Beer of the Weekend #471: Buckshot Amber Ale

The beer tonight is Buckshot Amber Ale, brewed by Natty Greene’s Brewing Company of Greensboro, North Carolina.


Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. A batch code is printed on the back label but there is nothing discernable as a freshness date.

Appearance: Poured into a pint glass. The color is medium amber. Quite a bit of carbonation is rising from the bottom. A half-finger of buttery, eggshell-colored head dissipated quickly, leaving a thin skim, a ring around the edge, and patches were the carbonation surfaces.

Smell: Though relatively subdued, it is malty and sweet. Aromas of caramel, toffee, toasted malts, and dark fruit esters are immediately noticeable. Cherry licorice is prominent as well, and there is a hint of cocoa.

Taste: Though not light, the mouthfeel reminds me of Alka-Seltzer. At least at first. That impression fades as the beer warms. Much like the aroma, the flavor is subdued as well. It mostly mirrors the smell: caramel, toffee, toasted malts, raspberry and maybe a little plum, cherry licorice, and a hint of cocoa. Each sip leaves a nice, beery bite coating the tongue and cheeks.

Drinkability: It’s good enough. I wish it were more flavorful, though. It definitely has the complexity, but needs to be bolder.

Fun facts about BAA:

-Style: American Amber Ale.

-Price: Mowing in the rain. (I stopped after it really started coming down. I needed to wait a couple hours afterward before the grass was dry again.)

-Serving temperature: 45-50ºF.

-Alcohol content: 4.8 percent ABV.

-IBU: 25.

-Color: The beer’s webpage says “15.” I have no clue what measurement that is but assume it is SRM.

-Speaking about the beer’s webpage, it is pretty dang informative. Not only does it include the usual info — ABV, IBU, and brewer’s notes — but it also features a flavor chart.

-At the very bottom of the Natty Greene’s website is “Natty Greene’s Breweing Companay.” I am unsure if the misspellings are intentional or not.

-There are two Natty Greene’s locations in North Carolina: one in Greensboro and another in Raleigh.

-Who is Natty Greene? I assume it is Nathanael Greene, a general in the Continental Army. Greene’s Wikipedia page says he is “known for his successful command in the Southern Campaign, forcing British general Charles Cornwallis to abandon the Carolinas and head for Virginia.”


The Quiet Man’s grade: B-.

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