Beer of the Weekend #1,156: Amburana
I’m way behind on beer reviews, so let’s get caught up.
The beer of the weekend two weeks ago was Amburana, brewed by the Confluence Brewing Company of Des Moines, Iowa.
Serving type: 16-ounce can. “CANNED MAR/18/26” was printed on the bottom.
Appearance: Poured into a tulip. The color was clean, clear, strawberry amber. Fluffy, off-white, bubbly head popped away evenly and left a bubbly skim.
Smell: Nice and spicy. Yeast, cloves, maybe a hint of pepper, cinnamon, vanilla, bubble gum, and hints of fruit. Very intriguing and enticing.
Taste: Warming, spicy, and a bit boozy. Lightly toasted malt and spices, cloves, bubble gum, cinnamon, vanilla, honey, and an alcohol edge, which gives it a Hot Toddy character.
Fun facts about Amburana:
• Style: Belgian blonde. Is it “blond” or “blonde”? I would assume “blond” but not according to BA.
• Price: I forgot to grab the receipt, but I think it was around $11 for a 4-pack of 16-ounce cans at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.
• Alcohol content: 7.8 percent ABV.
• Amburana is the winner of the 2025 Wort Challenge. Here are the details via Untappd:
• Though the details do not say exactly how Amburana wood was involved, I assume the beer was aged in Amburana barrels.
• “Kc” is a new spelling variation for me. When I told The Foxy Lady about it, she said flatly, “Not a thing.”
The Quiet Man’s grade: B+.
The beer of the weekend two weeks ago was Amburana, brewed by the Confluence Brewing Company of Des Moines, Iowa.
Serving type: 16-ounce can. “CANNED MAR/18/26” was printed on the bottom.
Appearance: Poured into a tulip. The color was clean, clear, strawberry amber. Fluffy, off-white, bubbly head popped away evenly and left a bubbly skim.
Smell: Nice and spicy. Yeast, cloves, maybe a hint of pepper, cinnamon, vanilla, bubble gum, and hints of fruit. Very intriguing and enticing.
Taste: Warming, spicy, and a bit boozy. Lightly toasted malt and spices, cloves, bubble gum, cinnamon, vanilla, honey, and an alcohol edge, which gives it a Hot Toddy character.
Fun facts about Amburana:
• Style: Belgian blonde. Is it “blond” or “blonde”? I would assume “blond” but not according to BA.
• Price: I forgot to grab the receipt, but I think it was around $11 for a 4-pack of 16-ounce cans at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.
• Alcohol content: 7.8 percent ABV.
• Amburana is the winner of the 2025 Wort Challenge. Here are the details via Untappd:
The Wort Challenge is a collaboration and competition put on in conjunction with the IBU homebrewers club who can modify and ferment it as they see fit. The entries are judged by the Confluence production crew, and the winner gets to brew their beer with us on a commercial scale! The winner of the 2025 Wort Challenge is the brew team of Randy Daniels and Kc McKinney, and this is their beer. A Belgian Blonde Ale that takes advantage of the sweet and fruity yeast esters to help showcase what Amburana wood can bring to a beer. Amburana is a tropical hardwood from South America that imparts incredible notes of cinnamon, vanilla and baking spices.
• Though the details do not say exactly how Amburana wood was involved, I assume the beer was aged in Amburana barrels.
• “Kc” is a new spelling variation for me. When I told The Foxy Lady about it, she said flatly, “Not a thing.”
The Quiet Man’s grade: B+.
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