Bell's Amber Ale - Bell's Brewery, Inc.

Matt1516

Quebec (Canada)

3.38/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

It's been a week of hoppy IPAs, so perhaps drinking this more subtle amber ale a little too cold did it a disservice.

Pours clear amber with small head (into a tumbler). Aroma of toasted grain and caramel.

Some malts present in the taste, not much by way of hops. Balanced taste-neither too sweet or bitter. Good session beer but a little forgettable.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2011 20:46:11 | More by Matt1516

Vixie

Illinois

3.38/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a nice copper color with a decent white head that quickly reduces down to about a half inch. A lot of bubbling from the carbonation as well.

The smell is very malty, with a hint of yeast and a bit of citrus fruit

The taste is similar to the smell, malt with a hint of citrus, and some hop spice in the finish. Has a bit of a dry finish, leaving a lingering bitterness.

The feel isn't too bad, it is helped a bit by the carbonation.

I decided to update my review after realizing I first tried this in a Duvel glass, which does not do this beer any favors. Tried in a standard pint glass, the flavor profile changes a bit, and for the better. The flavors became more intense, and a bit more complex. Drink this one in a pint glass, and you will find it to be a nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2011 01:28:53 | More by Vixie

KajII

North Carolina

3.38/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

[Best served in a Shaker glass]

The pour was a cloudy medium amber with an average sized (1-2 finger) off white creamy head that reduced to a thick film with a large collar and had excellent sheets of lacing.

The aroma was of a light toasted grain malt, light floral hops and a mildly sweet doughy yeast with notes of caramel, honey and citrus (orange).

The taste was quite malty with a nice caramel sweetness from the onset with the finish being lightly hoppy with a slight bitter citrus peel presence and just a touch of honey at the end. The flavor lasted an average time with a good light bitter sweet taste left to linger for just a while longer.

Mouthfeel was a bit beyond light in body with a watery yet still slightly creamy texture and a nice mild carbonation.

Overall a smooth easy to drink brew with a nice light sweetness, that is offset by the mild hoppy bitterness...

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 15:12:47 | More by KajII

OSUbrewman

Ohio

3.35/5  rDev -13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Appearance -This beer poured a cloudy golden amber (like aged apple cider) with a 2 finger off-white head that exhibited great retention and some lacing.
Nose- Some citrus was detectable in the nose, and some hoppiness, but noting too special.
Taste- Crisp and refreshing, this is definately a very citrusy amber. There were some hops, but not as hoppy as I would have liked. The taste in thirst quenching and has a clean finish with very little lingering on the palate.
Mouthfeel- Crisp carbonation, not very heavy at all.
Drinkability- Highly drinkable and a good session amber,
Bell's Amber would go quite well on a warm summer day, as it is definately a thirst quencing and refreshing offering of this style. However, while it wasn't bad, it definately left something to be desired.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2006 16:03:15 | More by OSUbrewman

Monkeyknife

Missouri

3.35/5  rDev -13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from the bottle a hazy reddish orange color with a stick off-white meringue of foam.

Aroma is grainy and metallic with a light sour note.

The taste is quite watery with just a hint of malts and red fruit. Not much else.

Lighter bodied, thin, and lightly carbonated.

Not really much to say on this one. Thin and weak don't make a great amber ale.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2008 22:51:57 | More by Monkeyknife

AgentMunky

Alabama

3.35/5  rDev -13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a pilsner glass.

A: Amber-esque until held up to the light, which reveals translucent yellowish colour. Decent head and lots of bubbles.

S: Unexpected. Instead of a sweet, malty scent, I'm getting hops and a tinge of skunk. Malt does lie underneath, a bit concealed. Beery, overall.

T: Good, and a beer that is balanced, rather than tilted towards malt, as many amber ales are. The main taste is dry but full, with a slightly toasted feel. Rather carbonated. The aftertaste is pleasantly round and malty, with the hops running underneath. Mostly sweet but dry. A very interesting brew, but not my favourite.

M: Watery-smooth meets spicy-tingly. It's alright.

D: Honestly, I was expecting a lot more from this beer. It's a more than decent, but not anywhere near outstanding. I've had much better brews from Bell's and better amber ales than this. Drinkable, but not recommended.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2010 04:05:32 | More by AgentMunky

MCain04

Illinois

3.35/5  rDev -13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle poured into a 20 oz Spiegelau glass.

Appearance: Murky orange, amber color. Opaque. Off-white head of 1-2 fingers with decent retention and lacing.

Smell: Not great. Musty is upfront. Beyond that, I get a lot of nutty characters, a hint of floral hops, roasty malt backbone.

Taste: Easy-drinking. Definitely a balanced brew with a mild amount of spice, hops, and malt. For a beer-drinker who appreciates balance and subtlety, this beer is good.

Mouthfeel: Moderate carbonation. Light on the mouthfeel. Average finish.

Overall: An above-average amber ale. Nothing I'd go out of my way for, but it's definitely drinkable and tastier than a lot of the other mass-produced amber ales out there.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 19:16:22 | More by MCain04

TheLongBeachBum

California

3.33/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Presentation: 12 ouncer, long neck brown bottle. The single obverse main label is a dark brown colored label that has a profile of what looks like a Heron. No freshness date or strength listed.

Appearance: What the Furrrccc…..!?? This is sludge! Hold on, no its not! Well, it is very murky. Indeed, it is a deeply impenetrable filthy amber with hints of fluorescent rusty oranges. The dirty white head is good at first, but soon breaks down into a scum like covering. Not your usual appearance – maybe off-putting to some. Different, but certainly not classic Amber Ale looks.

Nose: The nose is very inviting, deep fruity hoppy malts mixed with some caramel. Nice.

Taste: The tastes are very good, much better than the appearance - thankfully. Lovely honey malts introduce an earthy malt feel that has a caramel finish. Some yeasty dough & bread feel in the dying end.

Mouthfeel: The body is rather average I think, but I like the buttery feel that the beer leaves towards the end of the experience. Dry, rather malty end.

Drinkability: Not bad, but by no means a favorite at all. I have had much better Amber Ales.

Overall: Not to my tastes I’m afraid. The reverse label states “You hold in your hand the Flagship of the Bell’s Family, Amber Ale…” It’s a reasonably good beer for sure, and I like Bell’s beers, well, whenever I get the chance to try them. BUT, I have some more Bell’s in the Fridge that I have yet to try (Thanks & Kudos to FM), AND, I have a funny feeling that I may dispel the Bell’s claim very shortly.

Quite simply – Murky, enjoyable but not yer usual Amber Ale.

Another “Tip of the Hat, Sir” to FM for getting to try this one.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2003 04:49:29 | More by TheLongBeachBum

rousee

Massachusetts

3.33/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Disclaimer- These amber styles are not my fave.
I have not been as impressed with the 2 Bells beers as I have tried vs.the other MI ones + Great Lakes (OH).

Its allright. I am kind of disappointed because I thought Larry Bell was such an entertaining character from the movie American Beer. The 2 Bells I have tried have clearly been the least impressive of the MI lot which I have regarded highly. Another one that I bet is better on-tap instead of bottled but I cannot score it highly in the bottle.

Tasting notes are peach apricot colored murk with no lace. No foam. Too flat. Straightforward amber maltiness with a good amount of hops.Way too flat !!!

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2005 00:18:23 | More by rousee

cameraman

Kentucky

3.33/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A copper color with hints of a golden hue on the sides, a small head forms, white in color, a disappears very quickly. The scent of malt is very evident, not much in hop aroma. There are some fruity aromas that are there as well. The taste is mostly of the malt, which makes it very mild in flavor. The mouthfeel is thin and tad watery azt the beginning, then it gains more body as it crosses the palate. This an easy to drink beer, with the sweet malty flavor, making it favorable to drink. Overall though it needs some hops to balance out the sweetness. This would be a great session beer and even a beer to introduce someone to craft beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2006 16:16:18 | More by cameraman

Onenote81

North Carolina

3.33/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12oz bottle. Batch 10159 - bottled on Jan. 19, 2011. Pours an uber-cloudy dark orange with a thin white head as a capper. Retention is lacking. No lace left behind. Boring. The nose is mildly sweet with notes of honey, caramel, crackers. Hops are surprisingly absent in the nose. Again, sort of boring. Nice medium chew to the body. Decent carbonation level backs it up and carries it through to the end. Have I become jaded by all the highly-hopped Ambers out there? This one comes across as mellow, albeit flavorful. Lots of sweet malts, mild hop bite, bready finish. There's a faint citrus tartness to it on the back end, but it's fleeting. All-in-all this was a good beer. I wouldn't stress too much to get some more, but not a beer I would ever turn down.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2011 20:46:47 | More by Onenote81

sweemzander

Illinois

3.33/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz. bottle poured into a nonic. 09/27/11 packaged date.

(A)- Pours a hazy amber color. A small cap of white froth & lace.

(S)- A nice malty backbone with some subtle fruits; grainy.

(T)- Similar to the smell. A nice malty backbone with some subtle grainy fruits.

(M)- A good carbonation level and balance. Simple and straightforward, but smooth and malty.

(D)- A solid, straightforward amber. Malty, but smooth and easy drinking.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2012 19:23:22 | More by sweemzander

Bones10

Illinois

3.31/5  rDev -14%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Two Hearted is my favorite beer, but this is purely average for a brewery I hold in very high regards. It's biggest redeeming quality is its proclivity as a session beer. It is also useful to get some new fans of craft beer as this has no offensive qualities. The unfortunate flip side is that it also has no outstanding qualities. I have recommended this beer to people who are curious about the beer snobbish nonsense I spew to hopefully convert some macro drinkers to the better side of beer drinking.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 17:22:10 | More by Bones10

pweis909

Wisconsin

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

I've been sampling the local (i.e upper midwest/western great lakes) reds and ambers recently. Was saving this for last as I read that it was pretty special, but I am underwhelmed.

A-Appropriate color for style, more orange than red. Thin head, quick to disipate.
S-Malt and hops were evident, but not righly so.
T-The malt was not assertive enough for me. The hops were merely evident as bitterness, but no unusal characteristics come to mind.
M-OK
D-It's an unoffensive thrist quencher. It's quaffable, but not particularly special.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2005 17:14:50 | More by pweis909

objectivemonkey

Minnesota

3.3/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Into a pint glass, pours a murky amber (duh) with a twinge of particulate floating around, a decent beginning head that recedes quickly to a thin foam, and pretty decent lacing. Aroma is malty, toasted and caramels, faint herbal hops. Taste is also more malty, biscuts, bready and faintly herbal hops, a little earthy, caramel is gone, fruits now, a twinge tart. The mouth is not good, thinnish and too carbonated, and the finish is too dry and there is straw in the finish, and I don't like it. Overall, a decent beer, not Bell's best, easy enough to drink, but not my cup of tea.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2007 03:38:39 | More by objectivemonkey

Rhettroactive

Virginia

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

From 12oz bottle to Bruges hybrid glass on 6/27/11
*From notes

A: Unfiltered and slightly hazy burgundy. A good amount of white floaties are present. A good pour yields a 1.25 finger head. Mediocre and dissapointing lacing.

S: Sweet smell of caramel and charry toast and malt.

T: Metallic wheat, with too much earthiness and not enough balance. The malt is a bit much, and I feel this could use more touch.

M: Creamy and rich. It's got the proper weight and carbonation that really picks this one up and carries it in a big way.

O: Bell's Amber Ale isn't by any means the best amber on the market, but it isn't half bad. I don't see myself reaching for this one often, but will make a point of returning to it down the road. In the meantime, there are plenty of other ambers I'll be grabbing over this.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2011 22:08:57 | More by Rhettroactive

tykees88

Indiana

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

A- a nice amber color with a lean towards light amber head. it is frothy.

S- smells super sweet and malty.

T- the taste has a nice sweet malt flavor and finish. It has a nice crisp finish as well. nice drinker

M- it has a little more body than i like, bt that's alright.

O- It''s nice, nothing special but nice.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2011 19:33:16 | More by tykees88

DaPeculierDane

Wisconsin

3.28/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Beautiful bright orange with lots of yummy yeasties floating around to distinguish the men from the people who don’t like little white aliens floating aroung in their beer.

Thin beige head. Cool Bottle.

Overall, I dig the presentation both in and out of the bottle.

Smell is pretty sweet and not to exciting.

Pretty darn robust taste but it could be better. Lots of flowers and citrus, toasted grain, slightly bitter.

I bet it would be better on tap.

Very, very drinkable any time of the year.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2005 16:22:03 | More by DaPeculierDane

beveragecaptain

New Jersey

3.28/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle. Bell's Amber pours out a pale amber color with a medium sized head. The aroma is caramel with some toasted malts and spicy hops. The flavor starts off with some caramel, followed by husky grain. Some fruitiness comes in at the middle. Finishes bitter with a mild hoppiness that tastes just a bit skunky. Medium mouthfeel. Decent drinkability. This beer has nice balance, but the flavor is only ok. Just an average amber ale.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2006 01:05:18 | More by beveragecaptain

Hojaminbag

Colorado

3.28/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Orangish color with small quickly receeding off-white head. I don't really notice any retention.

I don't smell much of anything. Very slight malty character.

Surprisingly malty. Definitely one of the maltiest ambers I have tasted. Begins with a slight sweetness and finishes with a big malty choclate/coffee flavor. Not bad, but I prefer a little bit of hops in an amber, when I'm in the mood for maltiness I'd like a RIS or something.

Moutfeel is very light and carbonated, nothing much to notice, same with the drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2008 23:49:03 | More by Hojaminbag

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.28/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Shared a few bottles with friends. This one pours hazy amber with a white head.

I was expecting more flavor from this beer. Really, the malts are just light caramel and there's just a slight spicy hop note in the aftertaste. Yes, it's very drinkable and not really bland, but it's boring. It just sort of smells and tastes like a generic Amber Ale. There's nothing distinguishing.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2008 14:11:56 | More by tempest

AltBock

Ohio

3.28/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz. bottle with a burgundy colored label with a head shot of a great blue heron with 4 weeds (?) on both sides of the heron. The back label has a brief paragraph about the beer, mandatory Government warning, and a batch number of 8651. That means it was packaged on July 23rd, 2008.

I poured this Amber Ale into a slender pilsner glass. This Bell's beer poured a hazy amber/copper color with a tall creamy 1 inch head of pure white foam. This head of foam never receded by itself. It only receded when I took a sip of the beer. When it did recede, it left behind a ton of sticky white streaks of lace. A great Amber Ale appearance.

There wasn't much to the aroma. There's wasn't anything wrong with it. It was just too faint. All I got was a little bit of peppery yeast, a tiny hint of juicy fruits, and a quick splash of toasted malts. If the beer is swirled around, the malts become bready. Nothing else emerges.

The taste was malty at first with some regular toasted malts. Quickly following the malts was a dash of peppery yeast, a tiny hint of juicy fruits, and a pinch of peppery hops at the end. Not much to the taste either, but at least it had some decent flavors in it.

This was a light bodied beer with a dry peppery aftertaste of peppery yeast, a hint of peppery hops, and a subtle touch of toasted malts.

It was an easy drinking light bodied Amber Ale, but it was a little too peppery for me. It would have better if they would have decreased the peppery flavors and increased the malts a little bit. Just a decent offering from a great brewery.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2008 08:28:43 | More by AltBock

thedoubler55

New Jersey

3.28/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- Amber in color with a hint of copper, very little head and lacing the dissipates quickly.

S- Sweet malts and smell of sour cherries.

T-Very different, tasted of sweet malts, with some type of citrus hops, well balanced though.

M- Medium bodied, with slight carbonation

D- Nothing special, but something that you can sip on regularly if you have an acquired taste for it.

Serving type: on-tap

01-19-2011 04:05:19 | More by thedoubler55

muletrane

Pennsylvania

3.28/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bottled on 9/12/11

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a nonic.

A: Pours a very hazy amber color. 2 fingers of egg shell head. Tight bubbles. Decent retention and lace.

S: I'm getting alot of sweet fruity malty notes. A slight touch of Belgian yeast qualities in the nose as well.

T: Slightly sweet malts up front. Biscuity notes on the back end. Finish is pretty dry. Not alot of hop character here.

M: Crisp, clean and dry overall. Moderate body and carbonation.

Overall this is an average amber ale. Not a bad beer by any means. Taste isn't bad and its easy to drink. Nice nose on this beer as well. Just nothing great. I'll review again when I come across a more fresh bottle.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2012 15:05:44 | More by muletrane

CDBeerDisappear

Ohio

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

Orange amber in color with an abundance of fine bubbles. Orangish off white head is retained to almost the end. Good lacing. Plenty of hop presence, aroma is kind of agricultural. Taste is dry and clean, any sweetness from the malt is overshadowed by dry bitterness making it an excellent choice to accompany food. Feels like carbonated mineral water in the mouth. A good solid beer that I would happily drink again.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2007 21:56:37 | More by CDBeerDisappear