Mac and Jack's Brewing Company African Amber Ale

African Amber Ale

 

Mac and Jack's Brewing Company in Redmond, Washington, United States 🇺🇸

  Amber / Red Ale Regular
Score
7.07
ABV: 5.8% IBU: 30 Ticks: 39
The Northwest’s original, unfiltered and dry hopped amber ale. African Amber’s pioneering and innovative style is proof that drink-abilty does not have to be achieved by sacrificing flavor. This beer erupts with a floral, hoppy taste, followed by a well rounded malty middle, finishing with a nicely organic hop flavor. Locally sourced two row grain and a blend of specialty malts give our amber its rich taste. Further complexity is achieved by leaving the beer unfiltered, providing exceptional flavor, as well as giving our amber its unique "cloudy" look. Lastly, we actually place a bag of fresh, locally grown, Yakima valley hops in each keg creating what has become the original, cult classic, northwest amber ale.
 

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7.3
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7

SEA airport. Well rounded malt on aroma and flavor. A bit of orange in the back.

Tried on 24 Oct 2025 at 21:04


7
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7.5

Draft US Pint in the Mexican bar/restaurant next to my hotel in Seattle on both the 10th and 11th of August 2025. I really liked it, hench the double rate! Slightly hazed amber body, off-white head. Reminded me of Alaskan Amber and nights in the Alt Stadt (Dusseldorf). Malty brew with a decent depth and flavour of caramel and toffee notes tempered with a hop bitterness for a bit of balance.

Tried from Draft on 10 Aug 2025 at 21:00


6.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Draught at Growlers: pours amber with white head. Aroma is caramel, slightly earthy. A little sweet. Low bitterness.

Tried from Growler on 04 Jun 2023 at 09:32


7
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

(Tap) very hazy, bright orange amber colour with a small white head; aroma of jam; light, balanced flavour with a long, light bitter finish

Tried from Draft on 14 Dec 2021 at 01:27


7.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9

Well here's a beer I never thought I'd actually try. But there it was on the tap list at my first stop in Seattle. I imperceptibly jumped off my stool. In the end, slightly underwhelming because while it did live up to the hype, it sorta didn't. By that I mean, its surely the best amber ale I've ever had. But also, it's just an amber ale and hard to get terribly excited about that. But still, it was pretty good. Notes of tobacco, earth, caramel, and black bread. Very balanced between a pleasing maltiness and the tobacco hopping.

Tried from Draft on 04 Nov 2019 at 15:35


7.1
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

On tap. Pours a murky copper with a medium, frothy, long lasting, beige head that leaves curtains of lace. Sweet aroma of toasted malt, bread, caramel and citrus hops. Sweet flavour of toasted malt, biscuit, caramel and orange with a dry, mild bitter, hoppy finish. Medium body with an oily texture and average carbonation. A nice, hoppy Amber.

Tried from Draft on 16 Aug 2018 at 03:46


7.4
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5

On tap at The Growler Guys. Pours a cloudy copper with small off white head leaving spotty lacing. The aroma is floral and earth. Medium body, toasted malt, caramel, light bitterness, very good.

Tried from Draft on 27 Jul 2017 at 16:42


7.5
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7.5 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Van tap in Seattle. Licht zoet, fruittonen, abrikoos, honing. Licht kruidig. Bloemig. Goede balans. (9-2016).

Tried from Draft on 04 Sep 2016 at 19:00


7.5
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Draught at the African Lounge, 8/19/16.
It’s cool to see this still in existence! I’d always wanted to try this back in the day, but somehow never did. This was quite a iconic beer and I can see why. It’s hazy, with a soft, malty-sweet yet well-attenuated texture that a lot of American beers back then didn’t have. In addition, it’s got tons of fruity, lightly juicy hops that place more emphasis on the aromatic and flavor compounds than they do the bitterness. As well, though it’s amber in color, it’s very different from the grainy, iced tea-flavored, monotonous malt creations that dominate the amber ale style. Almost like an unintentional precursor to the New Enlgand IPA and sure enough, though it’s got nowhere near the hop character, it’s not THAT far off from something like Bissell Bucolia, which is quite high praise, at least in my opinion.
Anyways, fun beer, good piece of history and glad to have finally tried it.

Tried from Can on 29 Aug 2016 at 15:40


7.1
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

Easy drinking and very subtle and well defined. Hazy amber pour with great head and lacing. Some rusty malt and light citrus. Good balance. Light tangy finish. Tap at Africa Lounge.

Tried from Draft on 02 Jan 2016 at 11:48