Amber 25 - Stoudts Brewing Co.

Mister_Falcon

Pennsylvania

2.75/5  rDev -23.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured an amber color into a pint glass, thin head. Smells sickly sweet of hops and malt. Zesty and fizzy but tastes just about as lousy as it smells, kind of acrid and fleeting. Tastes cheap and I really wouldn't recommend it. It's sad, Stoudt's makes some quality beers, unfortunately this isn't one of them.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 04:48:11 | More by Mister_Falcon

axeman9182

New Jersey

3.73/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle received as part of Amani Vino's Beer of the Month program. It was pured into my Brueyr tulip.

Stoudts 25th Anniversary Amber Ale pours a clear dark orange, lightening a bit along the edges when backlit. There's about two fingers of cream colored foam topping the beer. Head retention is good, and a fair amount of lacing is left behind. The nose has plenty of caramel to it, and there's also a nice floral, lightly citrusy aroma present That same caramel sweetness leads things off flavor-wise, and it's bolstered here by a touch of biscuity maltiness. The bitterness that comes through next has a bite to it. In fact, I'd probably say too much of one, considering the hop close is on the subdued side. The finish is nice though, definitely still floral, but with bit of an orange-citrus twist to it. Th body is definitely on the thin side, especially considering the prominent malty flavors. The carbonation is solid though, helps those hop notes shine through a little bit. It does come close to overpowering the residual sweetness though. This anniversary beer from Stoudts is solid, but unspectacular.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2012 02:01:57 | More by axeman9182

JerzDevl2000

New Jersey

3.28/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

25th Anniversary? Stoudts? Limited Release? Next thing I knew, I picked it up and took it home, expecting it to be as good as what I've previously had from them.

Took one out a few hours later, let it warmed up, and poured it out. Nice copper hue, good head, and...well, that was as good as it got.

Yes, I wanted to like this beer and thought that something as momentous as this would taste and feel that way. Instead, I had a very pedestrian beer. Lots of caramel, floral notes, and earthy hops here, with the grape undertone that was found in the Carnival Kolsch. Nowhere near as full as I anticipated both in taste and in the nearly-clear hue. The lack of lacing should have been a giveaway but I had to work my way down to bottom of my pint glass before realizing that there wasn't anything new to be found in the next sip.

I wanted to like this beer - really, I did. I could have more than one in a session but that's only because the alcohol is *almost* nowhere to be found. Fans of Stoudts should give this a go because there's nothing in their portfolio that's quite like this. Whether that's a good or bad thing is up for interpretation.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 07:27:35 | More by JerzDevl2000

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a caramel color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is sweet, some hops. Taste is well balanced hops and malts, good but mild flavor. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a pretty good beer, but nothing special.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 06:44:30 | More by tone77

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I picked this up at Al's -enjoyed chilled from a 1/2 pint.

The color is glowing orange copper with a thick white cap with tight bead and swirling lace sticks. The smell is mostly malt with lightly stone fruit influenced w/ slight pine scent and subtle fruity yeast with mild biscuit ester. The feel has mild malt with dry body and slight spice with moderately high carbonation and w/ light nutty texture w/ gentle hop oiliness.

The taste of this amber has a lively piney and bready yeast juxtaposition which also has light fruity elements with nice dry spicy hop in the finish. Overall I really enjoyed this for what it is a solid amber which is a pretty highly quaffable brew. I enjoy the fact it has lots of balance which is pleasant since some amber ales are more on the sweet side.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 14:59:51 | More by Slatetank

JWU

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle poured into a tumbler glass

A- a crystal clear light amber, with half a finger of very off-white head. Dissipates fairly quickly. Very nice lacing down the glass.

S- a nice pleasant mix of caramel, biscuity malts, with a hint of fruity yeast aroma. Perhaps a touch of brown sigar.

T- Follows the nose, but there's much more of a bitterness middle to end. Honestly, the bitterness comes in a bit too soon, as the initial flavors are very plesent, and I could use those to stick around a bit longer. There's also a nuttiness that I don't pick up on in the aroma, but is certainly there in the taste.

M- light to medium, medium carbonation.

O- a good, but not great amber.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 20:30:53 | More by JWU

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

2.95/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours a clean orange-ish to yellow color, with an off white head. In the aroma, a small cereal malt. In the taste, a small dry malt, and a not of a grapefruit hop, but actually quint simple across the board. A small bite and a lighter bodied mouthfeel, with a small dry not of grapefruit hops and a balanced malt in the aftertaste. A small hop and balanced, it's ok, but kind of bland.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2012 17:03:42 | More by OWSLEY069

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.6/5  rDev +28.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Yay for Stoudt's! They make me especially proud to be a Lancaster Countian and both Ed and Carol were very nice to me in the late-1990's as a burgeoning Beer Pest. As they begin to transition to the next generation, I have a solid foothold and look forward to further interactions with the family (even if Eddie is a Flyers fan).

I purchased this on the night of the 50-40-25 Celebration, commemorating 50 years of the Black Angus Steak House, 40 years of the Antique Mall and 25 years of Stoudt's B.C. It was a don't miss event and right after I bought a sixer in the Black Angus, another fellow bought a sixer of 1860 IPA and we swapped half of each for the other to great applause as others had apparently not thought of it. Onward!

My pour resulted in a finger of dense, tawny head with good retention. Color was the shade of orangish-amber that really gets my attention on a redheaded female, plus it had NE-quality clarity. Nose was quite malty which represented a real shift in gears for me from the steady onslaught of IPAs these last few days. Mouthfeel was medium and the malt sweetness was not as prevalent on the tongue as it had been on the nose. Instead, it had a very pleasant nuttiness that I really dug. Finish was actually semi-dry, not cloyingly sweet and before I knew it, I had run through the entire bottle! Dang, but I wish that we still reviewed for "Drinkability" as this would rank among my tops. I am incredulous as to how smooth this was! I may not be trading any more away, thank you very much.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2012 19:05:16 | More by woodychandler

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Can't say anything bad about this beer. Color has a nice amber brown with some good head. Smell is of toasted malts, bready goodness, and a twang of hops.

Taste is pretty good. It seemed a bit fuller than 4.8% yet balanced the flavors well. Most noted is the bready toasted malt that gives it a mild gram cracker like taste and the hops balance with a citrus tone.

Overall I would get this again and enjoy it in a variety case if it was included. A very smooth amber ale.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2012 05:48:33 | More by DrDemento456

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.63/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pretty much an easy going amber ale, with session-able level of alcohol. Rich amber color a bit of glowing red when held toward some back lighting, big tan creamy head forms. Thin speckled lacing left behind in my pint glass. Aroma has toasted malts, fresh cracked grain coming up with some herbal/mint/mild pine hops, very mild hop additions. Flavor is balanced kiss of herbal earthy hops, toasted malt with a bit of breadiness, really melds well and comes of being a super enjoyable brew. Nothing that rewrites the book on brewing, but it's damn well made from our friends on the other side of PA in Adamstown, even flowing carbonation light and palatable. Go for this beer while it's out there, I really enjoyed it.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2012 22:34:47 | More by WVbeergeek

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Amber 25
Stoudts Brewing Co.
Style: American Amber / Red Ale
ABV: 4.80 %

Pours a clear medium brown color, with an off white head and some lace on the glass. Aroma of roasted malt, bready yeast and burnt caramel. In the flavor, toasted malts, nutty, mildly smoky roasted profile, with all due caramel sweetness and a faint citrusy hop flavor. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, well carbonated, and easily drinkable. Overall, this is a pretty nice Amber Ale, and a worthy anniversary beer. Pretty solid.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 20:57:19 | More by Stinkypuss

drabmuh

Maryland

3.58/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle gifted to me by yourefragile. I like the kolsch, I'm definitely interested in this beer. Beer is amber and clear with a nice white head, some lacing, decent retention.

Aroma is odd, it smells like a kolsch and an amber mixed.

Beer is medium to light in body, the kolsch character is lost in the palate mildly. The finish is mildly bitter but not too strong, the lead off is a malt. I like it, it is interesting but not great.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2012 15:55:52 | More by drabmuh

yourefragile

District of Columbia

3.7/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a nonic. Description from Stoudts... "light bodied, refreshing brew uses a small amount of caramel malt to give it a nice amber color with a hint of sweetness. Lower hopping rates and a smooth dry finish make this the perfect session beer to help you celebrate 25 years of Stoudt’s beers". 6 pack holder also indicates their Karnival Kolsch yeast is used.

Pours a perfectly clear, light amber with a dense, large frothy khaki head. Head has good retention, light carbonation and ample rings of dry lace. Very mild aroma, caramel malt forward, light biscuit, and finish of light earth and grass. Flavor is similar to nose, starts mildly sweet and caramely with some fruity esters from the yeast, before a drier, earthy finish. Nice balance of sweetness and bitterness. Medium thick, creamy body with active carbonation. Not the most exciting beer, but no obvious flaws and I like that they made a nice sessionable beer for their anniversary to complement the barrel aged 5025.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 23:24:56 | More by yourefragile

DIM

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

a: This was a slightly hazy coppery amber color. It was served to me with a firm, thick cap.

s: Biscuits and caramel with light, spicy hops; hints of pine.

t: Moderate sweetness up front, biscuits and fruity caramel. Mild spicy bitterness at the finish. Well balanced overall.

m: Medium body, creamy.

o: Reminds me a bit of other ambers from Stoudts. Hoping for more in honor of 25 great years.

Serving type: on-tap

08-11-2012 22:54:16 | More by DIM

57md

Pennsylvania

3.1/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

As advertised, this beer is amber in color. There is barely any head. The nose is bland as is the taste. There is some subtle dryness on the finish that is the best part of this offering. All-in-all, this is not terribly special for a "special ale."

Serving type: on-tap

07-13-2012 04:08:16 | More by 57md

beerfinder

Pennsylvania

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

I had this at McGuillen's Ale house this past weekend. The is smooth and very drinkable with a floral after taste. A perfect summer beer. The kolsh yeast brings out the flavor in this beer. It went perfect with the mussels I was eating. A very good session brew.

Serving type: on-tap

05-29-2012 19:56:26 | More by beerfinder