Amber Ale - Durango Brewing

Jason

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz brown bottle with no freshness date.

LOOK: Clear amber, bubble top

SMELL: Caramel, toasted grain, herbal hop, vague fruit, yeast, vegtal

TASTE: Caramel, toasty, buttery, grainy, yeast, raisins, hop bite, earthy, herbal, peppery

An all around solid Amber Ale, nothing that is going to wake the dead but not every beer needs to be that kind of beer. Good drinking.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2012 02:34:04 | More by Jason

JohnBender

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -3.3%

12-31-2012 21:21:36 | More by JohnBender

nheinzie57

Illinois

3/5  rDev -10.7%

10-27-2012 21:25:38 | More by nheinzie57

Ispeakforthetrees

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev +4.2%

05-30-2012 01:25:43 | More by Ispeakforthetrees

binx

Colorado

4/5  rDev +19%

05-15-2012 16:08:41 | More by binx

TMoney2591

Illinois

3/5  rDev -10.7%

04-02-2012 00:42:01 | More by TMoney2591

intensify

Colorado

3.55/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured a thick and creamy 2 finger head which stuck around for an impressive amount of time. Copper like color with medium visibility. A hint of hops on the nose, honey, and caramel which blends together to create a very smooth and drinkable beer. Medium mouthfeel with a clean refreshing finish. This beer is both refreshing and satisfying those cravings of a good beer one gets at times. I can't see one reason why I wont have one of these in my fridge at all times. Solid brew by the Duranco Brewing Co.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 05:40:54 | More by intensify

LJWalker

Alabama

3/5  rDev -10.7%

02-06-2012 21:27:39 | More by LJWalker

poppyjohn

Colorado

3/5  rDev -10.7%

01-21-2012 22:46:04 | More by poppyjohn

JimKal

North Carolina

5/5  rDev +48.8%

12-06-2011 12:33:19 | More by JimKal

rab53

Massachusetts

2.5/5  rDev -25.6%

12-01-2011 05:37:35 | More by rab53

ZenAgnostic

Texas

2.33/5  rDev -30.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

12oz bottle poured into pint glass. No date.

Appearance - Light tan/off-white head. Clear, deep amber body.

Smell - Faint chocolate malt. Even fainter hop presence. Mild and mostly scentless.

Taste - Bland. Watery. Vague hop and malt presence.

Mouthfeel - Watery. Light. Some stickiness.

Overall Drinkability - Balanced. Too mild. Too boring. Might be a decent session brew for newbies, though.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2011 22:58:01 | More by ZenAgnostic

SWMeyer4141

Texas

3.13/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured very aggressively into a tumbler

Appearance-Extremely aggressive pour and still only yielded about a 2 finger white head and a copper body. Carbonation slowly coming up to the top.

Smell-Caramel malts, pretty sweet. Some subtle floral hops. Smells like a year old malty IPA.

Taste-Sweet caramel malts, bready as well. Very weak in flavor. Barely get any hops at all. Some subtle chocolate. It's missing a little kick to it

Mouthfeel-Drinkable, but just really thin and bland. Flavors instantly go away after a sip. Carbonation is pretty high.

Overall-A few months ago I may have given this a higher grade, but I've been drinking some Ambers lately, and this one doesn't really hold up to any of them.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2011 02:05:09 | More by SWMeyer4141

jadpsu

Georgia

3.55/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Purchased this date at the Corner Mkt. in Laurel, MS.
Head exploaded when pored into glass. Avery hazy amber in color. Head must have been 4 full fingers, and I only poured half the beer. Slowly settled, leaving some abundant side laceing.
I get some lemon scent with some faint citrus orange. Getting some maple brown sugar but not really picking up the caramel that others on this beer review take note of.
Taste, not what I had hoped for but not bad. Maltiness come in to play and balance aromatic hops
Mouthfeel is fizzy and on the thin side.
Not great but it is worthy.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2011 01:47:06 | More by jadpsu

ubermick

California

3.05/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a goblet.

A: Colour's spot on - nice clarity, and a nice finger thick head, which receded quickly.

S: Candy. Sweet roasted malts, almost a caramel-like scent. Hops are somewhat noticeable, pleasantly so.

T: It's an amber. No more, no less. Malty backbone that was a little too much for me, but that's personal taste. (I like a little more bite)

MF: A little thicker than expected, nicely carbed.

O: As I said, its an amber. If someone handed you one, you'd drink it, but you probably wouldn't make a point of noting it down and seeking it out at the store.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2011 00:02:23 | More by ubermick

MWinterweb

Colorado

3.03/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A- Great amber color. Pours with about 1/4-1/2 off white, slightly tanish head.

S - I get a toasted malty sent. Definitely not off putting.

T - A rush of malty flavors at the beginning fallowed closely by a slightly sweet taste then a lime hoppy taste, finishing slightly toasty (with strong hops). Lingers for a while.

M - Small amount of carbination. medium body.

D - could drink a six pack in one night.

Overall, Its a good amber ale, Nothing really stands out to me though, making it a slightly above average beer for me.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2011 19:46:58 | More by MWinterweb

LittleDon

Texas

3.88/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Amber and clear with a slight amount of carbonation. Light beige head with below average retention. Malted caramel aroma. Faint hop oiliness. Slight amount of bitterness up front with the caramel coming through in the middle and end. Mild hop bitterness after the finish. Medium-heavy mouthfeel. Reminds me of a less malty version of what Bass Ale use to be like.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2010 21:57:35 | More by LittleDon

emmasdad

Colorado

3.45/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Another one bought for my son's bottle collection. Pours from the 12 ounce bottle a clear amber color with a rocky tan head. Sweet malt on the nose, along with a little caramel and some floral hops. Fairly sweet on the palate as well, with brown sugar and some balancing hoppiness. Wasn't expecting much here, but I enjoyed it.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2010 22:58:01 | More by emmasdad

LXIXME

New Mexico

3.05/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a clear amber with a medium sized off white head.
Lacing has nice staying power through out drinking a 12 oz bottles worth.
The smell and taste of this amber ale is stock roasted caramel malts with hints of citrus and maybe some light hops sticking around.
A light dry caramelish aftertaste with staying power.
The standard amber ale you won't be disappointed and I wasn't really excited either, It's a beer you'll definitely finish if you like ambers.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2009 20:08:55 | More by LXIXME

glid02

Georgia

3.9/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Part of a six-pack purchased from Derk's Filet and Vine in Montgomery, AL.

Pours a clear amber color with a half-finger tan head. The head recedes into a patchy layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells of lightly toasted caramel malts with hints of citrus and floral hops. As the beer warms the caramel aromas intensify.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Caramel and toasted malts - skewed more toward caramel flavors than toasted ones - are met midway through the sip with hints of citrus hops. These flavors carry through to a slightly biscuity and mildly bitter finish.

Mouthfeel is good. It has a solid thickness with moderate carbonation.

Drinkability is good. I finished my bottle without a problem and could have a few more.

Overall this is a fairly sessionable amber and one that I could have again. Worth a shot.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2009 01:58:49 | More by glid02

SeattleBeerBlog

Washington

4.18/5  rDev +24.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had this on-tap at the tiny but cool little tap room attached to the brewery.

A- It is a pretty beer, a perfectly clear dark amber with a decent head. It looks great in a glass and very inviting.

S- a hint of toast and carmel with some good hops as well, smells like a more hop centric Amber, yet still well balanced by the malt.

T-Great Balance! One of, if not the best Amber I have had. Sweet and bready yet had the hops that I smelt in the nose. Crisp as well, almost like they used a lager yeast.

M- A little better than average, nice carbonation and a light mouth feel.

D- a great session beer, much better than Fat Tire in terms of repeat drinkability. As it warms up it gets a lot more complex as well which is fun, a lot more toast and hops come out.

Serving type: on-tap

06-10-2009 23:55:13 | More by SeattleBeerBlog

htomsirveaux

Texas

3.1/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz. bottle tried 8 Mar 2008. Gift from J&K, thanks guys!

Pours with a small light tan head. Medium carbonation. Clear raw umber color. Smells caramely, fruity, pineapple, maple and vanilla. Starts dry, reminiscent of tea leaves. Caramel, slightly nutty. Finishes slightly astringent. Light body, light ethanol.

Nice aroma in an otherwise average beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2009 05:45:54 | More by htomsirveaux

kgotcher

Colorado

3.6/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours with pretty big and foamy and lingering head, good carbonation, clear amber color. Lacings are very distinct and sticky. Looks great.

Aroma is nice with some toasty (muncih?) malts, sweet caramel and citrus hop notes.

Nice medium mouthfeel with some astringency both from hops and toasted malts in the finish.

Taste is typical amber ale, nice smooth caramel malt with some classic buiscut maltr flavors. Sweet but well balanced with bitterness and a dry mouthfeel.

Overall not a bad amber ale. A bit dry but quite drinkable. Not as much "depth of flavor" as some other well know ambers but it looks good and drinks very well. If your in Durango or somewhere close by that has it, give it a shot.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2008 04:14:01 | More by kgotcher

barleywinefiend

Washington

2.63/5  rDev -21.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured a copper amber with a small, thin, light head. Nose is of brown sugar, malts and some caramel. Taste is follows the nose. Toasted malts with a sweet caramelly flair. Not very hopped and the afyertaste is rather blah. This Beer needs some work.

Serving type: bottle

02-29-2008 12:39:22 | More by barleywinefiend

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.28/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours peach/caramel with with 2 fingers of pillowy sand colored head. Very good lacing & above average head retention

S: Slight breadyness

T: Caramel & toast up front. Hints of diathechytl, honey malt, light smokeyness, citric hops & dryness as this warms. Finishes dry with hints of butterscotch, a little grainyness, caramel & a little bit of piney hops

MF: Light/medium bodied, with moderate carbonation, skews too sweet balance-wise for me

Drinks alright beside personal dislikes, cautiously recommend this if you like your ambers sweet, dry & very simple

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2007 07:13:39 | More by russpowell