West Sixth Brewing - Amber Ale

West Sixth’s Amber Ale presents a rich amber color in our glass, topped by a sizeable head of khaki foam. An engaging malt profile comes forth in the aroma right away, offering plenty of caramel and toasty, bready, biscuity character. The hops make their presence known as well, giving us a nice dash of lightly citric fruitiness atop the malty notes. Look for the story to continue much the same way in the flavor, too, as the malty core of this brew expands across the palate with layers of toasted bread, rich caramels, and roasted nuts, all riding on a mild dose of residual sweetness. Like most amber ales, West Sixth’s is malt-forward, but those Cascade hops offer plenty of balancing bite along with impressions of citrus zest and a little spiciness. For pairing options, the brewery recommends pizzas and barbecued dishes. We agree; in fact, a barbecue chicken pizza sounds just about perfect. Really, anything with good caramelization and/or bready character should play nicely with this amber ale. Cheers!

West Sixth Brewing hit our radar pretty early on after they were founded in 2012, and this sustainability-minded brewery in Kentucky has been making some exceptional beers that see very modest distribution. From their core year-round IPA (packed with Cascade, Centennial, Citra, and CTZ hops) to more occasional offerings like their exceptional Christmas Ale and imperial stout releases, West Sixth has been continually knocking it out of the park. The brewery distributes solely in its home state of Kentucky and nearby areas, but the local emphasis has also helped them grow in leaps and bounds over the past few years.

West Sixth currently operates a taproom at their brewery in downtown Lexington in the historic Bread Box building, along with a brewery and taproom in Louisville’s trendy NuLu neighborhood. There’s also the brewery’s West Sixth Farm, a 120-acre property in Franklin on which West Sixth grows all kinds of different regional ingredients for their beers: hops, blackberries, raspberries, cider apples, and more. A small fourth location serves visitors to Newport’s Bridgeview Box Park.

In addition to world-class beers, we appreciate the mindfulness West Sixth shows toward the surrounding communities, as well as their efforts toward environmental sustainability. Along with supporting nonprofits through campaigns like Sixth for a Cause, Wooden Nickel, Pay It Forward Cocoa Porter, and Pedaling for a Purpose, the brewery also releases a sustainability report each year—highlighting efforts in areas like farming and land management practices, resource utilization & recycling, charitable giving, and community involvement. For more info, visit their website at www.westsixth.com.