Blue Moon Spiced Amber Ale - Coors Brewing Company

garymuchow

Minnesota

2.65/5  rDev -23.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.75

At the time of this review, surprisingly to me at least, this is the highest rated Blue Moon product.
The original spicing is not to strong and reasonably pleasant. A spice, with some cinnamon wrapped in a caramel and apple. In time, though, it two becomes more annoying and less pleasing.
Clear dark amber with darker reds. Kinda' small dark head but what is there for a good long time.
My initial impression on first drink was as favorable as the aroma. Seems kinda' harsh and a bit biting and just not a pleasant or pleasing of an experience. The cinnamon lays really heavy on the tongue and plays with the surprisingly sharp malts in an aggressive way. Finishes on the dry side.
Moderately light body.
I'm not digging the flavors too much. I'm a little surprised this is scored better than the others as I wouldn't put it there.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 02:30:58 | More by garymuchow

jb413

Massachusetts

2.65/5  rDev -23.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A - Nice clear amber, some rising bubbles. Small khaki head that dissipated quick with little retention and no lacing.

S - Malt is lost in a heavy dose of spice, notably cinnamon. Seems a tad overdone, but on its own it's alright.

T - Exactly like the nose. Amazingly, the cinnamon hits first, and never leaves, lingering long into the mediocre finish. The caramel malt is not bad, but it's washed out.

MF - First thing that comes to mind is it's thin for 5.6 ABV. Drinkable in mouthfeel but not so drinkable with the cinnamon factor. Overcarbonated a tad in my opinion.

O - I like ambers, and this is not a good one. I would have loved for Blue Moon to have a lower priced quality amber, but the cinnamon is far too much, the beer characteristics aren't there, and it's just lacking.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2011 01:46:50 | More by jb413

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

2.85/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Bottle poured into tulip.
dark brown...almost completely dark. Off white one-finger head, no lacing.
Smells of cinnamon...bit of nutmeg and candied fruit. It doesnt smell bad...very interesting.
Taste is of overwhelming cinnamon...it is a very spiced amber ale. Its actually too much..I cant finish it. Its just not balanced enough.
Based on the previous review, its a new release in the Blue Moon series...worst one in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2011 02:03:22 | More by DrinkSlurm

phishsihq

Colorado

2.88/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Blue Moon Brewing Company continues to impress with special variety pack only offerings, and this time it is their Spiced Amber. Pouring a deep ruby brown, a one inch cream colored head provides light lacing. Aromas of the Winter season fill the nose, mostly cinnamon, spice, nutmeg and brown sugar. Dessert-like flavors dominate the pallet, almost reminiscent of gingerbread, with hints of brown sugar and cinnamon also in the mix. The brew features a long spiciness in the finish, with a medium-light body and lighter levels of carbonation. Would be a GREAT brew on a cold Winters night, hopefully it will be back next year.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2012 02:08:04 | More by phishsihq

DrewsBrews450

North Carolina

3.08/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Starts out with a nice ruby red color with a white soapy head that you have to pour pretty hard to get to two fingers worth. The head dies quick and leaves little lacing if any. Smell is of cinnamon maybe ginger but you get mostly a generic beer smell. Taste is a quick roasted malt that changes to cinnamon maybe a few side spices but has that always generic beer flavor of most blue moon beers. Get a little hop on the back end as it warms and the flavor over all I would say gets a little better as it warms. Body is not bad not not thin but not thick by anymeans. Overall the beer is kinda weak I could tell this was a blue moon beer from a mile away but it would be worth the try in it were just in six packs but not to buy a whole 12 of blue moons. Still a decent winter brew just glad Coors/blue moon try new things and expand taste buds somewhat

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 23:31:04 | More by DrewsBrews450

DoubleJ

California

3.1/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A 12 ounce bottle that was shared by my friend Shane, thanks! Another brew for the Blue Moon portfolio. On to the beer:

Rather clean bodied with a crimson/amber color to it. The head is soapy and a finger's thick on the pour, though its retention and lacing are "meh". There good spicing in the aroma, which disgusied the mediocre base. Cinnamon and maple graham cracker come to mind.

The base beer is meager; a simple big boy amber ale with soft fruity esters. The spices add a cinnamon and cider character to the beer. It's got a light medium that is a little watery.

Take out the spices and this is nothing more than Rickard's Red (Canadian's know what I'm talking about). Meh.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2011 03:17:54 | More by DoubleJ

GossageBrewery

Missouri

3.1/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured this American Amber ale into a pint glass from a 12 oz bottle. Pours a dark brown amber color, produces a very nice head with good retention, leaves some lacing behind on the glass. The aroma is dominated by cinnamon, very nice aroma...unexpected for a Blue Moon product. The taste is medium in body, fresh baked bread, cinnamon, apple and caramel. Well balanced. Decent beer-

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 15:28:44 | More by GossageBrewery

BucBasil

South Carolina

3.18/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a pint glass from the 12 oz bottle.

A: the beer is a pretty solid red color, clear with visible carbonation throughout. Head was offwhite to light tan and did not last very long.

S: Smells surprisingly sweet and fruity. Spiced apples and a definite wheat character.

T: That's weird. This tastes like eating a gingerbread cookie or a cinnamon bun. Not much else. Just a gigantic liquid cookie. The cinnamon and spice really overpower this one, and there's no hint at all of the fruit note that was in the smell. The taste lingers around a while after.

M: Somewhat thin, but sticky.

Overall, strangely alright. I couldn't drink a bunch of these but I'm not hating this one right here.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2012 23:25:54 | More by BucBasil

J23hc

New Jersey

3.28/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pour is orange/amber with average white bubbly head Smells like rice pudding with cinnamon. Taste is fresh and clean, doesn't reflect the smell too much but i get spice notes and cinnamon in the finish. Not as good as regular blue moon but i still enjoy every blue moon variation for what it is.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 03:46:38 | More by J23hc

chinchill

South Carolina

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

Great looking, poor smelling holiday beer ... The spice profile, which is a pleasing and refined mix, is perhaps a bit over done but does allow the malt base to come through.  A tad too sweet. Fine choice for a Xmas party.
Very durable and creamy head.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 03:32:48 | More by chinchill

rodney45

New York

3.35/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Very clear and distinct dark mahogany red. Satin thick frothy head.

S: Intense notes of cinnamon and nutmeg. Wow, that smells like baking cookies, and christmas, and possibly fake pine cones... I cant imagine a beer smelling any better than this.

T: Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and caramel bombard you all at once. Woah. Im not going to say there is a complexity here, but a myriad of spices that plays folly on the tongue. The PROBLEM here, is that there is no hop balance, no bitterness, just spice and sweet. Its like a gingerbread cookie that looks great in the bakery window, until you try it, and realize it was much more than you bargained for (in terms of sweetness and ginger). No hop flavor to speak of, and that kills this beer. (see overall)

M: Some people would find this beer overly sweet, and too winter spiced. I like it, I just wished for a better bitter balance. Not overly carbonated.

O:Personally this would have been a great beer if they added any sort of definable hop flavor. They let this beer get away from them by catering to the mass market's lack of a craft beer palate. Im simply saying, with the right bittering and aroma hops, and if they cut the sweetness down, let the hop notes carry some of the winter spice flavor, this could have easily been an A beer.... I wonder what it would taste like warm... like a cider, or mulled wine.... AND NO i wont apologize for drinking a coors owned company, even though it goes against what I stand for. The big beer giants are catering to the craft beer consumerism, and they are buying into the small craft market share, which means, honestly.... better overall quality of beer... If anything, I blame the uninformed beer snob for allowing it. Stay thirsty my friends.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2011 12:34:46 | More by rodney45

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.38/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

From the 12 fl. oz. bottle marked APR1513-B0510OO26. Sampled on November 16, 2012.

The way it looks is rather appealing with a dark amber almost reddish tone but little in the way of head.

The aroma is kind of faint with notes of cherry or cranberry but little else that jumps out at me.

The body is thin to medium but vaguely creamy.

I have had a dessert that tastes like this before but I can't put my finger on exactly what it is. The best I can do is find an Allspice and cinnamon element along with a sweet fruitiness. Teh bitterness is very low and does not linger.

Generally I am OK with Blue Moon beers but this one seems to be a little strange and difficult for me to love. But it is sweet enough to appeal to some people I bet.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 00:26:39 | More by puboflyons

kojevergas

California

3.45/5  rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into N'Ice Chouffe stemware in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Expectations are moderate; Coors' blue moon line has some pretty average beers. Reviewed live.

A: Pours a three finger head of pretty decent cream, pretty good thickness, and decent retention - though the ABV is merely average. The colour is a dark brown-amber. It's generally appealing.

Sm: Heavy cinnamon - surprisingly delightful and pure. I don't know that I've experienced a cinnamon aroma this undiluted before. Props. An apple pie scent is also very tangible and very appealing. I'm rather drawn in and pleasantly surprised. Will the taste hold up? Moderately strong.

T: The cinnamon and apple pie notes do come through, but not quite as much as I'd like. It's still pretty impressive coming from Blue Moon, however. Some caramel is buried in there, helping the complexity a bit. It's built pretty well for what they're going for, and it's rather balanced as well. I quite fancy it.

Mf: Smooth and wet. Slight cream is present. It suits the flavours pretty well.

Dr: Very drinkable, average ABV, and pretty good quality. I'd love to try this on draught. Perchance Blue Moon's best offering yet. Serve a bit colder than you might otherwise.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2011 06:43:48 | More by kojevergas

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Walter Payton shaker pint glass.

Found this apparently new offering in the new Winter variety pack. It pours a clear russet-topaz topped by a finger of sandy off-tan foam. The nose comprises vanilla, powdered sugar, light cinnamon, and Belgian candi sugar. This stuff comes recklessly close to cloyingly sweet, but backs off at the last moment, the brinksmanship apparently too much for it. The taste brings in more of the same, with a helluva lot more cinnamon. Seriously, I can almost feel the little sprinkles of cinnamon sliding across my tongue, leaving that distinctively spicy residue behind. Damn, son. Just as before, it's almost too much. Almost... Imagine cinnamon swirl French toast, minus the maple syrup. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a lightly grainy feel. Overall, this is an interesting brew, one that definitely pushes the boundaries of spicing in beer. Frankly, I'm a fan of cinnamon, so it's not too big a deal for me, but it does push my limit as well...

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2011 05:19:53 | More by TMoney2591

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours a deep slightly hazed ruby brown amber color with a thick light beige head forming thin layers of lacing on the sides of my glass. Nose is of course spiced with the cinnamon, which is like LIFE cereal cinnamon even a touch of sharp wheat in the nose a tart green apple with some caramel presence as I continue to smell this beer. Flavor is much like a cinnamon flavored cereal, it's pretty amazing a touch of dark fruit and caramel sweetness washed with strong layered cinnamon spice. Really I get more LIFE cereal with a creamy malted wheat flavor, actually not as bad as it sounds. Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with dry spice finish giving the palate a lasting bitterness between heavy loads of caramel malt sweetness. Overall it's from a Blue Moon variety pack, and the Blue Moon standard variation was killer with drinkability last night. That's why this beer has a reputation as being a better mass produced beer that isn't fizzy and yellow. This is another version of something that seems good, because it's more than just an adjunct lager, but it still has it's training wheels on.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2011 22:00:09 | More by WVbeergeek

ForWhatAlesYou

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle into a tulip glass.

A: Pours a 2 1/2" head that falls to a respectable creamy presence. Absolutely beautiful deep amber auburn color. Very nice to look at.

S: Potpourri, spicy candied apples. Just okay.

T: Definitely get that candied spiced apple thing (like those bright red things you see in a jar). Cinnamon, clove, caramel malt. Too novelty for me.

M: Thin, drying. Unremarkable.

D: Very interesting but not past 1/2 of the glass.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2011 17:38:47 | More by ForWhatAlesYou

blackcompg

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from their 12oz bottle from their Winter Sampler...

Appearance - Pours about 2 fingers of tan head, color of the beer is a translucent red copper amber. Very little lacing.

Smell - Cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, this seriously smells like baking cinammon rolls!

Taste - Oh my goodness, I'm drinking a cinammon roll, and this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Starts cinnamon and sugar, wheat bread and sweet malts take up the center, and your literally left with the flavors of having just finished a bite of a cinnamon roll or sweetened cinnamon toast.

Mouthfeel - Lite to medium mouthfeel, lots of carb provide alot of tingle and crispness, extremely drinkable.

Overall - I'm pleasantly surprised by the flavors here. They are definitely not bold or over the top, but they work for me. If you like cinnamon rolls or sweetened cinnamon toast, you will really enjoy this beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 22:47:58 | More by blackcompg

Rayek

Colorado

3.53/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Spiced Amber hits with a deep copper tinge, a light haze and a billowing cap. The cap slowly falls to a patchwork quilt and a decent lace is left behind.

Toasted cinnamon bread is the theme here. Toasted malts and cinnamon spice do almost all the work. There's the faintest bit of banana in the nose. Bitterness is very mild and adds a slight amount of pepper to the flavor. The light body is slightly grainy and a bit too fizzy.

Overall, one of the better Blue Moon beers. The cinnamon definitely says Winter. I'm glad I grabbed it.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2011 02:18:06 | More by Rayek

iBeer16

New York

3.53/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed In a polkas glass

A: pours a dark amber color with a 2 finger very ligh tarnish color that lingers for a long time and leaves nice lacing.

S: very spicy! Allspice- nutmeg, Cloves, and a very strong cinnamon aroma.

T: again similar taste to the smell, mostly cinnamon. Has a slight wheaty finish.

M: full body, good carbonation.

Overall, a bit too much spice but has good flavors. Can pair well with pork and possibly chicken, easy to drink but wouldn't enjoy more than one in a sitting.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2012 02:56:44 | More by iBeer16

Seekerpilgrim

Washington

3.54/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pouring a medium dark brown with a mix of burgundy, strong notes of cinnamon (one of the main ingredients), and to a lesser degree caramel, waft of the head. On the tongue, surprisingly (though not unpleasantly) dry, the cinnamon increasing in strength with a hint of a few more spices towards the end, courtesy of the Mittelfrüh hops. The mouthfeel is medium but brief, leaving a slight aftertaste that reminds me of a very dry spiced cider.

This is a great beer, but you have to be in a particular mood, the cinnamon being more of a tone than flavor. Great on it's own, it would be perfect with a cobbler or vanilla ice cream. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 01:40:50 | More by Seekerpilgrim

joemcgrath27

Alberta (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A - clear dark ruby red-brown, half finger of tan head dissipated to some random spots of cover
S - big brown sugar and dense cake aroma, mix of spices with some mild chocolate
T - dense xmas cake or pudding flavour with a mix of brown sugar and spices, light caramel and milk chocolate, with a bit of an adjunct that lingers on the finish
M - medium body that gets a bit heavier through the middle, decently smooth, bit of a spice kick through the finish
O - they've done a fair job with capturing the flavours of the holiday season, although maybe a little forced showing itself in a lack of balance, but worth trying at least once and I can see this being a potentially sessionable aquired taste for some

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 02:01:28 | More by joemcgrath27

Kromes

Georgia

3.58/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: A clear dark brown with a thick tan colored head. Good lacing down glass.

S: Cinammon and sugar spiced apples.

T: A nice sweet cinammon and sugar apple pie spice flavor up front, but unfortunately that is it. Maybe a slight toasted malt flavor with the spices in the finish.

M: Light and good carbonation. Has a smooth feel to it.

O: Not bad, has a good flavor. Definitely a one and done type beer as it is very sweet. Would be a nice dessert beer with some vanilla ice cream.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2011 22:29:10 | More by Kromes

Lemke10

Wisconsin

3.58/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I bought a 12pk Winter variety pack of this from Woodman's in Janesville, WI in Winter 2011.

Pours medium brown color with a smooth fluffy head. The scents of toasted cinnamon cover up most of the other aromas but it still smells delicious. The taste isn't quite as good as the smell but still pretty good with cinnamon, sugar, and toasted malts. This is a great any day beer for me during the winter as it is not too heavy or too light and it's so refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2012 04:52:28 | More by Lemke10

czfreeman

Michigan

3.6/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

In a mixed Holiday pack
Pours a nice amber tone, creamy head ,medium carbonation
Heavy on the cinnamon. Suprisingly so, I never would have expected such and upfront aromatic in your face from Blue Moon.
A swwet bready background create a cinnamon-apple pie type smell. Apple is appreciated, grahmn crackers, clove, sugar, this beer is a apple cinnamon bun with frosting aromatically/
Flavor is also very cinnamon foward.Almost too much so. To pair this beer with a dish would be great. Cinnamon, bread, brown sugar, maple, all upfront. Light bitterness, but sweetness is very prominent.
Mouth feel is medium. Too light to be cinnamon-bun-in-a-glass-but very upfront cinnamon bread beer.
Enjoyable for the holidays, will use this to cook and pair with in the future,

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2011 06:12:01 | More by czfreeman

CaptJackHarkness

New York

3.63/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

From twelve ounce bottle freshness dated April 02 12.

Smells faintly of cinnamon sticky buns. Poured deep amber/orange with thin off white head. Head does not last and only spoty lacing . Taste is unexpected, sweeter and less robust than I would like in a Winter brew. Cinnamon allspice is very pronounced. No carbonation, very slick and flat. Taste sours as it warms. Meh!

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 00:42:36 | More by CaptJackHarkness