2005 750mL bottle drunk fresh.
Light amber with maize and deep brass, good clarity and an off-white head atop showing moderate-to-strong retention.
Great mix of malt, hops and yeast here without too much specialty malt despite the significantly darker color. Heavy mineral, light plastic, band aid, cherry, pear and light lime. Hard to pinpoint exactly what is responsible for what through all of this complexity. Lots of black pepper and light-to-moderate herbal hop character on the finish helps dry it out, not that's it particularly too sweet. No alcohol noted, nor flaw.
In the mouth it's soft and malty with good sweetness but only a hint of toasted malt and a bit of toffee mixing with the mostly honey-like base. Pepper, herbs, leather, mineral, plaster and enjoyable plastic-like phenols all create deep complexity and good balance to the malts. Tight carbonation and no alcohol or flaw. Very nice stuff. Not a big amber ale person, regardless of the exact variety, but this is very restrained on the specialty malts and the big peppery yeast and brisk, zesty, herbal hops keep it bright.