Independence Brewing Company's Austin Amber

My first beer from Independence Brewing Company, and it pissed me off right from the Goddamn start. It foamed out of my glass on a gentle pour, something I'd expect (and watch out for) in a Duvel but not from a straight-up American amber. So it had to overcome a very poor first impression. It was also hugely over carbonated and even without nucleation sites on the bottom of my glass it looked like a waterfall going against gravity. The light tan head that it eventually boils down to is pillowy, which I like. And I like the loosely filtered look with a deep amber color. But still, the bastard foamed out of my glass.

In a turn for the better, it has a great bready malt smell, clean, with slightly grassy hops.

Solid amber taste as well, with a fair amount of bitterness backed up by a good bready malt body. A tad too sweet, which slows down the otherwise crisp feel.

This beer dug itself out of the hole with me, but I hope Independence fixes their carbonation problem. Otherwise, it'll be just like every Austinite I know, fatally flawed, and gushing imperfection.