Ashland Amber - Caldera Brewing Company

sj660

California

4.95/5  rDev +31.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

You need to drink this on tap, in Oregon. Never even seen it in a can. Forget that.

Copper-orange color with a medium-low head. Amazing fresh taste (tap in Ashland, Oregon). Some typical citrus/pine hope aroma, but that isn't the entire point of this one, unlike most of its regional colleagues.

A good complex of nuts and bread.

Serving type: on-tap

07-30-2012 01:54:14 | More by sj660

morenone

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I got this as a single in a mixed six pack. I can't tell how it smells because I got this stupid axe body wash for christmas and that's all i can smell when i raise the glass to my mouth. It's got great color, good head and great taste. It's a little sweet, not too bitter. I would definitely get it again.

Serving type: can

01-10-2011 05:17:42 | More by morenone

cbarrett4

Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Possibly the best amber I have tasted in recent memory.

Poured from can into Deschutes becker style pint glass.

Really lovely amber hue with reddish highlights, pure white head leaving a gorgeous lace.

Initially comes off metallic, (after enjoying their pale ale), but second sip doesn't have that issue. Lots of bright fruit, bready yeast and malt notes, hint of English style hops and caramel. Really stunning if not overly complex nose.

Richly flavored with emphasis on the malts. Really nice caramel streak with apple, fig, bread, and nutty notes. Gorgeous.

Texture is wonderful, superb grip and wonderful intensity of flavor. Medium to long finish, great balance. Alcohol is moderate so this is nearly sessionable.

This does what amber ales are supposed to do: be enjoyable, complex, and balanced. Awesome stuff!

Serving type: can

09-07-2011 19:39:10 | More by cbarrett4

tchenery

Virginia

4.38/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Nice amber colored beer, as to be expected. Decent head on this one as well.

Smells hoppy, especially from an amber ale, I guess from Oregon though that's not too crazy. Very floral and grapefruity, slightly piney.

All hops up front, but quickly transforms into a malt forward beer. Very, very interesting. It's bitter upfront in a grassy way, but then it just changes immediately to toasty malt. Fantastic.

Medium-bodied brew, excellent drinkability.

Serving type: can

11-16-2010 03:39:37 | More by tchenery

BrewerB

California

4.35/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Grabbed this can at Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa.

Pouring into a Firestone Walker nonic pint glass. Mostly clear amber hued with an off-white head that formed a couple fingers thick and retains well.

Lightly toasted nuttiness with a piney, citrus-rind hop. Slight salted cracker underneath.

Forward medium to medium-high bitterness with a citrus hop kick. Malt makes itself known, complimenting the hop flavor with toasty/nutty quality. Medium-finish lets the malts linger on in the palette. Dry.

Medium-light bodied with a moderate-level of carbonation.

This is one of the better amber ales I've sampled. Excellent toasty/nutty malt pairs excellent with the citrusy hops. Beautifully balanced, one I'd return to again and again.

Serving type: can

11-22-2011 02:56:49 | More by BrewerB

MTNboy

Missouri

4.22/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It has a dark bronze and amber body. The head and lace are full, rocky and tan. The aroma is sweet but there is some yeast spice and little floral accents. It reminds me of a pale ale flavor a bit bitter, grapefruit like but has a sweet melon finish. The mouthfeel is medium. The carbonation had a lot of staying power.

Serving type: can

08-07-2011 09:41:03 | More by MTNboy

maximum12

Minnesota

4.2/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to jtrockchalk for sending me this pretty little can. In the land of Surly it looks quaint, weighing in at 12 oz. I've been delighted by my first two Caldera beers, hoping that the streak continues today.

Pours nicely out of the squat can with no canning date. Surprisingly hazy red, I guess I just assumed this would be hard-filtered. Smells like Nicole Kidman would if she was hopped, malted, & stuffed into a can. Brilliant balance.

Ashland Amber opens with a malty bang. Hard on comes an assortment of fall nuts, sans salt, & do they have staying power. The acorns cling tenaciously to the palate. I'll not be surprised if squirrels claw their way through the siding, drywall, & fridge door to get into these cans. Light hopping, eyeful of bitter, pepper. Perhaps one of the thickest, chewiest ambers I've had, this could easily pass into brown, or almost porter, territory. That, combined with the tastiness & lovely perfume, make this difficult to sip.

Excellent beer, one of the better ambers I've tasted in quite a while. Another winner. Caldera cans would sure look good in the cases next to Furious. Just a thought.

Serving type: can

10-29-2010 19:13:54 | More by maximum12

Spikester

Oregon

4.18/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I assume this is fairly fresh as it is the first time I have seen it at my favorite beer store. Pours clear amber with a one finger white head. Fair lacings. Aroma is very hoppy for the style. Taste is quite hoppy earthy slight citrus and a firm but not overly sweet backbone. Medium dry mildly bitter finish. A bit astringent on the palate. Not sweet and cloying like most American Ambers. I think this is a bit on the bitter side for the style. Which would make it closer to a PA which I like very much. So for my tastes this is fine. If you enjoy your ambers on the sweeter side you better pass on this beer.

Serving type: can

03-21-2009 07:05:18 | More by Spikester

Jason

Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz can with no freshness date.

Head stacks up high, sudsy and sticky. Clear and amber ... they nailed it there. Citric peel and pine sap with a faint caramel base in the nose. A little wet, lighter body ... touch of smoothness as well. Nutty bready malt throws down a quick flash of caramel, hops are assertive yet don't mess with the malt to the point of clouding out its flavor. Balanced with a long trail of flavor in the drying after taste.

I'll check this off on my personal session beer list, good flavor all around and lots of it. A kick-ass Amber.

Serving type: can

09-21-2010 01:36:16 | More by Jason

Wasatch

Utah

4.1/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very nice clean/clear golden amber color, nice carbonation, very nice one-finger creamy off-white head, with some nice sticky lacing left behind. The nose is malty, with lots of caramel. The taste is very nice, sweet, malty, with some nice caramel notes. Medium body. Very drinkable, this one is a joy to have on a hot day.

Serving type: can

08-12-2009 23:55:37 | More by Wasatch

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

CAN you believe it?!? The CANQuest rolls along nicely. Now, for those may be arriving late to today's program, already well in progress, I not only review the beers, but I also transcribe the verbiage so that you do not have to.

I thought that Ska was very clever: It's [Modus Hoperandi] label read: "Walk, Kite, Recycle, Hide, Seek, Plant, Recycle, Grow, Shower, HHH, Tube, Recycle."

But now, from this one's exterior: " 'Live Product. Keep Cool. Just Like You." Yeah, man. How many times have my students heard me say, "Be cool, baby. Be real cool."? Innumerable. A ring around the neck read "Go Biking ... Go Rafting ... Go CANS! ... Go Skiing ... Go Fishing ... Go Snowboarding ... www.calderabrewing.com".

It reminds me of the joke of the financially strapped male children looking for something to do on a hot summer's day. They pool their limited resources and send one of their number to the local grocer's, only to have him return with a box of tampons. Incredulous at this purchase, one of them inquires as to his choice. His response: "Well, the box reads, 'With this product, you can go swimming, camping, fishing and a whole host of fun activites'." Har!

Yeah, me, I'm going to skip all of that fun stuff with the exception of "Go CANS!" Here we go, CANS, here we go!

A friend of mine in the industry remarked that he feels that the days of generic "Amber" beers have passed. I disgree, but let's see how this stacks up.

The finger-and-a-half of head was light-tan with good retention. Remember that "Live Product" jazz? Well, it had a slight haze to its deep-amber color suggestive of the presence of yeast. CAN-conditioned?!? Holy Drop the Corks and Cages, Batman! Gee, the nose smelled nothing like an amber of yore. Instead, I got a whiff of piney hops, a scent of malty sweetness, even a slight black pepper smell. Mouthfeel was medium to full with a caramel-malt taste that I would expect on the tongue. The finish, however, was both piney and peppery on the extreme, lingering finish. Initially, I got the same caramel sweetness, but it became overwhelmed. Yow! How many more CANs of this do I have left? Somebody said that they have distribution in MD ... Bye!

Serving type: can

11-22-2009 14:20:57 | More by woodychandler

WesWes

New York

4.1/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours a beautiful amber color with a thick frothy off-white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a well balanced aroma of pale and crystal malts along with a nice hop scent and some light yeast esters. The taste is good.
It has a nice, easy drinking flavor. It has it all; good malt character, mild hops, and some light yeast fruitiness. It's not mind blowing, but it's solid and damn drinkable. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a medium bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is an above average amber ale. It's pretty standard in composition, but for some reason, I really like it.

Serving type: can

02-27-2010 00:35:15 | More by WesWes

indiapaleale

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pour - fills this glass with an amazingly colorful auburn liquid with some flashes of ruby red and bright orange with a big thick batter-like off-white head on top.

Aroma - bread dough, caramel, apple butter, raw sugar, cocoa and some slight citrus. Smells great. I can't wait to move on to the best part of all of this.

Taste - big malty, biscuity, bready sweetness hits the palate immediately. This may be a simple recipe but it sure has been perfected. This has the perfect balance of maltiness and some citrus hops to balance things out. The malt profile is something I am really enjoying, I'm not sure how best to describe it. I'd have to say its somewhere between honey butter and brown sugar cinnamon Pop-Tarts. Well, maybe not that sweet but it is surely delicious.

Overall - great amber ale, one that I could definitely enjoy in multiple amounts. I love the flavor that this imparts and the great balance that it has with the PNW hops used. Amber Ales may not be my favorite style but this is proof that I could love any beer if its brewed well.

Would I buy more of it? - absolutely. I wish I had access to Caldera out here but its also nice to know that its a regional brewery and I'll be sure to stop in to the brewpub if I am ever in Ashland again.

Serving type: can

04-30-2010 02:28:25 | More by indiapaleale

bagpiper2005

Idaho

4.1/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Pour: Clear red-amber in color with a tall two and a half fingers of white head that retains decently and leaves some nice lacing on the glass.

Smell: Faint aroma with some piney hops, a little bit of malt, and a hint of iced tea.

Taste: Rich biscuit malty taste with a fair bit of caramel as well. The middle is nutty and the beer finishes up semi-sweet and with quite a punch of piney hops.

Mouthfeel: Light with a fair amount of carbonation, but not overly done. Crisp and clean.

Drinkability: Easily drinkable and very sessionable. Could have a few easily.

Final Notes: A very good amber ale - lots of biscuity, caramelly goodness but the hoppy back end is also a pleasant surprise. And it comes in a can, perfect for tailgating, fishing trips, or on the links.

Serving type: can

03-01-2011 00:33:19 | More by bagpiper2005

oglmcdgl

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A can on the late poured into a pint glass.

A- a stiff pour brings about three good fingers of light tan head that rises above the glass a bit and holds nicely before settling to a thick ring, a thin skin on top, and a few spots of sticky lace. Sunset amber orange in color with a touch of haze to it.

S- a killer juicy fruity hopping up front and a mildly sweet and bready malt backbone. Simple but great smelling stuff.

T- light citrus and tropical fruits on top of a well balanced malt profile that brings some light caramel and toasted bread. Super clean finish.

M- medium body and about the same in carb. Just right for the style. Amazingly thirst quenching and refreshing.

O- great amber right here. I could kill a sixer of these no problem and I will be as soon as I can. I gota find out how much a case of this is for my next beach run.

Serving type: can

07-06-2011 05:29:29 | More by oglmcdgl

bump8628

Oklahoma

4.08/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Another opportunity to be impressed with a canned craft beer.

It pours a light copper color with a head that builds fast but recedes to a thin ring.

Supremely balanced all around with soft caramel, nutty, toasted malt and a flourish or citric and earthy hops at the end just before a fairly dry finish.

Damn, I'd routinely have this in my fridge if not for the $11/sixer price tag. Notch this up with the IPA and Pale Ale as another more-than-solid offering from Caldera.

Serving type: can

08-03-2010 18:25:10 | More by bump8628

tronester

Oklahoma

4.05/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a clear reddish-brown, with a thin, creamy tan head. Smell is of freshly brewed tea. Taste is sweet toasted malt up front, with a super biscuity middle, and earthy, tea like finish. Good bitterness levels to match up with the malt. Mouthfeel is super rich, nice low carbonation levels. Drinkability is very good, this is a great example of an American Amber Ale, that is conveniently available in cans.

Reminds me of a New Belgium Fat Tire on steroids.

Serving type: can

08-06-2009 22:25:45 | More by tronester

vacax

California

4.05/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz. can poured into a trusty pint glass. Pour nets an inch of cream or light tan head crowning a crystal clear medium amber body. Decent retention and lace. The aroma hits the nostrils with the same blend of hops that is familiar to me from their pale ales, lots of resiny pine character. Second to that is a lightly nutty caramel malt element. Taste has a mild sweetness which turns into a crisp resinous hoppiness. Caramel or nougaty malt balance pops up in the midpalate as well, but the finish splits nicely between malt and full on hops. High level of hops for an amber, actually very close to the pales, but I like this better with the malt balance. Medium thick body with a creamy medium carbonation. Recommended, my favorite Caldera of the three cans I have tried.

Serving type: can

12-28-2009 03:58:28 | More by vacax

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I picked this can up at Al's of Hampden, poured chilled from the can into a tulip.

A - a ruby colored ale, excellent clarity w/ 3fingers of light beige cap w/ mix of bubbles sized large and tiny. The lace clings very well and retention is good. The color reminds me of cranberry juice which is attractive to look at in the light

S - A sweet toasted grainy odor w/ light fruitiness and berry-like yeast ester w/ a mild hop aroma and slight caramel notes w/ gentle vegetal aroma

M - a moderately carbonated brew w/ mild bitterness and gentle sweetness. The texture has light toasted and spice aspects w/ dry finishing medium body overall

T - the flavor is relatively biscuity upfront and has subtle pine notes from the hops w/ light creamy caramel malt taste. There is a gently fruity element from the yeast which allows the toasted grain note to carry over and seems to be the focus from midpoint on. the toast or roasted notes are the focus w/ mild herbal and the fruity quality adding contrast. The spice tinges mellow and a very light citrus in the hops comes out when warmer w/ another layer of flavor unfolding. The contrast makes the amber very balanced but seems to lean toward malt ever so slightly w/ strong biscuit taste until the semi-dry finish

D - A solid beer in every way, very good representation of the style w/ satisfying drinkability. I would drink this with barbecue or meatloaf. The drinkability is good and I would look for this again I Can guarntee that (wink, wink)

Serving type: can

04-19-2010 19:05:26 | More by Slatetank

jkrich

Indiana

4.03/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. can with no freshness date: poured a deep and clear reddish to brown with ruby highlights. The creamy, tan head quickly recedes.

The aroma is spicy and syrupy with some faint hop odor.

The first sip emphasized malty sweetness with a faint bite of hops mixed in. There is a very slight licorice flavor in the aftertaste that is pleasing.

The mouthfeel is actually a little thick and chewy with the sweetness keeping the palate coated. All the same, the ale remains refreshing with a zesty carbonation.

This is a good, malt-accented amber ale that maintains good balance. I was surprised to see this along with the pale ale in Louisville, KY. It is the most I have ever paid for a six-pack, but it is worth trying.

Serving type: can

06-13-2010 22:58:13 | More by jkrich

pjbear05

Florida

4/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in dining room of Crater Lake Lodge, Crater Lake National Park, OR, in 12 ounce pilsner glass.

Dark amber color with one finger head.

Initial hop aroma pronounced.

Slight lemon tang gave way to pronounced hop finish.

Very drinkable, would make a good session beer.

A pity I was not able to try CBC's IPA this trip. As good as the Amber was, the IPA would have been outstanding.

Serving type: on-tap

09-26-2008 21:07:37 | More by pjbear05

djeucalyptus

Oregon

4/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Saw the colorful can on the store shelves and realized it wasn't Caldera Pale! Amber is finally in a can!

pours a rich, orange tinged textbook amber hue, crystal clear with a thick, light tannish-orange two-finger head that has impressive retention and leaves behind just a bit of lacing. more lacing and this one would be perfect.

aroma is a fairly potent yet straight forward mix of malts, a hint of caramel, and green, herbal, and pine hop notes. Simple, yet effective.

Taste follows suit in its simplicity and effectiveness. Clean, with a decent malt backbone gives it a hint of caramel sweetness, flanked by some fairly hoppy notes. hints of vegetable and green herbal notes are present along with a bit of black tea. A good bitter kick from the galena hops in the finish.

Mouthfeel is clean, well carbonated, medium body, and all around a solid example of an amber. nothing outstanding, but can't find any fault.

All in all, I'm stoked to see Caldera Amber in a can, which definitely helps the drinkability score. on their website, they say "Simplicity is the key to this recipe." Sounds about right. nothing earth-shattering, but definitely a solid amber that I could drink a few of in a row. Enough hop and malt character to push it past most generic ambers, this one is a definite winner in my book.

Serving type: can

03-11-2009 18:35:59 | More by djeucalyptus

russpowell

Oklahoma

4/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This one is from Beertracker, thanks Jeff!!

Pours caramel colored with 2 fingers of khaki head. Very good head retention & above average lacing

S: Breadyness & herbal hops

T: Biscuitty malt, brown sugar, toffee & herbal hops up front. Caramel & brown bread battle it out with herbal & piney hops as this warms, some toffee as well. Finishes with flinty dryness, brown bread & slight astringency

MF: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation & good balance

Drinks very easy, doesn't come as hop forward as PNW Amber should be in my mind, but very quaffable

Serving type: can

08-31-2009 03:37:39 | More by russpowell

jwc215

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours bright orange amber with a thin white head. Some trailing lace sticks.

The smell is of caramel, light toast, with citric hop spicing backing up the maltiness.

The taste is of sweet caramel, a bit steely with citric, piney, spicy hops balancing it evenly in the finish.

It has a smooth, creamy medium body.

A malt-accented at the start, finishing balanced with a nice lingering aftertaste. A solid American Amber!

Serving type: can

01-08-2010 01:40:29 | More by jwc215

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

4/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - a decent amber colored iced-tea brew. A brief head fades to nothing after a minute. I suppose it wouldn't matter much if left in the can.

Aroma - toasty, biscuity nose. A brief glint of sweetness fades to reveal some faint hop fruitiness.

Taste - nice toasty grain here. A light, grapefuit hop balances beautifully. Simple, straightforward, and a very flavorful amber.

Mouthfeel - a nice smooth feel, hefty crispness, medium weight, maybe a little lighter.

Drinkability - excellent session beer if you can afford it. I think I dropped a sawbuck for the sixer. Great all round beer. Not as fully flavored as Sam Adams stock ale, but holds its own admirably.

Serving type: can

09-21-2010 03:57:32 | More by brewdlyhooked13