Green Lakes Organic Ale is as distinctive and flavorful of an Amber Ale as I've had in a while. After starting out as a seasonal, this has thankfully become a staple for the brewery and is available in most grocery stores.
The label boasts that "this auspicious amber ale is brewed with five types of 100 percent organic malted barley and balanced with Liberty and Salmon-Safe Sterling hops ... Who knew celebrating Mother Earth could taste this good?"
The warm feeling of being environmentally responsible is just an added incentive to pick up a sixer of these beauties.
A strong malt base greets the tongue — bolder than your average Amber, with some nice caramel undertones that make this go down like a red ale. Gentle hop taste gives off hints of citrus that remain in the mouth as the malt dissipates.
This has more flavor than you'd expect from something at 5.2 alcohol by volume, which makes this a very versatile, drinkable beer.
Larry Sidor, Deschutes brewmaster, reportedly spent the past four years looking for the right organic barley to meet Deschutes strict criteria. The added attention and care shows in this stellar ale.