For those who like to venture into uncharted territory exploring new tastes and experiences for the first time, Full Sail Amber Ale might be for you. In this case, it wasn’t for me.

Even though Full Sail Brewery has been ranked as one of the top 20 breweries in the world and its Amber placed first in the 2006 World Beer Championships, it lacks in all areas for my taste.

The initial impression from Full Sail wasn’t that bad. It tasted like any other beer, just kind of mild and nondescript. After a couple more drinks, I was actually considering dumping it out. Well, not really, but the fact that it crossed my mind is frightful. If you have read any of my previous reviews, you will know I don’t just trash beer, especially a world championship beer. It is sacred to me. But in this case, this beer just wasn’t holding its weight.

Full Sail has an almost bitter, yet minty flavor. Doesn’t sound that bad, right? That is until you get the chalky aftertaste.

Although I don’t like this beer, the company itself is great.

Full Sail was created in 1987 by some windsurfers in Mt. Hood, Oregon, and is owned equally by the original 47 employees who started it. It is truly amazing that this small group of people created such a successful brewery, winning their first gold at the Great American Beer Festival in 1989. All of their beers are handcrafted. Their water comes from a spring on Mt. Hood, and their barley and wheat are grown on local farms.

Full Sail also supports over 300 events and charities each year, mostly local.

So why doesn’t it taste good? I wanted to like this beer, but unfortunately I couldn’t get my taste buds to comply.

Full Sail reminded me of another disappointing brew I tried a few years back – Blue Moon from Belgium. It also had an almost artificial, plastic, chalky flavor. In other words, the beer felt cloudy on my tongue. Not good.

The Full Sail website describes its Amber beer as a “sweet, malty, medium bodied ale with a spicy, floral hop finish.” That basically sums it up for me. Spicy isn’t something I usually like in my beer – same with flowers. That must be where that minty flavor comes in. Flowers and beer equal a bad combination most of the time. Full Sail would be great for parties when everyone is already feeling good and not tasting the alcohol, but it’s still more expensive than a lot of other beers. I’m not sure why, because it doesn’t even beat Miller. To waste your money on this sorry excuse of a beer would be a shame.

If someone else is buying, give it a shot. Who knows? It might be one of the best beers you’ve ever tasted. Just because I don’t like it doesn’t mean a thing. So to all the true, dedicated beer drinkers – get out there and experience some new beers that you will most likely never want to taste again.

Or, write me back some feedback and tell me how full of garbage I am. Either way, expand your horizons and try some new beer.