Sierra Blanca Roswell Alien Amber - Sierra Blanca Brewing Company (Rio Grande)

ZenAgnostic

Texas

2.45/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

Appearance - Clear amber body with some visible carbonation. Slightly off-white head with medium-low retention.

Smell - Black cherry. Roasted character. Sweet. A little bit of hop. Sweet licorice. Smells good, but a little too sweet. Not enough balance.

Taste - Very sweet frontend with a dry finish. Too sickly sweet.

Mouthfeel - Good body and carbonation.

Drinkability - Too thick and heavy to be a session beer. More like a dessert beer at best.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2011 06:05:27 | More by ZenAgnostic

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

2.45/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Roswell Alien Ale has a thin, off-white head and a cloudy amber appearance, with black specks floating about. Carbonation is pretty high, as evidenced by all the bubbles streaming up the glass. The aroma reeks of overripe citrus, and the taste is likewise of turned fruit. Mouth-feel is pretty watery, and this ale finishes unpleasant and difficult. Overall, I did not like this and was sorry that I was stuck with a six-pack. I would not have it again nor recommend that others try it.

RJT

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2010 02:19:40 | More by RonaldTheriot

mjurney

Texas

3.18/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appearance:
Deep amber color, some haziness. Lots of bubbles. Small foamy head, lacing looks pretty decent on the glass.

Aroma:
Aroma is very sweet. I get caramel malts, nuts and a little buttery.

Taste & Mouthfeel:
Bready up front, caramel, hazel nut and a little touch of butter. Hop profile is mild, herbal/tea-like. Body is light-medium. Carbonation is very light, almost flat.

Finish & Aftertaste:
Really smooth finish, aftertaste is tea-like dryness.

Overall Impressions:
Pretty decent for an Amber Ale.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2010 20:05:48 | More by mjurney

ocelot2500

Arizona

2.95/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear amber color with an off-white head that leaves little lacing.

Smells of light caramel malts.

Tastes of nutty caramel malts with little to no hops. This beer is malt dominant with notes of caramel and some toasted nuttiness. Hops are barely noticeable with some herbal notes.

Mouthfeel is medium with a crisp amount of carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2010 00:59:15 | More by ocelot2500

cgmees

Texas

3/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle bought on impulse for the name.

Appearance was an amber color with white head

Smell sweet malt with a light hops

Taste was a mix of oak, vanilla and some smokiness to it.

Mouthfeel medium with some carbonation feel

Overall not bad but nothing that really stands out except the name.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2010 19:29:55 | More by cgmees

Spider889

Ohio

3.85/5  rDev +27.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this while in Santa Fe. I was seeing it everywhere and finally decided to get a pint on my last night while at the hotel.

Nice dark cinnamon color, didn't have much of a head or leave any lace.

Lightly carbonated, very easy drinking, I wished I had gotten a second. But we had some trouble with the staff at the hotel and decided that they didn't deserve to get any more of our money...

For an American Amber this was great IMO. Nice and malty, caramel undertones and nice earthy hops for balance.

Overall it is what it is. This seems to have more bad reviews, but how many beers in this style actually wow you? This one was one of the better ambers I've ever had.

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2010 04:53:28 | More by Spider889

MrHungryMonkey

Texas

3.18/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Nose is malty with some chocolate roast and slightly hoppy/herbal. Smells pretty good.

Pours clear amber, mild head. Looks pretty good.

Mild malt with soft roast. Moderate bitterness. Tea-like herbal hoppiness. Soft tartness.

Pretty good. A fun theme beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2010 04:16:33 | More by MrHungryMonkey

ArrogantB

Colorado

1.55/5  rDev -48.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 1

On tap at the San Antonio airport, ugh. Dark amber color and an awful stale smell. The taste was even worse, vinegar, old cardboard, just really gross. I don't know if the keg was abused or really old but this was one sorry-ass beer. This was truly bad and I only finished it because i wanted to catch a buzz before my flight. I should have asked for a replacement.

Serving type: on-tap

05-22-2010 02:28:52 | More by ArrogantB

Mosstrooper

California

1.68/5  rDev -44.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Poured from 12oz bottle into 20oz Guinness tulip pint glass.

Appearance: Clear, flat-looking amber color with a medium off-white head that dissipates slowly. Leaves some lace.

Smell: Smells grainy and has hints of corn and grassiness. Smells like a more aromatic macro.

Taste: Very sweet, but light on flavor overall.

Mouthfeel: Thin body with light carbonation and a watery finish.

Drinkability: I'm glad I got this beer for free. Definitely not worth a try and something I wouldn't loook to have again.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2010 23:12:29 | More by Mosstrooper

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev +30.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

As I finish writing this review, I wonder if the cartoon label and subsequent marketing is hurting this beers rating. I drank the beer, wrote the review, then was a little surprised at the scores.  This isn't a great beer, but its no "C".

Finger of white foamy head forms and fades atop this straight amber brew. No lacing, bright clarity.

Aroma is toasty malt, bready and fruity.

Very bready/ fruity flavor. Quite nice. A nice sweet bready flavor is center stage. Has anyone had that Hawaiin Bread?  Reminds me of that. Sessionable.

Medium/light body with pin prick carbonation.

I find this very drinkable. Would I chase this, no. But I like it.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2010 00:24:07 | More by Reagan1984

armock

New York

3/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Poured an amber color with a white head that leaves lacing behind

S - Is pretty light some sweet malt

T - Follows the nose with the sweet malt not much going on

M - This beer has a lighter body with medium carbonation to it

D - This is one of the most average ho hum beers out there I like ambers but this was like a light version but its also a beer that I could drink a few of while hanging out playing darts

Serving type: on-tap

02-21-2010 21:12:35 | More by armock

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.3/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A work trip to Roswell would not be complete without a sampling of Alien Amber, now would it? 12 oz bottle without a freshness date. Pours a light copper color with a fine-bubbled beige head. Retention is average but does leave some nice lacing on the glass.

Nose is burnt toasty malts with a smattering of Cheerios and light floral hops. Fairly unique aroma, the biscuity yeast/malt combo is interesting.

Taste follows in the same direction with some hints of what I imagine oak bark tasting like and maybe even a bit of vanilla. Mouthfeel is about medium and the carbonation is about right. Hops along with the toasty malts balance out nearly all of the sweetness. I will concede that it is a bit gimmicky, but I like the label and the beer is not half bad.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2010 01:54:59 | More by twiggamortis420

kingcrowing

Vermont

3.68/5  rDev +22.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

Pours a pretty deep amber/brown color with a small off white very creamy head. Nose has a light hop to it, mostly malty with a bit of a burnt note to it.

Has a similar character to Magic Hat, but it's pretty similar to a stout in flavor, it's got some smokiness to it and a pretty complex maltiness. It's got a nice full mouthfeel and a bit of a metallic finish but overall quite good!

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2010 20:43:55 | More by kingcrowing

zeff80

Missouri

3.48/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured out a clear, bubbly, amber color with a small, off-white head of bubbly foam. It left little to no lace.

S - It smelled of malty sweet caramel with notes of toffee and grassy hops.

T - It was nutty with bready malts. There was just enough grassy hops to add some bite.

M - Not so good. It seemed a little soft and thin. Not watery just weak. A light bodied ale.

D - Despite a weak mouthfeel, it tasted good and it easy-drinking. Worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2010 02:47:32 | More by zeff80

wagenvolks

Texas

2.7/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle into a Meantime snifter. Oh, impulse buys...

Imagine that--an amber ale with an amber color! Actually, thought not "out of this world", Roswell Alien Amber shows an attractively clear body the color of fossilized tree sap. The head is less spectacular, as big eggshell-white bubbles recede quickly to a tiny wisp and ring of foam. Can't really say much for the aroma either...it's sweet and faint, with hints of toasted caramel and amber malts, but there are a few notes that throw me for a loop. Smells a bit like white grape juice mixed with plastic and orange peel. Hard to tell if the citrus note is coming from the hops, the yeast, or...somewhere....ELSE??? *cues X-files music*

Back to the program. Flavor is flat and lifeless with the slightest hints of caramel and roasted malts trying in vain to make an impression on the palate. Where are the hops? Minuscule pin-pricks of bitterness 'probe' the back of the tongue, but there is very little hop flavor to be found. Body is thin and woefully under-carbonated, but in it's defense, Roswell Alien Amber doesn't have any detectable off-notes. It's just that it doesn't have many notes at all. Red Hook Light, perhaps? Pass on the sixer, but a single 12oz purchase wouldn't be a total waste.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2010 04:09:37 | More by wagenvolks

corby112

Pennsylvania

1.9/5  rDev -36.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Pours a dark amber/copper color with dark golden orange hues when held to a light source and a one finger frothy white head that quickly settles into a thin ring.

Slightly sweet caramel malt aroma with subtle hints of biscuit and earthy/grassy hops. Kind of bland unfortunately.

Earthy dry hops up front whic taste very soily and dirty. Weird metallic adjunct astringent flavor which is pretty bad. Subtle caramel biscuit malt but overall very sweet with an unpleasant metallic Chemical flavor.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2009 05:36:24 | More by corby112

jmbranum

Oklahoma

4/5  rDev +32.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Second review done on 12-4-2011: I decided to re-review this one, because this tasting was much better than it was before.

A little bit hoppier than I remembered with more fresh notes. Some copper in the background. Like it much better.

Review of 12-26-2009:

Old ratings: 3.5/4.0/3.5/4.0/4.0
A friend got this for me. I'm reviewing it poured from a 12 oz bottle into a glass.

Pleasant amber color, mostly clear with a just a little bit of haze. Aroma is ok. Flavor is on the sweet side, lots of malt, some warm toasty notes, with a little bit of whole wheat bread flavor. There's a little bit of hops.

The main problem with this beer is that it is to sweet and leaves too much of a sweet aftertaste. But still a decent amber beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2009 02:28:07 | More by jmbranum

theboozecruise

Louisiana

3.68/5  rDev +22.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

New on tap at the Chimes, figured I'd give it a try.

Poured a dark amber color, not a huge head, but that's how it goes at a bar... looks about average to me.

Not much smell to it, some light hops, and pale malt, but nothing strong.

The taste is a lot lighter and thinner than expected... tastes more like an Irish creme ale than an amber ale. The malt presence is weak, but the texture is real creamy and smooth. Compares to a Wexford Irish-style Creme Ale pretty well.

Very smooth and light, super easy to drink... not bad, a decent beer to get a pitching of and share because no one is likely to dislike it... just not overwhelmingly good either.

Serving type: on-tap

12-21-2009 03:21:59 | More by theboozecruise

JerzDevl2000

New Jersey

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

Picked this up over the summer because I've never had a beer from the Land of Enchantment and like others, I feel for the marketing hook once I saw the name and label. Sure enough, this went down easy and was a typical Amber Ale that fit in well with the summer. Nothing memorable but it wasn't anything "alien" or foreign in the taste department either.

The pour was standard - mahogany with average head and lacing. The carbonation and mouthfeel were light as well, with the taste being a bit closer to a Brown Ale than I imagined. There were hints of a nut brown ale and some currant but by no means was this spicy. Not a lot of hop bitterness to be found here at all - whether that's a good or bad thing is up to you but I didn't have a problem with it. I think the heat was getting to me and I just needed a beer to quench it!

Sure, this would be a good session beer and I guess I could see myself drinking a few of these in one sitting. I prefer my beers to bit more bold if they're going to be an Amber and in the sea of them available, this is pretty generic. If you're from New Mexico or love aliens, give it a go. Otherwise, pass over it...there's a lot of other choice out there, even in the southwest.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2009 04:43:52 | More by JerzDevl2000

Squelch

United Kingdom (England)

3.55/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: amber colored. Slightly hazy. Slight head

Smell: smells of malts. No hop aroma

Taste: pretty tame but well balanced. Slightly sour.

Mouthfeel: puckering dry from the sourness. Light bodied. Med carb

Drinkability: I could put back a few of these.

Serving type: on-tap

03-19-2009 17:38:12 | More by Squelch

htomsirveaux

Texas

3.23/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle tried 23 May 2008.

A small white head rapidly dissipates. Moderate carbonation. Clear auburn brown color. Smells like almonds, caramel and sour apple. Starts appley sweet-sour. Some caramel malt. Sour fruity aftertaste. Light in body and alcohol.

Pretty average amber.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2009 16:26:47 | More by htomsirveaux

rowew

Colorado

2.9/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Presentation: This was part of a random purchasing spree on a quick trip to Santa Fe. I was trying to get different brewers, and I admit the gimicky label is the reason I picked this one over other Sierra Blanca beers. The label is blue with an alien and space ships on it.

Appearance: Yep, thats an amber. Slight haze to it, average head, not much retention.

Smell: A bit of caramel malt, but the dominate aroma is cooked vegetables.

Taste: Very average flavors - a bit of bready malt, very light hop presence.

Overall impression: This is a pretty generic amber - not bad, but certainly nothing memorable.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2008 20:32:06 | More by rowew

thekevlarkid

Maryland

2.73/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Saw the label and, being a New Mexican at heart, just had to buy it. But was it worth it? The beer was a clear, amber/copper color upon pouring with a two finger head of white foam. Spotty lacing and decent retention. The aroma was malty, mostly caramel and sadly one-dimensional. The flavors were similar, caramel malt and some dry nuttiness. But the hop character was unfortunately misplaced and the beer was slanted accordingly. The mouthfeel was average but the body thin for an amber. Have to say, I shared the rest of this sixer and didn't feel any loss.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2008 02:42:17 | More by thekevlarkid

Shredz

New Mexico

2.3/5  rDev -23.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

A- It's an amber. It poured an amber color. Nothing too impressive.

S- Spices and a few hops.

T- Spice with an unpleasant hop finish. Not the good kind.

M- Not too much here.

D- I'll not be having another.

Definitely brewed for alien enthusiasts. Not a whole lot of effort here.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2008 05:27:09 | More by Shredz

UnionMade

Colorado

2.83/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks for the beer, Nick!
Clear reddish amber. Holds a good collar of head, with splotchy lace. Caramel malty aroma, definitely one-dimensional. A bit of nut and pear fruitiness. Doughy yeast presence. The flavor starts out malty, and continues malty all the way through. Doesn't change much or offer anything in the way of complexity. A bit watery and light, with a doughy, yeasty presence throughout. Softer carbonation. Some fruity esters come through by way of pear. Finishes off with toasty caramel malt, underscored by minimal herbal, grassy hops. Overall on the sweet side. It's got flavor, but kinda bland and reminiscent of unbuttered bread. I'll definitely drink the whole sixer, but I wouldn't get it again.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2006 00:35:28 | More by UnionMade