Ballast Point - Calico Amber Ale

Purchased From: Harvest Fine Wines & Spirits
Serving Type: 12 oz. bottle, poured into a pint glass

Following up Ballast's IPA, Calico is a red ale for the California brewer. The body is a deep red amber with a sticky, frothy, tannish head. The head recedes very slowly leaving a ton of lacing clinging to the walls of the glass. Hops are potent on the nose with a mild astringency and a slight mineral edge.

From the start, the beer is quite hoppy, in true California style. The malts are clear and seem big and chunky. The mouthfeel is exaggerated by some carbonation on top of the malts that are already full of body. The malts give the beer a bit of a biscuity character. The mid-palate is hit with a cherry sweetness and a lingering toasted caramel. The finish seems a bit dusty and the mouthfeel is left seeming powdery.

Final Verdict: B