2008 Crown Ambassador Reserve Lager
There’s quite a fuss made about this stuff. The packaging and presentation really is superb. They (Fosters) sure as shit make you pay for it though. This stuff retails for around $70 per bottle when it’s released. This is the first release, but they’ve done another one since. I’ve not yet tried it. The marketing hype prattles on about the cellarability of this beer, and the fact it’s strong, and made from fresh hop flowers. The fact is, the Belgians have been making this style of beer for centuries – what’s more, they’re still doing it! I’m amused by Fosters calling it a “Lager.”
Pours a deep, near opaque amber colour with ample, fine, off white head, which dissipates quicker than it should. Fine white lacing remains, however. I find the carbonation just borders on acceptable. Manuka honey, multi-grain toast, and raisins on the nose. It’s rich, generous and inviting. The palate is big, rich and warming. Delivering intense flavours of raisin toast, golden syrup and nutri-grain. There’s an appealing hint of vegemite running through the palate. Not normally something I’d call appealing, but it provides contrast against the onslaught of sweet honey, dried fruits and grain. The finish is a disappointment, soft and soapy, the flavours fading into insignificance without so much as a wave goodbye. An exceedingly good attempt at the Belgian dubbel/tripel style. Wax covered crown seal. Alc/Vol not on bottle, I suspect around 9%. Bottle 4354 Tasted. 2, 6, 6. 14/20.
Works for me because it’s flavours are golden, on the verge of brown, I find it more drinkable than a Westmalle for example. However, at $80, I could have a dozen Belgians that are infinitely superior beers; Ambassador Reserve isn’t any better than Chimay Blue, Chimay Red, Westmalle, Delerium, Hoegaarden Grand Cru, Hoegaarden Forbidden Fruit, Orval.
I still insist Cooper’s Vintage is a superior beer to all of those above. Here’s a review I did a while ago of the 1999 Coopers Vintage. I had one a month or so ago, the stuff is still in very fine form.