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

CortexBomb

Michigan

3.23/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pretty plain looking brew, deep muddy orange with a small bit of head on top that left pretty quickly. Smell was middle of the road as well, some faint traces of yeast and background hints of fruit, but nothing beyond purely average.

Taste was what I would consider the average macro amber lager with a minor zing of floral (like a severely watered down Two Hearted Ale), and an end which had an interesting hop bite that took me by surprise after the bland opening.

Mouthfeel, meh, plain, some carbonation, some body, but not much in either...drinkability was pretty good I have to admit, but like most of Bell's lighter beer offerings this just doesn't offer enough to bring me back with any regularity.

Serving type: on-tap

08-04-2004 03:41:33 | More by CortexBomb

canoehornpoint

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Very nice. Poured a nice light amber with little head but very clingy. Light malty aroma. Light creamy malty swee taste with a hint of black currant, nicely offset with finishing hops. Surprisingly light mouthfeel considering the taste. Finishes a bit fuller than the start. Even though I prefer a hoppier beer, I could enjoy many more of these. Very well done.

Serving type: on-tap

04-18-2004 02:05:41 | More by canoehornpoint

Reneejane

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

The beer was poured with a thick off white head. The color was a light amber color that was slightly cloudy. The aroma was of a citrusy/fruity hop. The taste was yeasty with an estery taste with a bit of a fruity hop kick. It finished with a slightly sweet, yet slightly bitter flavor. But it leaves the mouth quite clean.

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2004 19:35:52 | More by Reneejane

DrunkMcDermott

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served on premise at KBC. A little cloudy, and the color is a bit lighter than other ambers. A thin head. Good biscuity malt profile. Likeable, but really not quite the thrill I had been led to expect from a Bell's. But what the hey, Kalamazoo seems to be a brewpub heaven, on to another... and another...

Serving type: on-tap

12-08-2003 14:44:40 | More by DrunkMcDermott

ngandhi

Illinois

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

Along the lines of a malty pale ale, Bell's Amber is a fantastic balance of malt and hops. Cascadey, but milder like Willamette, the hop aroma and tongue are fleetingly bitter, floral, but without the perfume of Two Hearted. This must have been designed to be a session ale and, indeed, it is. I had a pitcher to myself with Mexican food at Fiesta Cafe in Champaign, IL (only 8.00).

Highly recommended, this is certainly unlike any bock. The opening is malty and sweet with a hop bitterness and the finish lightly crisp, bitter, and still malty. Toffee. Consistent and entirely enjoyable. This might be my favorite Bell's brew.

Drink it.

Relax, relax.
ng

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2003 03:55:47 | More by ngandhi

hotstuff

Indiana

4.43/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I had this beer on tap at Bell's and I really, really enjoyed drinking it. In fact, this is a beer that I would drink all night at a bar or party. In fact, one just wasn't enough as it went down very smoothly and I just had to have more and more and more. It ended up being a fun night at Bell's!

Serving type: on-tap

07-10-2003 10:10:44 | More by hotstuff

TheDM

Indiana

3.48/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This brew has a mild aroma if any at all. Its head died out very quickly. It has a nice amber brown color. My initial taste contained a hint of a fore taste that I later tasted on the back of my throat. It contained some carbonation and was a little watery in flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

07-03-2003 09:14:30 | More by TheDM

Redrover

Illinois

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

I had this one on tap at the Wild Goose in Chicago. Nice brown/amber color and tan head. Decent lacing.

Beer smelled of bread, malts and fruit. Very nice.

Taste was great. Some grainy (not adjunct) backbone. Nice malt sweetness. Just enough hops to make everything work. Beer had excellent carbonation. My only complaint (minor) is that the mouthfeel was a little thin. Easy drinking beer here. I had not had one of these for a year or so, so it was nice to revisit an old friend!

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2003 10:45:08 | More by Redrover

jaz

Indiana

4.05/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This mildly hazy, medium amber beer was a true delight. The small head provided good lacing about half way. The aroma was fruity and sweet. Taste was clean and smooth, with a nice sweet middle and hoppy finish. Some acetic flavors were present in the aftertaste. A nice, easy drinking beer with good flavor and mouthfeel.

Serving type: on-tap

04-26-2003 10:39:54 | More by jaz

Sixpack595

Michigan

4.3/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Clear copper color with full white head. Slightly sweet, floral aromas and taste. Hops are citruicy, giving great aroma, and good taste. I have heard bad thing about it in bottles, but I drink it on tap quite often with no complaints. Really a great beer that everyone can enjoy.

Serving type: on-tap

02-25-2003 22:58:31 | More by Sixpack595

AaronRed

New York

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A very inviting looking beer. Nice amber hue, just perfect for fall. Hops are present, as is a clean malty flavor. There is something very simple about this beer, but there is a rich hop note that clings to your tongue. Very easy to drink and could be one of those "anytime" beers.

Serving type: on-tap

10-29-2002 18:36:03 | More by AaronRed

Jason

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: On tap, served in a 16 oz. American tumbler glass.

Appearance: Cloudy orange hued amber with a well dispositioned tiny bubbled lace leaving several thick rings on the glass.

Smell: Malty sweet with overtones of fresh toasted grain and a subtle flowery oily hop holding a citric nose.

Taste: Well formed malt sweetness within the medium body, moderate crispness from the carbonation. Faint buttery diacetyl, toffee and toasted malt make for the base of this brew, a tamed yet multi-layered hop runs through a pungent bitterness, an oily flower and a citric flavour towards the end. After taste lingers long and hard with more toasted and citric flavours.

Notes: This is an awesome example of the American Amber Ale Style, robust and very flavourful yet still not a problem having a few or even making it a session beer. Right up there with Full Sail or Anderson Valley in greatness in this style.

Serving type: on-tap

06-12-2002 06:14:19 | More by Jason

Wildman

Ohio

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

@Betty's:
Okay, it has a nice gold/amber color and creates a nice bubbly off white head. A little light for this style, but I beginning to feel this is what this company aims for. An aroma of malt and cirtrus. A flavor of malt, hops and citrus. A good beer, just lighter than I think this style should be.

Serving type: on-tap

06-01-2002 17:27:19 | More by Wildman