Texas is full of goats. And yes, I do mean the animal, though it certainly has more than its fair share of G.O.A.T.s. The Texas amber ale is among those greats with many breweries offering these malty and balanced beers that go great with fall and football, and one pays homage to the great Texas goats.
This turn around we’re checking out Thirsty Goat Amber from Thirsty Planet brewing out of San Marcos, Texas, just south of Austin, though this kid (goat humor) was born in the capital and is a favorite of the Lone Star State.
But what makes the amber ale a fall favorite? Well, I think it has to do with coming out of light beer summer, weaving through quaffable lager Oktoberfest, and sliding on a sweater to enjoy football, drinking a balanced ale with the qualities of a malty, crisp lager and gentle bitterness of hops. Mix that with a higher ABV (usually around 6.0%) and you have a fall favorite, ready for football, hunting, or sitting in cooler weather after a brutal Texas summer.
Yes, amber ales are very high on our list of favorite beers, and we’re expecting a lot from Thirsty Planet’s 6.8% ABV and 30 IBU amber ale. Its reputation precedes it.
First Impressions:
On the Eyes--Amber indeed with an enticing ruby tint. It’s topped off with a beige head that diminishes moderately.
On the Nose--Very clean, as an amber should be, with hints of caramel and toast, and a touch of floral hops.
On the Palate--Surprisingly hoppy and naturally medium-bodied with the malt flavor sliding from caramel to mildly toasty notes that play well into the resin, pine, and pithy citrus hoppiness. Thirsty Goat finishes strong and clean with a touch of floral hops lingering with the slightest malt sweetness.
Food Pairings: If you love eating on a barstool or off a tailgate it’s best to pair with an amber ale. Pizza is our favorite, but burgers, brats, BBQ, and nachos ain’t bad either. And you’ll find lots of each here in Texas.
Final Thoughts:
Amber ales look like fall, with the same hints of red and orange tingeing this old-school beer, and they taste like the bounty of harvest with rich notes of malt and balancing hops. Just thinking about them truly gets my mouth watering. It’s a special style, and more than a few brewers have started their brand with a good amber. Thirsty Planet is one of those brewers.
The hoppiness of Thirsty Goat brings a surprise factor, stopping you for a moment to make sure you’re drinking an amber ale. Then come the sweet caramel swirls leading to a touch of toast that plays well with the resiny hop character. All that together welcomes a clean finish with everything mellowing out in what I would characterize as an apple flavor—crisp, fresh, and ready for another drink. Thankfully, the surprise hoppy character leans into the classic craft brewing bitterness over the modern fruitiness, making this beer hoppy, malty, and very fun to drink.
Now, as far as amber ales go, this one is a bit too hoppy for me—I like more malt than hop in my amber. But, that very nitpicky point being said, the hoppiness is also what makes this beer well-loved, and it’s what keeps attracting the craft brewing hophead to the malty and more balanced side of life. Still perfect for fall, so get after it!
Cheers!
Mr. Brew
Check out some more Texas amber ales here for your fall pleasure with (512)’s Amber and Independence Brewing’s Amber.