperature: 45-50°F.
-Alcohol content: 5.8 percent
-Food pairings: BA recommends sharp cheese like Blue and Cheddar, as well as beef, poultry, and fish. The Anderson Valley website says, “This very smooth and exceptionally drinkable beer is excellent with steaks, chicken, pasta, and other flavorful meals.”
-The AV website also says, “Boont Amber Ale is never sterile filtered nor heat pasteurized…” I’m not sure what that means, but apparently it’s a good thing.
-Boont Amber Ale won the Silver Medal in the American Amber/Red Ale category at the 2003 Great American Beer Festival. It also won the bronze metal for American Amber Ale at the California State Fair in 2005. They judge beer at the state fair? I might have to go this year.
-The San Francisco Bay Guardian named Boont Amber Ale the best beer brewed in Northern California. That is a hell of a bold statement, but it may not be too off target.
-As you may recall from BotW #16, the Boonville area spawned a slang-dominated version of English called Boontling in the 1800s. I’m unsure but willing to bet Boont Amber Ale is named in honor of Boontling. The beer’s webpage features the phrase “It’s bahl hornin’,” which means “It’s good drinking.”
The Quiet Man’s grade: A-.
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