Sundance Amber Ale - Boulder Beer / Wilderness Pub

bashiba

Iowa

3.5/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured a dark amber with just a bit of white head.

smell was dominated by toasty and bready malts.

Taste has a very nice toasted bread flavor with hints of nuts and just a touch of lemony hops to round it out.

Mouthfeel is light and crisp.

Overall a pretty decent amber, easy to drink and enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2006 20:39:13 | More by bashiba

Blakaeris

Iowa

3.23/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours clear copper with a frothy head that leaves nice lacing.

Smell is toasted malt with hints of toffee. Mild citrus hop notes.

Taste is dominated by the sweet malt up front. The finish is mildly hoppy. There is a pleasant caramel nuttiness.

Mouthfeel is soft and light-medium bodied.

The flavors for this beer are very soft and smooth. A good session beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2006 18:51:35 | More by Blakaeris

rowew

Colorado

3.03/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Presentation: 12 oz longneck with a sunset scene on the label. Couldn't find any date information on the bottle.

Appearance: As advertised, this one pours a solid amber color with no haze. Thin head with some lacing, and a bit stays on the top the whole way down.

Smell: General maltiness - nothing much stands out here.

Taste: Again, fairly generic. Nothing bad to say about it, but nothing that interesting going on either.

Overall impression: This is a fairly run of the mill beer.. not bad, but there are better offerings out there, but from this brewery and others.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2006 22:34:43 | More by rowew

NEhophead

Massachusetts

3.55/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Watery, ruddy brown color. Foamy, off white head leaving pools of large bubbles. Thin, patterned lacing down all sides of the pint glass.

Earthy, semi-sweet caramel toasted malt aroma. Tea leaves, floral hops, and a touch of cream.

Semi-sweet cream and caramel. Smooth, toasted maltiness prior to an earthy dose of hops. Light fruity esters, lemon, tea leaves, and an astringent, slightly bitter caramel flavor. Subtle flavors, but nothing overly unpleasant.

Medium bodied; a light creaminess, bright and earthy. A pretty decent balance on the palate.

Nothing exciting about this 'Amber', but some decent flavors that are nicely balanced.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2006 14:27:18 | More by NEhophead

Naes

New York

3/5  rDev -12%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This one is an amber color with orange hues and a two finger off white head.
The aroma is surprisingly malty, but has some citrus like hop character.
The flavor is very similar to the flavor. It has a caramel malt base with some citrus hops as well. It is also a bit grainy as well.
Mouth feel is medium in body and moderately carbonated.

This is a good beer, but nothing that I will go out of my way for.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2006 01:18:19 | More by Naes

objectivemonkey

Minnesota

3.33/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

-12 oz.er poured into pint glass, a clear, lovely amber (go fig) with a frothy one inch head with intermittent bubbles. Lacing is ample, running the length of the glass. Beautiful beer. Unfortunately, it goes downhill from here.
-Smells is funny, I thought I was picking up piney hops for the first couple seconds, but really it was just a kind of lemon tinge of floral hops underneath somewhat sweet caramel malts.
-The same kind of thing happened with the taste, in that at very first I thought I was getting piney hops, then thought not, but really it was with a more lemon sour hop character with a subtle earthy feel to it, and a carmel malt sneaks in toward the end.
-Starts smooth and finishes dry and chalky, not exaclty good. Carbonation is good, and fits the taste.
-Overall, kind of awkward balance of tastes and aroma, good pieces but funny together. I got a 6er of it, this it the first, and I'll enjoy to the last, but probably won't get this again.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2006 00:02:16 | More by objectivemonkey

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.55/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours amber to caramel with a 2 finger deep white head> Slight head retention and minimal lacing

Smell: Malt & caramel give way to alcohol as the beer warms

Taste: Caramel sweetness and slight bitterness on the tounge with some nuttiness and dryness in the finish

MF: Slightly chewy, malt character comes through, a little undercarbonated

Fairly drinkable just nothing special

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2006 03:25:23 | More by russpowell

Mebuzzard

Colorado

3.13/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into pint glass.
Amber color, looks good with medium head that did disappear after a while.
Smells of malt and a bit of lemon it seems.

Tastes like a full bodied bud, but still light. The color misleads as the malt is slight and the hops almost non-existant. Still it has a beer taste, not too fruity, not too bitter. Nothing spectacular, could drink a few.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2006 21:32:37 | More by Mebuzzard

daliandragon

North Carolina

2.65/5  rDev -22.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

This is the second of four Boulder beers I got in a mixed twelve for Thanksgiving weekend. This Amber pours a nice orangeish red hue with a frothy head that doesn't stick. The lacing has a bit of body as well. The nose is fruity and malty with a hint of sugars, highlighted by caramel..
The taste is crisp with a dry finish and a taste dominated by malt and sugars. The taste is a little too sweet for me, surprising for an amber and also suffers from an abundance of carbonation, reminiscent of a lager, if it weren't for the roasted malt register as well.
A bit sweet and cloying to be a real drinkable beer. A good effort but definitely not to my taste.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2005 02:55:49 | More by daliandragon

smcolw

Massachusetts

2.78/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Orange amber and clear; excellent head. Little sticky lace.

Smells of wet autumn leaves. No hop spice; neutral malt smell. Disappointing.

The taste is an improvement, but not by much. The aroma still predominates the flavor here, although there is a hop presence. The malt tastes "dirty"; not like dirt, but unclean. Still the body is solid and the carbonation fits.

I'd avoid this one. I'll finish it but will not buy another.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2005 23:22:43 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

3.9/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a nice amber color, nice carbonation, nice small head which leaves pretty quick. Nice lacing afterwards. Scents of sweet malts. Nice taste for an amber ale, sweet with a dry finish. Medium body. Very drinkable, nice beer. Would recommend, but there are nicer amber's out there.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2005 00:36:29 | More by Wasatch

profzoom

Idaho

3.63/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This ale pours a rich, coppery brown. The head is relatively thin, and the surface is riddled with larger bubbles, almost like craters on a lunar landscape. The aroma is very sweet and apple-like.

Each sip hits first with the smooth apple-ness present in the smell, then tapers as it goes down with a carbonated maltiness.

A very good beer, but one that doesn't strike me as very memorable.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2005 06:05:30 | More by profzoom

WesWes

New York

4/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a dark gold amber color with a thick frothy offwhite head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a grainy pale and roasted barley scent. It is also dry and mildly hoppy. The taste is good. It has a decent malt base that is composed of pale and light crystal malts. It's smooth and hoppy on the finish. The floral hops stand out; very nice. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a low/medium bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a good drinking beer. It's not the best I've had, but it's solid.

Serving type: on-tap

07-19-2005 13:14:49 | More by WesWes

palliko

California

3.58/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance is a red-brown color that pours with a white foam and some lacing. Aroma is of crackers and malt, followed by a flowery hop experience that melts into brown sugar and bittersweet chocolate. Herbal notes, pine and spice predominate. Slightly sour with a dry finish.Kind of icky.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2005 16:17:32 | More by palliko

mentor

Colorado

3.2/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Bottle obtained from Superior Liquor (Colorado) in July 2005 and consumed a couple days later. Pours a one-finger fluffy head lightly colored coppery tan. The beer is crystal clear and has red and orange highlights to a rust background. Smells biscuit malty with some chalky munich character, too. I get a gentle floral hop, but can't place which kind. Tastes chalky munich malt to start and mildly hop bitter. Some caramel and a hint of toffee that is borderline chocolate flavored. Hops jump in the middle and have an orange, piney, and woody character. Tough to get a bead on them as a sour tang arises to complete the swallow. While the start is wet sweet, the beer changes to lightly dry at the end. Medium bodied, but with a creaminess that's interesting. Mildly carbonated with nice lacing on the inside of the glass. Not very drinkable, as the sour tang dominates the aftertaste by the end of the glass.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2005 06:15:17 | More by mentor

mntlover

Tennessee

3.53/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Picked this up because I use to enjoy Boulder Amber in CO not the same amber but was hoping to enjoy just the same.

Pours a clear light redish copper color with a thumb size off white head that falls to a ring as it laces.

Aroma is caramel malt with some light fruitiness and light floral hops in the background.

Taste is lightly toasted caramel malt light toffee hints mixed in. Finish is floral earthy hops but dominance is on the toasted malt. Overall not a bad amber like so many but nothing great going on either.

Mouthfeel is on the light side of medium. Really on the light side for a malt dominated amber in my opinion.

Drinkability is good actually goes down easy and is non offensive. Then again wouldn't purchase again as it doesn't come close to my two favorite ambers.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2005 17:43:47 | More by mntlover

JackTheRipper

Pennsylvania

2.35/5  rDev -31.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

A: Pours a decent amber color. Clear with a faint little head.

S: Strong caramel aroma. Some malts, but not enough. No hop aromas.

T: Strange sourness up front. There are some nice hoppy flavors, but that sourness is freaking me out. Light flavors of a toasted/grainy malt flavor. Can't get around that sour taste, though.

M: Medium/full in body. Fairly sharp feeling carbonation. Alcohol seems higher than the stated ABV%.

D&N: I don't think this is something I'd either recommend or buy again. Doesn't even come close to Hopback Amber.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2005 16:52:13 | More by JackTheRipper

crookedhalo

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a pale copper/amber color with a thick beige colored head. Good stickage and lacing. Some toasty Vienna and Crystal malt character with a bit of tea-like notions. Nice floral hop background. Malty and rich with a decent hop counterbalance. Still, rather swayed towards the malty side. Toasty character comes through very well, and the hopping level is spot-on. One of the better amber ales I've tried recently.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2005 18:38:21 | More by crookedhalo

Tballz420

Minnesota

3.48/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The Sundance pours out a dark-gold/amber color, with a bubbly cream colored head on the top. Some lace is left behind as it drops. The scent is sweet malt with a touch of hops. Taste is sweet malt in the front, some bitterness from the hops, metallic taste from the water. Fairly thin mouth. This isnt horrible, but doubling the ingredients would be nice.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2005 17:49:35 | More by Tballz420

TheLongBeachBum

California

3.43/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Presentation: Full 20 ounce Pint sampled at the Mile High Bar/Grille located in Concourse ‘B’ at Denver International Airport whilst waiting for a flight back to Bismarck, North Dakota. I spied a local offering amongst the 10 taps and decided to try the “Boulder Sundance Amber Ale”.

Appearance: Stunning body, lovely looking copper- russet sunset infused orange-red body is topped with a nice off-white cap head. Head retention was half decent as well. Perfectly clear body displays a few streamers. Nice conditioning in the body supports the head. Light lacing. Good looker from the Tap.

Nose: Limited nose, sweet malts with a light toffee caramel aroma. Delicate nose overall.

Taste: Chinook, Willamette and Cascade hops are all use, yet the malts seem to dominate throughout. Starts with a sweet amber entrance, mild caramel on the palate in the middle, only in the finish do the hops offer and lend a soft bitter finish. Soft tones with no sharp corners. Dry finish which can often leave a gentle tingling smoked-burnt malt feel on the top of the tongue. An interesting brew.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with soft conditioning and a sweet malt aspect. Does a rather good job given that this is only 4.85% though.

Drinkability: I had an hour between flights and thankfully my gates were either side of the Mile High bar so this was on my way so to speak. Even so, I easily managed two of these with very little effort.

Overall: If you find yourself in Denver International Airport and are flying United Airlines, the Mile High Bar/Grille is not a bad stop for amongst the approx. 10 taps full of macro offerings it has at least 2 Sam Adams Taps and 1 Local one; the latter always has a Boulder brew on……and when it’s the Amber it is worth trying. Nothing spectacular here, but a tasty travel brew nonetheless.

Serving type: on-tap

03-07-2005 07:40:04 | More by TheLongBeachBum

ericsdawson

Colorado

3.6/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

served in a mug. one to two finger head that dissapeared quickly. some lacing.

this is a very nice beer. the color is a beatiful medium amber and the head slightly off white. very mild aroma. It has a very clean taste. goes down smooth, especially after it warms a little bit. has a little bit of a chocolate and metallic aftertaste, an atribute i've noticed with other boulder beers. finishes a little bit on the bitter side.

overall, a decent solid brew. plus, it comes in a box with a pretty picture on it.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2005 01:15:53 | More by ericsdawson

SheepNutz

Kentucky

4.03/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz. bottle poured into a tulip-style glass. It pours a deep amber color with two fingers of head. There is lots of lacing. The smell has lots of caramel maltiness and just a hint of hops. Not much else going on. The taste is pretty malty overall, with some caramel sweetness, and just a hint of toffee. Just a touch of hops on the finish. The body is fairly thick and smooth. The drinkability is really good though. A decent amber.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2004 00:45:42 | More by SheepNutz

kmpitz2

Tennessee

3.15/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This has been in the fridge for a while now, so I should give it a good home. The beer pours a nice amber (imagine that) color with a finger of off white head that stays over top of the beer really nicely. The nose is not quite as hoppy as I would want it. There are hints of grapefruit hop, orange and caramel from the malts that blend together well in my opinion. The beer has a somewhat weak flavor. There is a slighty citrus and earthy hop flowing over a caramal base, but its just sort of average. There is even a little bit of a metallic aftertaste on this one as well. The feel is a little bit thin for my, just lacking a bit of body that would make it better. Drinkability is not all that bad, but overall, the beer is not anything to go out and buy again. I like it, but would take others over it.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2004 23:49:56 | More by kmpitz2

merlin48

Kentucky

3.33/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Second bottle tasted from the brewery's sampler box on 11/12/04. This one pours a clear copper amber body with a small white head that disappears in seconds. Minimal patch lace is left on the glass.
Caramel and toffee dominate the nose, with a vague fruity hops presence in the background.
Mouthfeel is thin and light bodied with medium carbonation.
Taste has a dominant toffee and caramel malty sweetness that reigns pretty much unchecked by any hops presence. A hint of grassy and citrusy hops bitterness emerge toward the finish to salvage drinkability. Average amber ale.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2004 11:44:05 | More by merlin48

clvand0

Kentucky

3.15/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This one pours a light amber color with a small had that dies off fast and leaves no lacing on the glass. The aroma is quite hoppy, some citrus there as well. Nice carbonation. The flavor has a large character of citrus hops and there is a small bit of malt to back it up. I would have enjoyed this beer a little more if it weren't so highly hopped. Just too much for the style.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2004 18:05:18 | More by clvand0