Eel River Brewing Company
Fortuna, CA
Available: CA, ID, NV, OR, WA
This brewery is the first certified organic brewery owned and operated in California. Their amber ale is brewed using certified organic Pacific Gems and Hallertau hops, imported from New Zealand.
Alcohol by weight: 3.82
Color: n/a
Bitterness: 20
Gravity: 1052
Unlike many other beers sampled over the years, when Eel River says amber, they mean it. The big, creamy, showy head provides a lovely contrast. With plenty of malt in the nose, you would expect a really big beer. It is full bodied, but surprisingly delicate and well-balanced with fine mouth feel; sprightly carbonation; and just a kiss of hops noticeable, mostly in the aftertaste. For a healthy and delicious brunch, serve Eel River Amber with organic eggs Benedict, toasted organic rye bread and fresh organic pears--save the earth.
Refined crystal clear amber color with a rich dense appealing head. Aroma is full with toasted malt and grain accent. Full flavored and wonderfully balanced with palate quenching hop character. A very well made amber ale, light on the palate, yet full of flavor--great drinkability.
Copper-colored beer with a foaming head, followed by a deep, complex aroma of biscuity malt, peppery hops and rhubarb fruit. Sweet malt in the mouth is balanced by bitter hops, while the finish has rich, creamy, chewy malt, tart fruit and resiny hops. Organic beer is becoming a small but influential part of the British beer scene and it's good to see American brewers going down the same green path.
Founder of Merchant du Vin and the Pike Brewing Co., Charles Finkel is a pioneer in the marketing of craft beers in America.
Author of the New Complete Joy of Homebrewing, founder of the Great American Beer Festival and a Beer Examiner at www.examiner.com, Papazian is a leading voice in beer and brewing.
Roger Protz is the author of Complete Guide to World Beer and 300 Beers to Try Before You Die. He is a respected beer authority and editor of the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.
