Ambergeddon - Ale Asylum

Thorpe429

Illinois

2.42/5  rDev -39.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Bottle courtesy of BeerFMAndy. Served in a Cantillon tulip.

Pour yields a brew with a slightly-reddened light copper body with a half-finger off-white head that is quite bubbly. The bubbles pop and the head fades down quite quickly. Thin collar with quite a few bubbles around the edges. The nose brings a bit of amber malt with some mild earthy tones and a bit of sweetness. Bread tones around the edges. A bit of grain husk as I continue to swirl this one.

The flavor is a bit grainy and slightly metallic. Certainly too many tannins in this one. The husk presence really comes through and is not terribly enjoyable, detracting from the underlying amber malt and breadiness. The finish is harsh and bitter. Unfortunately, something went seriously wrong in the process of this one.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2011 00:29:53 | More by Thorpe429

Fartknocker

Wisconsin

2.63/5  rDev -34.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12 oz bottle

A- A pretty dark copper/reddish color
S- a bit hoppy
T- Definitley hoppy, more than I expect or like from an amber ale
M- average carbonation
D- Too much of a hop emphasis, while it looks like an amber ale it drinks more like a pale ale with the relatively high hop presence, needs more malt balance

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2009 00:42:41 | More by Fartknocker

deebo

Minnesota

2.91/5  rDev -27.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75

Picked up a sixer of this for the Packer/49er playoff game, wasn't a huge fan of it then or the outcome of that game, reviewing while watching the Super Bowl.

A-Significant chill haze, ruddy amber color with a thin finger of off-white head that quickly recedes to a skim.

S-Lots of hops (spicy, earthy, citrus, grass) upfront with some caramel, toasted graininess as well.

T-Hops hit you hard, like the aroma they are earthy and spicy with a lingering bitterness overwhelming the malt.

M-Medium bodied and carbonated with a lingering bitter finish.

O-Definitely a beer for the hophead, this one is too much for someone looking for a traditional amber ale. If the hops were toned down a bit this one has potential, just not balanced enough.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 23:33:48 | More by deebo

MrMcGibblets

Illinois

3.2/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

pours a cloudy amber with a minimal off-white head and decent lacing. caramel, dark fruit, and a vague medicinal smell in the nose..was this one a bit off? not a bad nose overall, but not sure they were going for the funky medicinal/spicy/band aid aromas. taste is nicely balanced between a moderate malt sweetness and moderate hop bitterness. soft mouthfeel and light to medium in body. i presume this is under 6% abv making it pretty drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2007 02:02:03 | More by MrMcGibblets

ibbjamin

California

3.28/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Paid $1.89 for a 12oz bottle from Riley's Wines of the World in Madison, WI. Poured into my Optimator mug to review.

An aggressive pour leaves a half inch white and relatively fizzy head that dissipates quickly. Burnt orange-brown in color. Good lacing.

One of the more hoppy ambers I've tasted. Similar nose to one of my favorites, Hop Rod Rye. Earthy, piney hops are very nicely balanced with caramel malts.

An even more balanced taste with the caramel malt and earthy hops of equal weighting.

Mouthfeel is somewhat watery with ok carbonation, a light to medium body and relatively quick finish.

The best beer I've tasted from Ale Asylum which I'd recommend to anyone looking for a hoppy amber. Nice job Ale Asylum.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2009 04:01:49 | More by ibbjamin

sinstaineddemon

Connecticut

3.3/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - this ale's pour wells up a half finger of golden brown thick creamy foam, fed by plenty of carbonation that clings to the glass, the beer itself is also a hazy golden straw color, it is opaque

S - super malt/hop balance in the aroma, we're talking IPA level hoppiness, all the characteristic grapefruit/pine aromas with a dense malt counterattack, a subtle sweetness lingers in the depths

T - malty/hoppy notes mirror that of the aroma, the sweetness lurking in the aroma is cloying in the taste, pretty good until a metallic twang in the aftertaste

M&D - pretty good, not a session beer, a bit too much bite without a balancing characteristic to me, but a good dinner beer, i see it paired with fish and veggies. mmm...

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2008 15:49:32 | More by sinstaineddemon

BasementBer

Manitoba (Canada)

3.3/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: very clear ale here, amber to orange in color. Could have a better head, but lacing is nice.

S: Sweet malts and great citrus hop notes. Very nice caramel breadyness.

T: Something about the english mallts that Ale Asylum uses lends a very sweet cola like flavor. Both this and the Contorter Porter have very destinct sweet similarities. The taste does drop off a few steps before im ready.

M: Has a good quality dry bitterness to it from the middle to the end on the palate and lingers leaving the mouthfeel quite engaged. However it does wash a bit light, I think partly due to the crispness of this ale, not heavy at all. Some people like it, I would prefer some heft myself.

O: A good refreshing amber, its a quaffing ale.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 02:49:44 | More by BasementBer

3.33/5  rDev -17%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz. bottle

Poured a hazy, dark gold with lots of orange. Medium sized, ivory colored, creamy head. Decent lacing and some legs.

Aroma gave me peaches and citrus and honey and wheat for balance.

Taste offered some nice hops, seemed rather floral. Hops were not too big. Biscuity middle. Bit of caramel. Other fruit flavors contributed to a taste that seemed rather sweet, overall.

Medium body, lighter than I expected. Medium carbonation. Fairly dry.

Pretty good overall. Not a Nugget Nectar, which is probably my favorite "big red", but I would certainly drink again. As my only complaint, it was a bit sweeter, more malt influenced than I care for.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2008 17:49:16 | More by

Wisconsinality

Wisconsin

3.35/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz bottle poured into SA perfect pint.

A- Pours a clear amber with small head, only about a half finger's worth. Small lacing left behind.

S- A good mix of hops and malt. Some citrus and orange notes in there as well. A little bit of caramel mingles with citrus to even things out.

T- Pretty much follows the nose. Hops of front but nothing bitter and some good malts. A little bit of sweetness mixes with some lemon and orange to round it out.

M- Medium bodied with decent carbonation. Just a little bitterness and some dryness at the back of the throat.

D- Another Wisconsin brewery that has started to step up its game. A little more hoppy than the style suggests but that seems to be a common trend. I am going to have to make it to Madison one of these days to try some of their beers on tap.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2011 03:24:17 | More by Wisconsinality

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy dark amber/copper color with a 1.5 frothy off-white head with decent retention, slowly fading into a thin ring. Minimal lacing left behind.

Slightly earthy aroma with some floral, citrus hops and a sweet malt presence. Hints of pine needle, pine and orange peel along with some caramel and biscuit.

Medium bodied with a blast of bitter, earthy hops up front that linger over the sweet malt backbone into a slightly dry finish. This is countered by a sweet citrus hop presence with hints of orange peel and grapefruit. Malt backbone with hints of rye, caramel and biscuit. Sessionable and easy to drink but not overly complex.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2011 08:30:07 | More by corby112

drpimento

Wisconsin

3.45/5  rDev -14%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Decent, malty, and hoppy reddish amber ale. Maybe a touch too carbonated. This is definitely the best beer from the brewery I've had so far. Served with a decent head that mostly faded after a bit. Don't notice the alcohol right off. After a couple o swallows there's a warming sensation. Definitely servicable. *urp*

Serving type: on-tap

07-18-2007 02:25:16 | More by drpimento

tjkurz

Wisconsin

3.45/5  rDev -14%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured nicely into an imperial pint glass.

Caronation rises beautifully up through the dark copper haze. Head is minimal, tight and a wisping remains.

Aroma of nice blend of malt and floral hops.

This beer looks and smells great. The taste is very average - I was expecting more with a name like ambergeddon - still good. I was expecting more malt.

The mouthfeel is a bit slighter than what I was expecting - plenty of carb. Drinkable, if your looking for for an amber in my part of the world there are plenty of options. With a name like ambergeddon I was again maybe not expecting something this drinkable - could be a session, but there are tons of ambers that are much more memorable(Capitol Lakefront Sprecher in my part of the world alone)

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2008 00:20:13 | More by tjkurz

jmarsh123

Indiana

3.48/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to sonoma01 for the bottle!

Pours a murky caramel with a 2 finger off-white head leaving spotty lacing down the glass.

Smells of citrus and earthy hops with a deep bready sweetness. A little metallic and slightly sour.

Starts with a floral hop flavor quickly turning into a little brown sugar and bread sweetness. Finishes with an intense earthy bitterness and is a tad astringent.

Mouthfeel is medium. There's some heft to this which I like and carbonation levels are good.

Good drinkable brew although not without some faults. The aftertaste is so overpowering, I'm not sure I could drink this all night. Overall though it's a hoppy amber which is always good in my world.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 17:04:43 | More by jmarsh123

ffejherb

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz. bottle into shaker pint on 1/13/09.

A - Poured a slightly hazy medium dark amber/light copper-colored body with subtle carbonation and short off-white head that receded into a patchy film and left a bit of lace around the glass.

S - Quite a malty nose with hefty doses of caramel malt, maple syrup and toffee candy. I am also able to pull out some subtle brown sugar and chocolate notes from way down deep. Hop presence is scant at best with a bit of earthiness and perhaps a very subdued citrus character. A second assessment also reveals a touch of pine.

T - Flavor is very caramely and candy-like with slight toasted malt character and a syrupy sweetness. Hops are definitely secondary, with equal parts earthy, citrus and piney notes.

M - Medium bodied with a fairly chewy, syrupy texture and soft carbonation that builds up a bit to provide a bit of tongue prickle. There is just a slight hop bite in the finish that doesn't stick around too long.

D - I was expecting something a little more hop-forward, but instead I got something pretty sweet and caramely and syrupy. While there is a hop presence, it's a bit muddled and buried by the hops. With that said, it's not a bad pale ale overall.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2009 01:39:23 | More by ffejherb

taylorhamrick

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

on tap @ the Ale Asylum

Pours a very slightly hazed amber color, with a bit of brown in the middle, some copper highlights on the edges. A nice white head 1-1.5 cm sits on top, which drops down to a dense little puck on top, leaving pretty good lacing. The smell is of toasty malts, a bit of caramel and toffee, some smells of lightly grassy hops, and I get some tart fruits, like cherries, oranges, and underripe magoes. The taste starts out with a little citrus peel bitterness, and it quickly turns into a dry, toasty breadiness, like crackers. Then it moves into a grassy, almost resinous taste as it goes down. I kind of expected more sweetness, but there's just enough to carry the flavor without the grassy taste getting out of hand. I like it. The hops contribute to the body, but it just doesn't quite do enough to help to forget about the slight watery feel to this. The carbonation is good though, zippy. And it actually warms me a little and kind of fills me up. The drinkability is good. You wouldn't think it was a 6.8%-er. Very pleasant and enjoyable at points, but it didn't quite blow me away. I would recommend it if you came in here - this or one of the belgians (which I only got a taste of, but it seemed enjoyable).

Serving type: on-tap

07-06-2009 01:13:05 | More by taylorhamrick

THECPJ

Delaware

3.5/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from notes:

appearance: amber orange with a 1 finger off white head

smell: malts, caramel, sweet

taste: caramel malts,

mouthfeel: mild carbonation, medium body,

overall: This beer was alright, I don't think it was well balanced.

cheers,
The cpj

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2011 16:22:19 | More by THECPJ

sweethome

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -12%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Pours a nice amber color - wispy head of white.

Noce is aggressive hops with a mild backing of honey/malts. The label indicates this is a west coast style amber and so far it sure smells like it.

Flavor is all out hops backed by a little bit of crystal malt. The flavor is decent enough - all hop oriented. Doesn't deliver on the west coast style because there is no malt backing.

It actually is a bit watery.

Easy drinking, nice hop head flavors - but not complex and profound as I would have hoped based on the name and description.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2007 17:31:25 | More by sweethome

SpeedwayJim

New York

3.53/5  rDev -12%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a Sam Adams perfect pint.

A: Moderate pour yields a 2 finger semi-coarse, downward cascading, light orange cream head with decent retention. Beer is a cloudy reddish orange. Lacing is light and stringy with good stick.

S: Citrus with overtones of toffee, caramel, coffee, piney hops, subdued oranges and cane sugar. Not a big nose here with all the aromas being rather toned down.

T: Pine, bark, and grass. Astringent hops with a slight citrus bite. Black tea. Caramel and toffee deepness in the middle with a touch of brown sugar. Messy piney hop finish that lingers and sweetens on the palate well after the beer is gone.

M: Light to medium bodied, carbonated, and very coarse and crisp. Tingly the whole way through and with good substance. Finish is just a bit messy and lingers a touch too long.

D: Nothing out of the ordinary here either good or bad and not much else to say. A solid beer which is very nice and easy drinking. I'd definitely have it again but wouldn't go out of my way for it. Super badass name and label though!

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2010 23:15:01 | More by SpeedwayJim

Wasatch

Utah

3.53/5  rDev -12%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks goes out to beerwolf77 for this one.

Pours a nice hazy amber color, nice carbonation, nice one-finger creamy off-white head, with some nice sticky lacing left behind. The nose is malty, with some hop notes, and caramel. The taste is malty, slightly sweet, slightly hoppy, and some caramel. Medium body. Drinkable, a nice brew, glad to have had a chance to try it.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2010 20:36:47 | More by Wasatch

jraycee

North Carolina

3.55/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a very hazy dark amber, as you might expect. Nice head from an aggressive pour. Shows some retention and leaves a nice lacing.
Nice smell. caramel apples, orange. Not overwhelming but more impressive than...
The muddled taste. Not bad, but not west coast style as advertised. I'd say its the old rabbit and tortoise story. The hops are fast and excited, but the malt sticks to it long enough that after awhile it comes out on top.
Mouthfeel seems a little watery.
I like it more than a few other "american ambers", but maybe I got an old bottle since there's no best by date.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2008 23:59:17 | More by jraycee

hopdog

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the Ale Asylum Brew Pub.

Poured a deeper amber color with a smaller sized off white head. Aromas of citrus, caramel, pine and had a general earthiness to it. Tastes of citrus with some caramel. Nice hoppiness.

Notes from and tasted on 7/23/07

Serving type: on-tap

11-13-2008 01:29:50 | More by hopdog

mjpolzin

Wisconsin

3.55/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I am always partial to local beers and I have drank some brews at Ale Asylum but I had never sampled their Ambergeddon. I will say though that I drank this during a Badger football tailgate party so I should probably come back to it again at some point when I can pour it into a glass and study it a little closer.

It reminded me of a brown ale with an IPA kick. My initial taste was of malts that are very similar to a brown or amber ale but then a hoppy bitterness took over that was similar to a Pale Ale. It lacked the citrus taste though that I really like in that type of beer. Also, a little watery feel slipped in on the back end of each drink. Still though, a very solid local beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2011 20:14:27 | More by mjpolzin

BeerCheese

Wisconsin

3.58/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured with a HUGE tan head. Very impressive, and nice retention. Crystal clear except for the sediment that I poured in. Nice amber color. No aroma that I could detect. Taste was nicely balanced with hops and malt, and little more of the hops on the finish, which I liked. Light body with very little carbonation, but enough to keep it from seeming flat. A very drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2007 07:50:36 | More by BeerCheese

buffs9

Colorado

3.58/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- this one pours a murky dark orange w/ some ruby highlights with a finger of off white head.

S- caramel malts and citrus hops, some earthy backbone.

T- lots of caramel malt, the hops not as prevalent as I'd like, but still a tasty beer.

M- medium and a bit oily.

O- a nice beer, wish I had this super fresh as I imagine this one has been around a couple of months. Solid beer, but won't seek it out as it's not distributed in CO

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 03:38:57 | More by buffs9

DabblinWiscCraft

Wisconsin

3.6/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A nice cream-colored head about an inch thick (falling to about a quarter inch but remaining) atop a deep copper amber color. The beer is cloudy with significant visible carbonation, and nice cling as it goes down. The nose is very pleasant, with a pungent citrus hop burst and nice malt roastiness alongside. Just a bit of caramel and iron coming through, as well. I was a bit disappointed by the taste after the good bouquet: It has a somewhat watery hop taste at the front--more herbal and grassy than citrus--with a malt undercurrent that just barely presents the roasted quality of the nose. It also presents a bit of nuttiness, but it all tastes a bit watered down. Hop bitterness lingers at the close, but not for long. It's on the lighter side of medium-bodied, and it tastes too watery at the outset. Some crispness and lingering acidity, as well.

Having recently tried Ale Asylum's Hopalicious for the first time and loved it, I was a bit disappointed by this offering. My mouth wanted the citrus hop burst that the nose suggested, but it never happened. And the hop flavor that is presented has a reserved quality to it that isn't helped by the watery sensation of it. Overall, it has fairly decent balance of flavors and pretty nice complexity...I just wish the flavors were more pronounced.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2011 01:06:55 | More by DabblinWiscCraft