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

jcalabre

California

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

Appearance: This pours a hazy amber/orange color w/ a 1 inch white head that slowly disappears.
Nose: I get a little bit of green apple in the nose along with some hops
Flavor: it's a very hoppy amber but it's offset by sweetness, too. This makes it quite enjoyable. The mouthfeel is crisp & clean.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2003 00:49:46 | More by jcalabre

Mitchster

Michigan

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

Brewed with pale, caramel, munich malts, and a "mélange of American hops".

OG=1.056, 6.0% ABV.

Brilliantly clear with a careful decant, honey-colored amber with copper accents, forming a sticky white head with very good retention and excellent lacing. Carbonation is moderate. Aroma has a nice touch of sweet butterscotch, clover honey, toasted grains, and mild hops. Mouthfeel is slick with a medium body and moderately bright acidity from the carbonation. Taste begins with smooth, well-balanced earthy hybrid American/English hops followed by caramel, a backbone of honey sweetness and a lightly astringent tea-like toasted malt body. The finish has notes of grainy bitterness and is lightly dry with more butterscotch and tannins.

A very nice, solid amber ale. Always a pleasure to drink some Bell's.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2003 23:00:35 | More by Mitchster

Realale

Missouri

2.73/5  rDev -29.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Slightly cloudy copper/orange in color. White fine fluffy head settles to a complete cap and leaves nice lace.

Nose is faint bready malt over a chalky-mineral base. Slight hint of fruit, and a touch of both yeastiness and caramel. Quite subdued.

Sweet palate impression, initially, then a bit of bready malt. No hop flavor, but a significant mineral component - chalky again. Some bitterness on the finish, but its quite short.

Mouthfeel would be helped by a bit higher level of carbonation - it might give this one some personality. No real faults, other than not being particularly interesting or well-balanced.

Purchased at the Brewery's General Store on July 3, 2003.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2003 13:08:49 | More by Realale

Tballz420

Minnesota

4.22/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Ive had this beer a couple times and am quite impressed with it. Its a nice amber colored drink, good amound of lace left on the glass. Its got a nice sweet taste to it, along with roasted flavors. Also a hint of citrus is detected. This is one that i would recommend.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2003 13:28:26 | More by Tballz420

aaronh

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

****Revisited*****
Pours a copper/amber color with a thick, light tan head. Excellent head retention. Malty, caramel aroma is evident from the moment the cap pops on the bottle, and easily wafts 18 inches from my glass to my nose. Upon closer inspection, a very pleasing earthy hop balance is evident within the carmal aromas. The taste presents a woody flavor surrounded by malt and hops. Biscuit and caramel flavors are definitely present, but the woodiness is dominant. Slightly fry finish, with a slight note of alcohol esters of some sort. Earhty notes linger in the aftertaste. The woodiness diminshes a bit as the beer warms, but a stronger bitterness assumes it;s palce. The mouthfeel is solid, and the drinkability pretty good. Although this is much better than the evidently bad bottle from late winter, the flavor profile just doesn't suit my palate well. I think it was Cottonwood's Low Down Brown that had a similar woodiness to it, which I also didn't care for. I'll have to do some investigating as to what that taste is.

*original review, 2-6-03*
Copper colored beer poured with a huge, off-white head. However, it had a large amount of sediment chunks floating around in it. I've seen these before in other ales, and they look like little flakes of minerals. Usually doesn't affect the taste, but it isn't attractive. The aroma is hoppy, with a sweet malt aroma behind it. Smells like a sweetly scented flower. The taste had a bit of a strong pine note to it, with alcohol clearly evident. Surprisingly so for a 5.5% ABV beer. A bit of a sourness was present on the finish, with strong pine flavors as well. Very bitter as well, but in a bad way. Mouthfeel was decent, but drinkability was poor due to the off flavors. I'm presuming this bottle was of sub-par caliber. I'll re-visit this beer later in the year after obtaining another sampl

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2003 13:09:55 | More by aaronh

Indybeer

Indiana

3.4/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle. Poured a dark amber, with a small head that didn't last. Some fine lacing is present. Aroma of hops and malt. Taste is smooth and balanced. With a nice hop finish. Mouthfeel is smooth but there isn't much carbonation, but all in all a very good session beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2003 18:33:02 | More by Indybeer

BeerBuilder

Minnesota

3.98/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured to a chill hazed amber-orange color with a tan head. The aroma was of fruity/floral hops, sweet caramel malts. The flavor was fruity, and semi-sweet, with a bready malt flavor. It is a well balanced, medium-bodied brew that is easy drinking. A tasty brew.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2003 10:39:33 | More by BeerBuilder

tar

Bahamas

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

Bell's Amber Ale pours a cloudy amber with a thick puffy white head. Some sediment/particles were present, suspended in the glass (I've had this beer several times before and have never noticed this). A fairly persistent head leaves rings around the glass as it slowly diminishes. Very little aroma is present---a bit of hops comes through, and a hint of floral scents. This is mirrored in the taste, which is good but rather mild. There is a slight yeasty flavor in the finish. A fairly smooth, medium bodied beer which is pretty good, but not exceptional.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2003 09:44:16 | More by tar

BitteBier

Indiana

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

Golden amber color with perfectly-suspended sediment and just a bit of carbonation. Head and lacing are minimal. Sweetness and floral hops combine for an appealing nose. Smooth, malty flavor quickly gives way to hoppy middle. Finish is surprisingly strong--crisp and even a bit warm. Another characteristically drinkable Bell's product.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2003 15:53:47 | More by BitteBier

BigHead

Arizona

3.98/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

After driving 4600 miles to get a boat, and a pit stop in Chicago to get beer from Sams, this was my first Bell's beer that I get to try out of the variety that I purchased. It poured out nicely, keeping a good head, and had a good amber color with some cloudiness to it. Malty sweet and hop aroma with the hint of spiciness and fruit. A smooth flavor with a finishing bite that leaves my tongue feeling rough on the top. The beer is not overpowered by anyone particular flavor, with the malts and fruity hops balancing each other out nicely. The beer ends with a bready aftertaste. So far so good.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2003 08:25:03 | More by BigHead

bditty187

Nebraska

3.8/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Murky multi-shaded brown hue, a finger’s worth of slightly off-white head, decent retention, some unorganized lace. Pleasant nose, fruity, bready, sweet yet tart, butterscotch notes too. Equally pleasant palate, earthy, bready, slight hint of spice, well-placed bitterness, the hops are floral, some sweetness interwoven. Fairly complex, none of the flavors outshine the others, subtlety effective. The malt only seems to grow as the beer warms. Medium-body, low carbonation, filling mouthfeel… good overall. The finish is bready, sweet, earthy… British in nature. Very drinkable. Thanks feloniousmonk for the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2003 14:50:07 | More by bditty187

AtLagerHeads

Ohio

4.4/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Whoa Nellie. This is one great beer. An incredible cloudy orange amber brew covered by heaps of golden tan creamy head. Lovely, really lovely looking beer. Gorgeous lace deposits that won't quit. The nose seems somewhat subdued 'neath the heavy cover of foam, but comes across as bready and yeasty. Looks to be lots of chewy substance in the fluid portion of the beer. Great balance between the grainy sweetness and the bittering hops. Lip-licking taste and a nice medium body that is perfectly matched to the look and taste of this great beer. Man, I'd like to get this on tap. Time to head north to Michigan.

Postscript notes: nose moves to caramel as the beer warms. Lots of cream sediment in the bottom of the glass. Please, go get yourself one of these.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2003 17:46:25 | More by AtLagerHeads

Brent

Kentucky

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

Coppery amber. A fair bit of flaky white sediment decanted, most of which stayed suspended, but the larger chunks sank to the bottom of the glass. Malty aroma, flavor is very bright and lively. Malty, tangy and moderately hoppy, all at the same time. Well crafted. A very nice example of the style - lots of personality without going over the top.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2003 09:42:19 | More by Brent

tavernjef

Minnesota

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

Another fine beer by the Bell's brigade. Man, I really loved this amber, I thought the taste was amazing and everything about it just says impecably yummy.
Color is cloudy/creamy pale yellowish amber gold, very gem-like, never have I seen an amber like this. Head was small and off-white, faded slowly leaving some tight lacy patches.
Smell is faint, very clean, a bit sweet and fruity, very soft and pleasant.
Taste is very crisp and clean with a perfectly balanced combo of mild fruity hop and sweet malt. Oh, the finish is what got me going and wanting more, its a deep, earthy, even smokey, little pleasure that just gets slightly dry, and is just so smooth the whole way through its amazing. I just wanted to keep drinking it. Feel is a full-medium bodied delight, very nicely light and clean with that spectacular finishing quality I just had a weakness for. Great stuff!

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2003 15:44:53 | More by tavernjef

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

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

I always seem to have unresolved questions for the Kalamazoo Brewing Company, and right now it's: what's the significance of the heron? Maybe it's the Michigan state bird, and I'm just an idiot...This was introduced to me as not only the "flagship" brew of Kalamazoo, but "the beer Larry drinks." Then I found out that when the K'zoo crew really get to partying, it's hard liquor...
Color is hazy orange, bordering on brown, and the head is a good inch thick, properly white. Aroma is sprucey, piney, full of hops, fruity, but mainly pineapple and citrus. There's a touch of tart, but it's mostly sweet.
On the palate, nothing but smooth, smooth, smooth. Malt looms large in this ale, but it's perfectly matched. Hops are tingly, tasty, and not quickly forgotten. I can see tossing back a million of these! Yum-a-licious!

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2003 17:07:32 | More by feloniousmonk

francisweizen

Australia

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

An all-around good American Amber beer. This is what Yuengling Lager should taste like. This beer pours a hazy amber colour with a nice little head. It smells of english malts and hops and it tastes like more of the same. This brew is pretty hoppy, but it is balanced out by some buttery british malt flavors. This brew is very british in stlye, IMO. The mouthfeel is spot-on and the drinkability is great! What more could you ask for in an Amber beer?
Cheers!,
F.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2003 12:19:15 | More by francisweizen

ellman

Indiana

3.93/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The Pour: Hazy orange, nice Off White head
The Aroma: Flowery With malty sweetness
The Taste: Good bitterness and slightly sour
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied
Drinkablity: Good Hot Day Lawnmowing Beer,
This is my first review, and its a lot harder then it first seemed.I hope it helpful, coming from the mouth of an amateur.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2003 15:39:23 | More by ellman

AudioGilz

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

I immediately notice lots of chunks floating around and settling at the bottom of the mug. The color is amberish orange and there is an ample, white head. The aroma is easy to tell that it's a Kalamazoo product. It's very enjoyably sweet, almost like a mellowed, less complex Two Hearted aroma. Malt sweetness is powerful and joyous to the tastebuds. There is also a citrus twang noticeable with the hops doing a great balancing act. This is a very easy to drink beer, easily an all-night drinker.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2003 15:34:57 | More by AudioGilz

MJR

Missouri

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

Appearance: Pours with an amber (duh!) colored body that's cloudy as hell from the yeast sediment. An off-white head starts strong, but tries to leave early. I'm not having any of that, and a quick swirl brings it back full.

Smell: Strong malt aroma with fruit, hops, and a slight metallic hint showing up. Very fresh smelling.

Taste: Great balance between the malt and fruits flavors and the hop profile. Has that same slight metallic flavor that showed up in the aroma. Very juicy and flavorful. Unfortunately, a bit of sourness shows up in the finish...this has never happened before and I think it has something to do with Bell's QC of late, as most of this year's November stouts were sour as well.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a crisp finish.

Drinkability: Damn high...once they fix the sourness problems of late. I remember this beer being a lot better, and I hope Bell's gets their act together soon...

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2003 12:37:32 | More by MJR

yen157

New Jersey

4.08/5  rDev +6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very cloudy orange-amber brew with a big, chuncky head. Very balanced aroma consisting of spicy and citrusy hops, yeast, and malt. That nice balance carries through into the taste. Artful matching of restrained but kicking hops with the toasted, bready malt. Also, some esters hang in your mouth and nose after each sip. Carbonation is appropriate and the body is light enough for the style. Very well put together brew from Kalamazoo.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2002 06:13:49 | More by yen157

maxpower

Missouri

3.7/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pale orange-amber color, nice foamy head leaves a nice lace. Cloudy with floating yeast. Clean mild hop aroma, very balanced medium body feels full on the palate, nice hop bite in the finish, a little sour.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2002 12:23:57 | More by maxpower

aracauna

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Like the Pale Ale, it's on the pale side for the style and has a similiar head. The body is a medium amber, but looks gold in some lights. Aroma is less hoppy than the PA and picks up some caramel notes. The flavor also has the slight caramel notes, but is still dominated by that crisp pale malt flavor (don't know what it's called). The hops are subtle to not there in the beginning but come out to give you a slow motion punch in the end. It's a very weak, friendly punch though. Seems like the hop blend is the same or similar to the one used in the Pale Ale, just in lower amounts.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2002 23:44:32 | More by aracauna

jackndan

Illinois

3.8/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice Amber color (duh).Thick rocky head, with great Belgian lace. Very rich and creamy mouthfeel, with a smooth malt flavor. Very well balanced, heavily malt, but with a noticeable hops bitterness to avoid the beer being too cloying. Very easy to drink, and very well made.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2002 13:03:04 | More by jackndan

ZAP

Minnesota

4.3/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

An exciting amber ale....a nice spicy hop nose...also some malt sweetness on the nostrils....orangish in color...cloudy...chunks of stuff flloating all over...beautifull!! The taste is definitely dominated by the malt sweetness...but it is more of a Belgian style hard candy sugar type sweetness...the herbal hops lend a nice balance...I've had many "amber ales"...most are OK but not real interesting...this one is veritable adventure in tasting...another dandy from one of the top breweries in the U.S.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2002 22:26:15 | More by ZAP

Jon

Illinois

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

This is one great amber ale. Pours a beautiful, deep amber color with a sticky head that leaves big rings of lace on the glass. Has a great, somewhat sweet, but balanced malt taste with enough hops to back it up. It's got great body to it, and is fairly easy to drink, making it a solid candidate for a session beer. It's no wonder Kalamazoo sells more of this than any of their other stuff, and still, it's not even their best!

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2002 15:59:11 | More by Jon