Hockley Amber
Hockley Valley Brewing Co.

Hockley AmberHockley Amber
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From:
Hockley Valley Brewing Co.
 
Ontario, Canada
Style:
American Amber / Red Ale
ABV:
4.2%
Score:
83
Avg:
3.64 | pDev: 10.44%
Reviews:
20
Ratings:
48
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 01, 2020
Added:
Jun 29, 2012
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  6
No description / notes.
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Ratings by thehyperduck:
Photo of thehyperduck
Reviewed by thehyperduck from Canada (ON)

3.34/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
473 mL can from the LCBO; packaged on Apr 7 2012. The Hockley offerings I've had in the past have all been pretty consistently good, so I was (initially) pretty eager to try this one.

Pours an appropriate copper-amber colour, completely clear and topped with one finger of dense, foamy, off-white head. Retention isn't great; it is only able to maintain cohesion for a few minutes, before settling down to a uniform cap and thin collar of lacing. Weak, inoffensive aroma without a lot of characteristics to describe - definitely on the sweeter side, with toasted, bready malts and hints of toffee and honey.

Straightforward flavour that isn't very adventurous for the style. The taste is dominated by lightly toasted bready malts, with a pronounced toffee/caramel sweetness and a faint hint of chocolate. Grassy, vaguely earthy hops come forward toward the end of the sip, imparting some much-needed dryness. Mildly dry aftertaste, without much lingering flavour. Light-bodied, with moderate carbonation and a smooth, pleasant mouthfeel.

I tried this a few days ago and wasn't all that impressed, and this re-purchase hasn't really changed my mind much. I doubt I'll pick this up again any time soon, but it's still a serviceable, if uninspiring amber ale. I would definitely pick Creemore's lager over this, and possibly Barking Squirrel as well, but obviously this is merely personal taste.

Final Grade: 3.36, a B-. Hockley Amber is a decent, well-balanced amber, but in my eyes it doesn't hold a candle to this brewery's flagship dark beers. It's easy to drink and might work fine as a session brew, but I doubt most BAs would consider it memorable, or worth becoming a staple. No reason not to try this one - just don't expect anything interesting.

[Updated Oct. 21 2013]

Picked up another can as part of a sampler pack. This is a quality session amber, the sort of thing I'd be happy to throw back a few glasses of at the pub - but the fact remains that it isn't a particularly creative beer. I'd place Hockley Amber on par with other OCB 'malt-focused' ambers (think Amsterdam's Big Wheel), but anyone looking for an American-style red ale is going to be underwhelmed by this English-inspired offering.
Jul 27, 2012
More User Ratings:
Photo of Tony787
Reviewed by Tony787 from Canada (ON)

3.87/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
I poured this can of beer into my glass with a 2 finger head that quickly disappeared ok so I took a sip I tasted a Brown sugar taste and so smooth going down and malty
kinda like a reddish color to this amber ale beer its not bad I'm enjoying it
Cheers
Mar 01, 2020
Photo of deedric
Reviewed by deedric from Wisconsin

3.78/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Clear amber with an off white head that falls quickly. Minimal lacing.
Strong biscuit and ginger-bread spice?
Malty, sweet molasses, hint of Nilla-wafer.
Medium mouth feel, low carb makes it smooth and creamy.
Hopheads beware, you may not like this offering, however, I enjoyed it thoroughly. A solid offering of a malty amber - perhaps more British in inspiration as opposed to an US Amber.
Sep 16, 2018
Photo of Larryfunnell
Rated by Larryfunnell from Canada (ON)

4.1/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Good colour, but the head was low and quick to dissipate. Good taste, but I would prefer a bit more bitterness for my liking.
Jul 27, 2018
 
Rated: 3.99 by mistahmojoryan from Canada (SK)

Jun 25, 2018
 
Rated: 4.14 by Squeezyq from Canada (ON)

Jan 07, 2018
Photo of MichaelGennings
Reviewed by MichaelGennings from Canada (ON)

3.51/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Hockley Valley Brewing Company’s Amber Ale. 5% alc.

Off-white head that dissipates quickly. As the name suggests, the beer is amber in colour.

Smell is malt, a hint of brown sugar, and a touch of hops. It’s all quite lightly done.

The taste is malt and brown bread. Taste notes are subtle.

The beer is light bodied and the finish is dry.

A decent offering that I would recommend trying.
Dec 16, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by ConnorG from Canada (ON)

Aug 16, 2017
Photo of JPNesker
Reviewed by JPNesker from Canada (ON)

4.25/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
My favorite of the three brews featured in the sampler pack. Possibly because it's the one I'm least familiar with. Seems like Hockley Dark's weird kid brother. Or the goldilocks of their flagship/regular offerings.

More of that faux burton hard water. More yeasty ester goodness. More subdued hop attack and less dark roast on the malt. Yes please!
Feb 24, 2017
 
Rated: 3.14 by rodlavers from Maryland

Jan 30, 2017
 
Rated: 3 by Jotora from Canada (ON)

Jul 10, 2016
 
Rated: 4.18 by Boo-urns from Canada (ON)

Jun 04, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by fortyfield from Canada (ON)

Jan 26, 2016
 
Rated: 3.57 by KyleMcD from Canada (ON)

Feb 09, 2015
Photo of Pmicdee
Reviewed by Pmicdee from Canada (ON)

4.01/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours dark caramel colour with no head to speak of. Notes of caramel, molasses and other candy-like flavours dominate the smell and taste. To me it seems to be of the British style
Feb 9 2023
Jan 09, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by OneTuffPony from Canada (ON)

Dec 05, 2014
Photo of -steve-
Reviewed by -steve- from Canada (ON)

3.9/5  rDev +7.1%
Beautiful light reddish clear ale with foam quickly reducing to small bubbles around the rim. No strong scents but a faint caramel nose. Hard for me to describe the taste but there is a caramel sweetness and a spiciness. Pine maybe? I do like this. The taste and carbonation make me want to start guzzling it. That can't be bad. Very drinkable beer. Would be happy to serve this to anyone, without worrying whether they would like it or not.
Sep 13, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by byronic from Canada (ON)

Sep 02, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Coastal_Brew from Canada (BC)

Aug 06, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by DarrenBrule from Canada (ON)

Jun 16, 2014
Hockley Amber from Hockley Valley Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 48 ratings