Bell's Deb's Red Ale - Bell's Brewery, Inc.

TheDM

Indiana

3.3/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This brew pours a small head of mostly diminishing fine light brown colored bubbles and a medium amber brown colored body. It had a hoppy aroma and a somewhat smooth thick flavor of hops, malt and spices. The best thing about it was its appearance. Then, it went down from there. But, it is a very nice brew none-the-less.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2003 22:13:48 | More by TheDM

hotstuff

Indiana

3.58/5  rDev -7%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottled. When I poured this beer into my glass, it poured a mall tan head that had medium sized bubbles that fully diminished. The lacing was good on the sides of glass. The body was clear and the hue was reddish. It had a moderate hoppy aroma and also an aroma of clove and a hint of citrus. There was no carbonation present with this beer. It was bitter tasting from start to finish and the bitterness seemed to linger for a while after finished this beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2003 13:55:05 | More by hotstuff

jcalabre

California

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Originally sampled on 29 November 2002. I am writing this review from my notes.
This pours cloudy, brown colored with a nice one finger head. It has a medium body, upfront sweetness, followed by some bite on the tongue. This is a nice beer. It is unique.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2003 21:27:05 | More by jcalabre

oberon

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pretty nice aber color with perhaps copper tinge.Smelled very sweet and malty and some fruit tinge from the hops,very comples.Tasted of baking spices?A little filling but that may be just me.A real complex red ale very well made in my opinion,have had it a few times.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2003 07:59:14 | More by oberon

Mitchster

Michigan

4.35/5  rDev +13%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Brew is a murky red-amber that has flecks of yeast flittering in the mild to moderate carbonation. Pours with a dense peaking dark beige head that leaves lots of tenacious red lace atop small to medium sized bubbles. Aroma is rich and complex...fruity hops, juicy grapefruit, warm sugar cookies, and lots of prunes and raisins...similar to a lighter version of Third Coast Old Ale. Taste starts with a soft, meaty body and gives way to a roasted sweetness in the back of the throat, quickly fading into a long, biscuity, pleasant, fresh bittering hop finish with a mild astringency. Prunes and raisins are more dominant in the nose than in the flavor, but there for sure. No alcohol bite or fusels (even as it warms) make this extremely drinkable despite it's modest ABV (It even gives me a warm feeling at this ABV...perhaps because I associate it with Third Coast Old Ale)...a very well done potent and complex red. Another top-notch brew that maintains Kzoo as my favorite brewing company.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2003 16:21:17 | More by Mitchster

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.18/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Is there something in the water in Kalamazoo, or just something in Larry Bell's blood, sweat and other bodily fluids that makes everything these guys make stand apart from everything else?
Cleverness abounds in Bell's country, for their red is not named after any Deborah, but the famous unionist, Eugene V. Debs. A murky red color, spicy nose, quite hoppy. Flavors of plums, raisins, cinnamon. Malt is substantial, but not dominant. Medium body, but thick and full with flavor. Remarkably soft, smooth, and spicy!

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2002 00:24:44 | More by feloniousmonk

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Murky looking scarlet in color. Sticky medium sized ivory white head recedes to a thick film and then stays that way for a while. Huge mix on the nose. (Make that Bighuge mix on the nose.) Bready yeast tones. Caramel maltiness. Sour lactic notes. Very nice. Medium to full body. I really like the subtle notes of lactic sourness in this beer. Must come from their yeast strain as I've picked it up in their beers before. Hops also play heavily into this Amber. They seem to be of the NW variety and contribute an underlying citric note. Deep caramel and biscuit like malt profile provides the backdrop for all of the above. This could very well be my favorite Amber (if not, one of my favorites).

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2002 19:44:02 | More by Bighuge

Jon

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Debs' (as in Eugene Debs) Red pours a glowing copper color with a sizeable off-white head that lasts. The smell is of faint smokiness with some malt character presenting itself nicely. Taste is rather malty, with some of that smoky feel again. Perhaps a little hops in there, as well. Solid mouthfeel with some mild carbonation. Pretty smooth ale. It's also fairly easy to drink, which makes it a standout in the red ale category. Once again, you can't go wrong with Kalamazoo!

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2002 20:15:43 | More by Jon

ZAP

Minnesota

4.65/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Now here's a dandy....It's funny how you learn to identify these beers by the smell...I got this from my brother Big Huge..I never really looked at it, and poured it and smelled it...I said this has got to be "Bell's" and in the upside down fine print I see it is...

This is a high quality beer....a big red with character....dwarfs any other red I've had...Nose is fresh and spicy with a a good dose of maltiness...the body is tremendous for this style...Like I said this beer has character....But the taste is the best thing...it features a strong maltiness complimented with some excellent spiciness....This is one of the best in its class in the world in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2002 21:40:39 | More by ZAP

ADR

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This beer seems bigger than the American Amber category...

Red-brown "swamp-water" color with the characteristic Kalamazoo chunks doing the slow dance in your glass. Tiny skim of a head. Spicy aroma, especially of nutmeg with a touch of lime. Take all your pumpkin pie ingredients, mix 'em in a bowl, add a cup of lime juice, then put it in a "Juiceman" juicer and this is what might come out in your glass. Impressive body and fullness, a sense of cherry after a few sips. Hops lend pepper to the finish but are not overly assertive. To me, this is a cool weather brew with more citrus and spice than candy impressions, a little dirt and smoke, almost like a little "cousin" to Bell's Batch 5000.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2002 07:39:55 | More by ADR

stewart124

Ohio

4.09/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

On tap at the Yard House, Cincinnati.

Pours a medium to dark amber with creamy slightly off-white head.

Citrus in the nose and some light raisin notes.

Smooth and has a medium mouthfeel with a puckering bite that is more than I anticipated. Citrusy hops and some resiny, oily characters on the palate. This is more balanced towards the hops and yet maintains a good caramel note without becoming cloying. Medium caramel adds some fruity characters that compliment the hop bitterness.

Pleasing to drink and finishes fairly dry. Nice to see a hoppy amber ale out there on the market from Bell's. Another very solid beer in their portfolio.

Serving type: on-tap

04-06-2013 00:29:22 | More by stewart124

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Spinning from the ever reliable Amber Ale, Deb's tribute brew continues Bell's attention to implacable balance, enticing flavor, and effortless ease in drinking. Once again they hit the nail squarely on the head of the classic American amber ale.

Opening with a medium deep amber hue that captures garnet red hues as the light passes through. Lightly hazed from its unfiltered character and even-keel use of hops. Capped with an off white, creamy head of foam, the charming beer invites the nose and taste buds with its sheer and strong appearance. Long lasting and lacy, the foam accompanies the beer until the very last sip.

Balanced aromas of caramel and hops become the consent thread that guides the beer from initial aromas until the racy finish. Caramel malts pin against citrus hops for an aromatic display that draws in elements of toast, nuts, light toffee, grapefruit, oranges, and light pine.

Much the same is delivered in taste, which leads with medium caramel malt sweetness, with richer and more succulent taste of toasted pecans, biscuit malt, and sweeter crusted breads. As the beer moves across the middle palate, the hops come alive with the sharp citrusy taste of white grapefruit, freshly zested oranges, and light pine refreshment. As the finish prefers the drier and toastier malt character, it seems to allow the hops to pull ahead ever so slightly, yet the beer retains a balanced taste even then.

Medium bodied early because of the malt sweetness and creamy carbonation that provides fuller texture on the front of the tongue. But the beer lightens with a consistent fade that starts with the fleeting carbonation and the transition from sweet malt to dry toast to finish. Citrusy bitterness and a mild stemmy effect accompanies moderate alcohol warmth and a minty aftertaste that closes the beer with satisfaction.

Deb's Red Ale provides an effortless drinking session that displays the straight-forward dialogue of hop and malt balance; with little else to convoluted the stage. It should be the perfect complement to artistically barbecue pizza and caramelized onions and swiss on burgers.

Serving type: on-tap

11-27-2012 16:50:08 | More by BEERchitect

barczar

Kentucky

3.58/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a cl.ear amber with copper highlights and a solid one inch beige head that lingers as a foamy cloud.

Caramel malt dominates the aroma, with floral hop character and a touch of resin at the finish.

Odd flavor, fairly fruity malt character, probably attributable more to hops, but hits early. Citrus tones resonate throughout, with perfumey hops contributing to the relatively dry finish. The bready malt backbone is biscuity, and no match for the hops.

Body is moderate, with moderate carbonation and a touch of astringency at the finish.

Overall, not what I expected from the description. The perfumey hops almost leave an impression of staleness. Malt could've been a bit more of a complex player.

Serving type: on-tap

11-07-2012 22:02:35 | More by barczar

dlello2

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

What a great amber from bells. It's sweet but not overly sweet. A touch of hop presence really balances this out. After the ridiculously heavy black note this was extraordinarily refreshing. Smell was underwhelming but the taste was spot on. A sessionable brew that I would be glad to stumble upon again.

Serving type: on-tap

05-04-2012 21:11:52 | More by dlello2

elNopalero

Texas

4.23/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This pours with a nice caramel color. It has a pleasant malt aroma with some caramel notes, and a warming caramel malt flavor up front balanced by a hoppy bitterness and a pleasant, dry finish. It’s an enjoyable addition to Bell’s stable. Even if it’s (as far as I could tell) an Eccentric Café exclusive.

Serving type: on-tap

04-09-2012 19:53:10 | More by elNopalero

AgentZero

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A - Amber colored beer with a bit of a foamy head. Decent retention with a bit of lace.

S - Some citrus and earthy hops, with mostly malt coming through. Nothing particularly special here, little bit of soap.

T - Taste is about like the nose, there's not really enough hop character to this and the malts seem a little bit watered down.

M - Smooth, crisp, medium bodied.

O - Not a great beer, but it's drinkable without being offensive. There's a lot of Amber/Reds I'd rather drink than this one.

Serving type: on-tap

11-23-2011 21:16:00 | More by AgentZero

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.6/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed on tap at the brewery tasting room. A hoppy citrusy red that's a very decent and interesting beer. A reddish tinged body with a tiny head. Good malt backbone.Average overall for the style, average mouthfeel. Passable for the more edgy stuff Bells puts out.

Serving type: on-tap

09-09-2011 20:59:40 | More by northyorksammy

oline73

Maryland

3.23/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

I had this in a sampler at the Eccentric Cafe while on our beercation in Michigan.

Appearance: Pours a cloudy red amber with a finger of thick off white head. Great head retention and lacing.

Smell: Mildly sweet malt up front along with some citrus hops.

Taste: Quite malty with a mild spice. Some citrus hop bitterness balanced by a sweetness from the malt.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with smooth carbonation and a dry finish.

Overall: A very nice looking beer, nice to drink but not very interesting.

Serving type: on-tap

09-05-2011 04:10:23 | More by oline73

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the Eccentric Cafe this past weekend.

Pours a clear amber with a good off-white head and a bit of lacing on the way down. The nose brings forward some light bread crust as well as a bit of caramel. Light citrus and earthy hops. Flavor is fairly similar with the malt shining for the most part, though it's hoppier than your standard amber (excluding India Red Ales). Mouthfeel is medium and somewhat chewy with a semi-dry finish and mild bitterness. Good, not great.

Serving type: on-tap

09-01-2011 11:13:49 | More by Thorpe429

thagr81us

South Carolina

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

Served from tap into a shaker in the company of caSSino. Poured red-orange with a half finger off-white head. Maintained phenomenal lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt and pine hop. The flavor was of sweet malt, pine resin, and pine hop. It had a medium feel on the palate with medium-high carbonation. Overall this was a pretty good brew. Had a nice aroma and flavor going on in this one. I really wasn't expecting the hops and resin to be this robust but they definitely shined through. This is an absolute must try for any pine or American Amber fan out there.

Serving type: on-tap

03-28-2011 18:08:10 | More by thagr81us

glid02

Georgia

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

On-tap at the Brick Store.

Pours a hazy light amber color with a one-finger cream-colored head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of heavy rye, both spicy and earthy, backed by solid amounts of grainy caramel malts. Also present are mild amounts of leafy hops.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Moderately dry caramel malt flavors kick things off and are joined almost immediately by large amounts of spicy rye. The rye carries through until midway through the sip where the flavor profile further dries out with the addition of leafy and slightly herbal hops. The hops fade out, allowing the caramel malt and rye to carry through to a moderately bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with solid carbonation.

Drinkability is also good. I finished my glass without a problem and could have another.

Overall this was exactly what it was billed - a red rye without anything else. A very nice showcase for the spicy rye character and a beer that's worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

02-14-2011 23:11:35 | More by glid02

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Draft at City Tap House.

Pours a very dark amber/mahogany coolor with golden copper hues when held to a light source and a two finger frothy off-white head with excellent retention, only slowly fading into a lasting cp. Streaks of lacing left behnd.

Slightly earthy dry hop aroma with hints of caramel, rye, sweet alcohol and dry piny hops. Although the other notes shine through, especially rye, the nose on this beer is dominated by the hops.

Chewy medium body that is very hop forward with lots of dry piny notes That linger throughout over the sweet caramel malt backbone and rye notes into a lingern dry yet sweet finish. The rye is very prominent and slightly overpowers the sweet caramel malt backbone. Very well balanced with the dry bitter hops slightly overpowering the other flavors but the sweet malt and rye are strong enough to make this beer very quaffable.

Serving type: on-tap

06-08-2010 05:35:10 | More by corby112

tmoneyba

Ohio

3.95/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured a hazy copper color with an average creamy off-white head that was mostly diminishing and had good lacing. Good malty and citrus hoppy aroma. Medium body with slick dry texture. Moderate well balanced smooth flavor with a medium bittersweet finish of moderate to long duration. Good brew.

Serving type: on-tap

06-01-2010 01:49:12 | More by tmoneyba

spointon

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I had this one at Bell's Eccentric Cafe on 8/28/2009 served on tap in a 12oz glass.

A= This ale poured a murky, damn near chunky amber brown color with a 1/2" fluffy tan head. Seriously, I am an ale guy at heart and I prefer my beers unfiltered but this was REALLY unfiltered. The head settled fast and left a few streaks of lace behind.

S= Lots of syrupy, caramel malt in the aroma with just a hint of some resiny hops to indicate that this might not be cloyingly sweet.

T= This was a simple but enticing beer. The malt base was crazy big, with flavors of caramel, nuts, and nougat running all over the place. There were just enough spicy hops to take a bit of the edge off and dry out the finish just a tad. This was a rich beer to say the least.

M= On the full side of medium bodied with a nearly crisp carbonation level. Very much a chewy tongue coater despite the carbonation.

D= I wa expecting a well made but ho-hum red ale and what I got was a huge malt bomb that had me thinking about it long after I had drained the glass. Drinkability was decent, but I honestly can't see myself ever drinking more than one of these in a sitting.

Serving type: on-tap

09-01-2009 04:42:49 | More by spointon

maximum12

Minnesota

3.3/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Split with the wife at the Eccentric Cafe in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Amber brew with again, almost no smell coming off of it. How can something this malty not smell like...something?

This is a massive, straight-up malt bomb with only a tingle of hop bitterness at the end that's quickly overrun. Honestly, I've never had a beer this malty in my life. The first sip or two is a turn-off, but as it warms, this grew on me. My wife hated it. Not sure I could down more than one of these, but it was worth having!

Pretty good beer. No "balance" in this one, though!

Serving type: on-tap

08-17-2009 14:27:38 | More by maximum12