Odell Levity Amber Ale - Odell Brewing Company

jdhilt

New Hampshire

2.1/5  rDev -44.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Pours with white, four-fingered head, fades slowly and leaves a even lace. Light carbonation. Cloudy, light golden/amber color. Nose is faintly hoppy, starts and finishes with just a hint of hops, really lacking in taste. This could be because when we discovered our beer shipment, it had been outside for a few hours during which the entire time the temperature was below zero. FEDEX did NOT ring any doorbells. So not only were all the bottles frozen solid but after five hours at room temperature (still in the box) there were ice chunks. So it is possible that the flavor was lost and I will miss out on this one. :( Very fresh - brewed 12/13/03.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2004 23:44:49 | More by jdhilt

froggyfrog

Pennsylvania

2.3/5  rDev -39.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Once again Odell wraps a bottle in an entertaining and informative label. This is a 12 ounce offering delivered via nonic pint glass.

Slightly hazy citrus orange. One-finger head. Some lacing.

This beer exhibits a rather unpleasant smell. Sort of a spoiled noble hop aroma like sickeningly-sweet decomposing garbage. This reference to rancid garbage is unintentionally harsh, I mean to say that there is an underlying rankness to the smell but as the beer warms an aroma of pale malt takes over.

Taste is not much better unfortunately, nor mouthfeel. Too oily in the mouth, the flavor is slightly sweet dried fruit with a delayed bitterness.

This beer would be good if it was macro lager swill, but I don't like it as an ale from a kick-ass craft brewer.

I was expecting a lot from this beer based on other examples I've had from Odell, but I was disappointed this time

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2006 03:04:05 | More by froggyfrog

loren01

Oregon

2.53/5  rDev -33.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Had on tap at the brewery. Poured into taster glass, light amber color with small amount of lacing and light carbonation. I really cant smell too much of anything in this beer even after trying to swirl the beer around in the glass much like wine. The only smell I can pick up on is a metallic smell. Taste doesn't impress me either, tastes slightly sweet and malty but mostly just pretty bland. Mouthfeel was pretty light, not too impressive either. Overall I would probably choose other ambers over this one. I'm interested in trying this out of the bottle or at the brewery in a normal sized pour because most of the reviews on here are good ones. I wonder if my impression was somehow changed by the way it was served.

Serving type: on-tap

09-05-2005 18:25:34 | More by loren01

sevopie

Colorado

2.53/5  rDev -33.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Appearance - Pours a healthy head with a brilliant amber color. Nice lacing throughout

Smell - It just smells sour... I have to say, I've never smelt an amber I've enjoyed.

Taste - Slight citrus, slight hops, slight malt. Overall, it tastes kinda bitter, not in a highly enjoyable way.

Mouthfeel - Over-carbonated to me, though if you get past that it doesn't feel terrible on the tongue. Solid and slightly oily.

Drinkability - This one didn't get good marks from me, simply because the bitterness doesn't sit well with me.

In closing, I don't know if I've ever come across an amber ale I like, but this has been the most tolerable.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2008 08:04:17 | More by sevopie

Xadoor

Texas

2.63/5  rDev -30.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured a slightly hazy orange colour. Pretty good white head which left a thin layer of bubbles and decent lacing. Aroma is pretty light, slightly sweet and fruity. Flavour is a little bland. Light malt and yeast flavours to start. with a gentle hop dryness to finish. A little watery and thin.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2006 22:40:54 | More by Xadoor

OHLRangers

Michigan

2.63/5  rDev -30.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

On-tap at the brewery tap house 6/20/08.

I had high hopes for this Amber Ale, which I also sampled as a nitro-pour. Orangy-amber color, with a thin off-white head that quickly dissipates (the nitro, obviously, had a more full head). I was instantly turned off by the taste- just had no body at all. It was like drinking slightly bitter well water. The nitro, in fact, was even worse tasting. It just couldn't hold my attention.

I won't write it off based on one tasting but I'm not going to search it out, either.

Serving type: on-tap

06-24-2008 15:34:57 | More by OHLRangers

dreadnatty08

District of Columbia

2.75/5  rDev -27.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Pours a cloudy, surprisingly light amber color, closer to an IPA. Creamy light head with big soapy bubbles top it. Aromas start out with florally British hops followed by a dominating malty rich finish. Some biscuit notes make their way through as well. On the palate it is a really light beer, expecially the light carbonation level. Nothing is characteristic in flavor nor anything standing out. I can just describe it as being flat, without anything noteworthy; it's even difficult to pick out any flavors to it, it's just so subtle. The closest thing this reminds me of is a diet ginger ale. Too bad this beer runs at a higher price than their other good beers.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2007 18:16:05 | More by dreadnatty08

emmasdad

Colorado

2.75/5  rDev -27.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Picked up a bottle of this one as part of a recent mixed six pack. Poured a nice golden color with a little bit of white foam on top. Aromas of white bread, light hops and a little bit of malt. On the palate, this one is light bodied, with flavors of light hops, white bread and a hint of malt.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2011 05:48:39 | More by emmasdad

Beaver13

Colorado

2.88/5  rDev -24%
look: 4 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle. Pours a slightly hazy golden with a smallish white head that retain fairly well and leaves some lacing.

The aroma is sweet honey malt and some DMS.

The flavor is sweet and earthy malts with a touch of citrus. It has a little bit of a bitter crisp finish. The mouthfeel is pretty thin and watery.

Overall, a pretty average beer. Probably a good starter beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2005 07:11:02 | More by Beaver13

barleywinefiend

Washington

3/5  rDev -20.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured a golden color, looked more like an IPA or APA. Nose is hops and honey. Taste is simple but off beat for the style. Taste is light, crisp, thin with light honey. Mouthfeel is thin, honey, light dash of hops. Drinkability..well..if I wanted an amber ale I would avoid this brew for sure.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2009 01:36:23 | More by barleywinefiend

cyrock1

Colorado

3.03/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: Deep gold with a pillowy white head, about 1/2".

Smell: Something kinda caramelly, malty and good floral hops

Taste: Follows the aroma with more pronounced hops, almost like a plae ale.

Mouthfeel: Mildly bitter with a hop bite at the end.

Overall: I would imagine this would be a much better beer with some food. Straight it is OK though.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2011 05:53:55 | More by cyrock1

ocelot2500

Arizona

3.08/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a hazy copper color with a small, frothy white head that leaves little bits of lacing.

Smells of toasted malt with a touch of hops.

Tastes of the malt notes combined with a light hop presence. Notes of toasted bread, brown sugar, and some grainy sweetness as well. Hops have an earthy notion to them, but are fairly understated. Finishes fairly clean.

Mouthfeel is light with a small amount of carbonation that gives a bit of a watery feel.

Overall, I feel like this is just an okay beer and could definitely be improved upon.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 00:01:57 | More by ocelot2500

stouty1

Michigan

3.1/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a cloud orangish red with a fluffy head. Smeels awful.... like spinach or broccoli. Some hops come through after about the fourth snuff. Taste is very bland. Nice thickness too it but almost a litel too chewy. But, it's difficult getting past the smell. Nice bite on the way down with a small hint of alcohol, but i can't really find any flavor hidden anywhere. I wonder if I need to try another, infortunately this was a one timer with a trade.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2006 02:17:03 | More by stouty1

rye726

Colorado

3.13/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A thin tan head sits over this clear amber beer. I see lots of carbonation. The smell of your standard amber. Some sweet malts with a quiet hoppiness. Taste is fairly light. Some good candy malts. A crisp medium body i srefreshing and leads to decent drinkability. A little too carbonated. Again, just average.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2008 17:23:39 | More by rye726

aquatonex

New York

3.18/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

BOTM offering...

Pours a nice medium translucent orange, slight swirly head, a little lacing, decent carbonation. Nose consists of slight citrusy hops and light malts. Taste is a little skunky, not sure if this was sitting too long. Citrusy light hops as well as the maltiness show through a little as well, a little more complex than your normal american amber, but altogether nothing special.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2006 01:33:51 | More by aquatonex

Oxymoron

Colorado

3.2/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Don’t float off away just yet. Levity pours a darker yellow almost to a burnt orange color. A good pour with a great head retention and pretty good lacing, but both don’t last throughout the tasting.

The smell is noticeable but relatively light. At least there is some smell. A sweeter caramel meets brown sugar aroma to it. Some lighter tones of spices and maybe a bit of citrus twange.

The taste is stronger in malt with a crystal touch and some breadiness mixed in. There isn’t anything that really comes out very strong, but everything is smooth and easy to drink. There is a smooth overtone and a creamy aftertaste to it. A sweeter note reminds me of spiced apples but not so much apples and more of a minor grapefruit flavor.

The body is light to medium with decent carbonation. A good session beer but Odell’s has better.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2005 01:13:21 | More by Oxymoron

marc77

California

3.25/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Copper hue with a slight haze. Stiff, stabile, one fingered rocky ivory white head leaves dense, muddled lace. The aroma is comprised of soft floral hops with an undertone of doughy, underbaked biscuit. Trace lemony, citric twang. Tame, but clean aromawise. In flavor, prevalent in malt character is simple, gentle, lightly bready pale malt. Hints of medium lovibond crystal add a subtle toffee note. Sturdy, firm hop bitterness overruns malt sweetness lending a parching dryness. Stately herbal hop flavor. Virtually devoid of yeast derived character, save a paltry fruity tartness that arises late. Lightly bodied, with a spritzy, but passably dextrinous mouthfeel. Finishes with quickly fading hints of dry, bland cracker with an herbaceous twang. Well crafted and thirst quenching, but not terribly satisfying nor exciting. Akin to an overhopped Kolsch in overall character.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2004 01:25:39 | More by marc77

Seanibus

California

3.25/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a colorful clear copper with a lively, fluffy head. The aroma is malty, with caramel and biscuit starting small and billowing out as the beer warms. The flavor is very biscuity and bready, with hardly any hop character. Tasty, but not deep. A good winter warmer. The mouthfeel is a little prickly with carbonation. The finish turns a little sour, unfortunately.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2010 01:17:26 | More by Seanibus

Golden2wenty1

Wisconsin

3.28/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bottle shared with expatsteve before another Madison Style Session.

Pour: very light orange-golden yellow, semi-translucent with a finger of off-white foam that fades to a skim.

Nose: oats, vanilla, sour cherry, caramel/raisin sweetness

Taste: yeasty/musty grain, lemon-pepper, dry biscuit and caramel malts, old stale hops

Feel: slick, medium-light body, crisp carbonation.

Drinkability/Overall: some funky things going on for a standard amber, but otherwise mild and drinkable per the style.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2006 19:58:48 | More by Golden2wenty1

expatsteve

Wisconsin

3.3/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Golden orange and cloudy, but bright under light. Poured without much fanfare, offering a 1/3 inch head and few thin suds islands on top of the beer. Low viscosity.

Aroma: Sour cherries - unexpected, but not unwelcome. Chocolate malt, a little black pepper. Really fruity. Some cooler cream notes beneath.

Taste: Sour, creamy malts - not too sour, and I imagine more than a little of this is from some mild hops. Biscuity, with a very mild cocoa/chocolate finish. Drinkable, but ordinary.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, creamy, with a snappy malt finish. Low carbonation. Feels a little thin at times.

Drinkability: Ok, but I've had better ambers. Completely inoffensive, but there was nothing there to sink my teeth into or wrap my tongue around. I'm guessing that Odells is trying to make mild drinkable renditions of various styles, but this is a little too subdued.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2006 15:29:37 | More by expatsteve

Reaper16

Alabama

3.3/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

served from a 12oz. bottle into a pint glass

Pours a light shade of honey/amber. The whitish, two-finger head quickly disappears to nothing. Clumpy, sticky lacing is left behind, though. Its very slightly cloudy, but still see-through.

Bready malt in the nose, a little but toasted maybe. Curiously, a bit of sour pear aroma. Some hop smells, too.

The pear follows into the mouth, but its sort of astringent. Not too much, though. The hops give a tad bit of bitter on the finish but no flavor, really. The malts dominate; they aren't particularly sweet, just bready.

There is a moderately high level of carbonation, which suits this beer well. This would probably be a good session candidate if one really digs Ambers.

Overall: meh. I'm not disappointed that I tried this beer, but it seems average almost across the board.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2009 19:02:21 | More by Reaper16

Rbald42

Montana

3.3/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- Very pretty amber color with 1/2 finger head. No lacing present
S- A bit muted. Smells of cereal grain, hints of piney hops, and sweet backbone
T- Just average, came off a bit dry, some biscuity flavor, light hops with a bit of bitterness on the end
M- has a decent mouthfeel, somewhat creamy, I was surprised at how quickly it went down.
D- Its a good average beer, I could have a few of these, but I'd reach for something else if given an alternative.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2010 04:24:39 | More by Rbald42

Dogbrick

Ohio

3.33/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Muchas gracias to prAna for this beer. Pours a light amber color with a thin ohh-white head and mild effervescence. Thin and quick lacing. Aroma is lightly floral hops. Easy-drinking flavor is lightly hoppy with a semi-sweet finish. Not complex at all but a good session beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2003 07:24:36 | More by Dogbrick

TastyTaste

Minnesota

3.33/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Written From Noted Compiled 6/04-8/04:
Gold-bronze color, 3/4" white head. Smell is lightly hoppd, and berry sweetness. Taste is very sweet, of berries and honey. Not cloying, but dominant, and it covers up most other flavors. Too sweet for me, but not bad.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2004 19:48:01 | More by TastyTaste

Mitchster

Michigan

3.33/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Brewed with Munich and honey malts. 5.1% ABV

Pours out to a clear but slightly hazy light amber, forming an average whipped light beige head with good retention and average lacing. Carbonation is moderate. The aroma is exceptionally light for the style...some dusty and delicate floral hops are barely evident and only when swirled do I pick up on a slight toasted malt suggestion. Otherwise it smells like beer, and doesn't have any ale characteristics, more akin to an light amber lager. The mouthfeel is crisp with a light body. The taste is also very subtle for the style with delicate floral hops and toasted malts. There are some biscuity overtones akin to Fat Tire and the finish is exceptionally crisp with a light, toasty dryness. Bitterness is very mild. The mouthfeel in the aftertaste is a little bit ruddy, but not problematic.

The is an average amber ale. Not much here for a serious beer drinker, but decent for a middle-of-the-road-mass-appeal-type-of-beer. I could see it growing on me if I were in the mood for something light as an everyday type of beer, which is probably what the brewery is hoping for.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2005 01:07:58 | More by Mitchster