Amber Ale - Boulevard Brewing Co.

mfnmbvp

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle, with best by date reading 05/20/2013, so I'm a couple days late, but that's nothing to cry over. My fifth beer from the Boulevard sampler twelve pack.

Poured into a Firestone Walker pint glass.

A - Pours one finger of fluffy off-white head on top of a slightly murky orange / chestnut colored body.

S - Can definitely smell the malts as the prominent trait here. Sweet, caramelized, & leafy smelling. Some toasted seed like smell in there. Very light vanilla nutty presence due to the English malt. Perhaps some subdued fruitiness in there also.

T - Taste follows the nose mostly. A malt forward beer with a sweet caramelized taste, but balanced well by a dry bitter hop presence, obviously from the German noble hops, but no where near as hoppy as some red / amber ales tend to be. Bit of fruit presence and some toasty malt backbone.

M - Feel is dry and bitter from the hops, invoking another sip. Mostly a clean, sweet finish though.

Overall, an average beer, and probably the least interesting out of the 6 beers featured in the Boulevard sampler pack. It is by no means a bad beer, just very boring and generic, and more complex examples of this style can be easily found. Definitely drinkable, but it's not a beer I would seek out again.

Boulevard Amber Ale ---3.5/5.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 00:07:18 | More by mfnmbvp

jimmah120

Minnesota

3.94/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

12oz bottle best by 6/23, poured into mug

great golden amber look, small film of head. smell is sweet malted grain, dry herbal hops, some dusty amber 'leaf' scent. taste is grainy with some sweet malt up front, then grain elevator taste complete with metal. finishes with some roasted grain/malt and a touch of dry leaves.

good amber, almost like a low-rent 90 shilling

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 08:28:15 | More by jimmah120

JMad

Texas

3.23/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

The beer pours a dark copper color with a thin and filmy white head. There isn't much to the aroma, some caramel with bread a very faint earthy hop smell. The smell is slightly metallic with some caramel, bread and a slightly herbal hop aftertaste. Feels like your average beer, light/ medium body with lots of carbonation and a slightly dry finish. This is a mediocre beer in my opinion and I wouldn't buy a whole six pack.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 01:29:45 | More by JMad

pmcadamis

Illinois

3.76/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A - Hazy amber brew with a small gray-white head. Good lacing.

S - Toasty with a good deal of caramel. Slightly hoppy with dried autumn leaf notes.

T - Malty. Toasted grains, caramel, toffee, and a hint of pumpkin pie. Some nice hops come into play towards the off-dry finish.

M - Medium bodied, chewy.

A great session brew. This is well balanced (but leaning more towards malty as befits the style). I'd buy this again for sure. I'm a big Boulevard fan and this is a great offering from a great brewery.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 17:27:08 | More by pmcadamis

delta490

Virginia

3.05/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

Poured a 12oz bottle into a Sam Adams glass. Poured a deeper, slightly cloudy amber. Poured with about 1 finger of toffee colored head. Short lived and doesn't leave lacing. Aroma is minimal, with just slight notes of biscuit and fruit. Taste is about the same. A little heavy on the carbonation but a nice consistency. Was cellared for about a year but seems to be the same as I remembered. Pretty average.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 20:27:39 | More by delta490

MickeyD

Kansas

3.48/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

I poured this beer from a 12oz bottle into a clean pint class.

Appearance: Dark golden brown, head was very short however when held up to the light the foam sank and created an appearance of smoke coming from a smoker on a warm summer day.

Smell: smells of hops and malt.

Taste: A great taste of caramel malt and bread. The hops are very subtle to me and it goes down very smooth.

Mouth feel: This beer is so smooth that there are really no lingering flavors. Not bitter at all but a great malt/barley taste.

Overall: I think this is a slightly better than average beer. It is not a very bold but it has a great mild caramel malt taste and looks great in a glass. I think this beer would go great with any smoked meat like brisket or pork ribs with some smoked paprika in the rub. The lack of head really hurts the appearance. I think it would be a good alternitive to all the "white" citrus beers that are around in the summer.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 21:20:37 | More by MickeyD

jmbranum

Oklahoma

3.98/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

Most of the time I wind up being disappointed by "amber ales." They tend to be so middle-of-the-road that they are boring. Despite this reputation, I took a chance on this beer and I'm glad I did.

Nice, slightly fruity malt aroma.

Pours a clear amber liquid with only a slight haze. Nice head but disappears quickly.

Flavor is of good wheat bread. A nice balance of hops. A tiny bit of caramel. A little bit of spices.

Too much carbonation. Medium mouthfeel.

Overall, a slightly better than average amber.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 18:18:39 | More by jmbranum

scruffwhor

Illinois

2.58/5  rDev -24.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Maybe just a little haze to this darker copper, bronze colored brew. Pretty quick head and no residual foam. A couple tiny bubbles rise to the surface.

Light toasted malt aromas. Thats all I can get for the nose. Smells a little bland.

Some biscuit toasted malt flavors. An acidic, slightly lemony finish makes up the hop profile.

This is the only beer from Boulevard I won't buy again.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 13:58:43 | More by scruffwhor

acelin

Kansas

3/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I had this beer poured from the bottle into a Boulevard Pint glass.

It pours a reddish nutty color, a bit darker than day, Fat Tire. Small head, off white in color.

Doesn't smell like much. Light hop presence, sweet caramel malt. My girlfriend would love this brew.

It tastes much as it smells. I'll try it again soon, I fear this bottle was old and the flavor has suffered. Pretty average honestly for an Amber Ale. Caramel, biscuit, some floral notes, and some peach fruitiness.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 21:06:59 | More by acelin

outdoor7or24

Georgia

3.1/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle from 12 pack sampler, poured into pint glass.
A: 1 finger light khaki colored head, medium reddish brown color, bubbles indicate good carbonation
S: caramel, malts, slight apple scent a well
M: medium, carbonation
T: malt, caramel, slightly watery, hops finish up at the end giving a slight bitter finish
O: session beer, good brew

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 03:12:35 | More by outdoor7or24

rfbenavi80

Missouri

3.43/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle kept in fridge. Poured into a Nonic Pint. Best by 10-28-12.

A- Boulevards Amber Ale pours a hazy deep copper color with 3 fingers of yellowish foamy head that recedes at a moderate rate and does not lace on the glass.

S- Grainy and bready with some metallic notes. Not a whole lot going on.

T- Flavors of toasted malts start off then turns to a grainy taste in the middle. Finishes kind of sweet. With notes of caramel and toffee.

M- Comes across as medium bodied, with a decent amount of carbonation.

O- Another easy drinker from Boulevard. This one while not great, is a good year round offering form Boulevard.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2012 09:50:25 | More by rfbenavi80

metter98

New York

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

A: The beer is relatively clear copper in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a quarter finger high beige head that died down a bit but never faded away.
S: There are aromas of caramel malts in the nose along with some hints of fruity yeast. No hops are noticeable.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and has flavors of caramel, nutty and toasted malts with some hints of malty sweetness and a slight amount of bitterness.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This is a malt-forward beer that has a nice balance of different types of malts and has just enough hops to prevent it from being sweet.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 17:57:35 | More by metter98

lwillitz

Florida

3.3/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12-oz bottle into small glass mug

A - huge head of khaki foam atop a transparent body of orange amber; lots of small rising bubbles of carbonation

S - malty with unusual metallic notes; not much on the nose

T - sweet and malty up front, floral hops move in for a hint of bitterness, bittersweet finish

M - slick light/medium body, medium/high carbonation

O - Nothing pretentious about this one. Just a simple amber. Worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2012 20:29:36 | More by lwillitz

MatthewBuchholz

Missouri

3.75/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is one of my go to session beers. As far as looks go its hazy due to the bottle conditioning with a nice amber orange hue. The aroma has a nice sweetness to it with a malty backbone. The taste is very malty with the sweetness from the yeast used in it I believe. Overall its extremely drinkable and very refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 17:51:24 | More by MatthewBuchholz

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.43/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a crystal clear dark copper to medium amber in color with some very light amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a finger tall creamy beige head that reduces to a medium sized patch of thin film and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Very mild in aroma overall, there are some light notes of toasted malts and some even lighter hints of floral hops.

T: This beer has a solid body of toasted malts with some lighter amounts of caramel and toffee sweetness. There are light hints of floral hops but very little bitterness.

M: On the lighter side of medium bodied with moderate to heavy amounts of carbonation. Slightly thin/watery but there is a certain prickliness from the carbonation.

O: The beer is pretty well balanced and typifies the American Amber/Red Ale style for me. The beer is easy to drink and could be sessionable. It is enjoyable and one I would have again.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 21:50:28 | More by dbrauneis

dbossman

Nebraska

3.63/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Dark amber, hazy with a two-inch head and okay lacing

S: Sweet and grainy but something metallic is there too; some bready biscuity malts but really not a ton going on here

T: Much more going on in the taste thankfully; bready malts with subtle toffee and caramel; slightly sweet but enough subtle hopping in the finish to balance things out

F: Decent mouth feel; perhaps a touch thin

O: This beer gets better after a few drinks and thankfully tastes better than it smells; this is a sessionable, tasty brew

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2012 19:04:17 | More by dbossman

EagleTalon

Arkansas

3.45/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours to thin buff head and (you guessed it) amber color. Hazy. Aroma is caramel, fruity candy, and pale malt. Flavor presents with various malt and yeast esters. Bready and slightly toasty. Hops are secondary, muted, earthy and offset the sweetness of the malt sugars. Mouthfeel is light medium. Overall a decent beer that hits the subtle side of the style.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2012 23:53:52 | More by EagleTalon

StonedTrippin

Colorado

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

a decent amber. smells more like their irish red in terms of malt profile, but with a bit more sweetness. flavors of toffee, burnt sugar, and dryer red malts combine in good proportions. i could stand a bit more of a hop backing in this american amber, but it tastes alright as it is. mouthfeel is okay, lots of body and some sweetness in the aftertaste, but not in a gross stickly go brush the teeth kind of way, medium carbonation. overall a drinkable brown ale but a far cry from my favorite boulevard brew.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 15:58:20 | More by StonedTrippin

imasloth

Texas

3.48/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- poured into pint glass, nice amber color- a bit towards orange. Small off-white head, no lacing, good carbonation.

S- Sweet and a bit fruity (honeydew melon?)- perhaps lightly floral.

T- Sweet and malty. Floral and fruit really comes out. Light bitterness.

M- Medium to heavy-bodied, very little 'feel', leaves mouth coated with sweetness.

O- Meh ... Fine amber but I was actually wanting something with more malt flavor at the time. In no hurry to try this again.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2012 12:44:27 | More by imasloth

argock

Virginia

3.6/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz brown bottle into a Duvel tulip. Best by 05/11/12 in white on bottle neck.
Received from my parents out of the goodness of their hearts.

A: Red-amber with 1-2 fingers of off-white/light beige head with decent retention and several trails of lacing.

S: Nicely integrated aroma of cereal grain and light sweet toffee and caramel. The hops are slightly floral and citrus but not overbearing.

T: I thought the flavor was a great example of the style with a good solid maltiness of grain with light toasted character and toffee. The hops provide counterpunch of floral, orange citrus.

M: The mouthfeel needs a lot of work, but I think dialing down the carbonation by about 1/3 would do most of the trick. The carbonation is beyond prickly to fizzy and it detracts from both the flavor, body, and the drinkability.

O: I liked this beer but a simple reduction in carbonation would provide a much nicer drinking experience, allowing the spot-on maltiness and light citrus hopping to maintain the attention and give the beer the coating, creamier feel it should have.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 17:35:48 | More by argock

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

3.88/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a standard pint glass. The beer is a copper/amber color. A foamy off-white head dissipates to a thin film, light sticky lacing is on the glass. The beer smells of slightly sweet malts and caramel. The taste is well balanced with slightly sweet roasted malts, caramel, and maybe toffee. A faint tea/hop profile hits in the finish. The mouthfeel is medium to light bodied.

Overall, just a solid, decent amber. Not as carbonated like their other mainline beers. Good session beer here.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2012 20:03:38 | More by JuicesFlowing

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.35/5  rDev -2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Black Raven pint glass. Pours a clear red-orange amber. Thin white head and no lacing. Aroma of sweet and caramel malt. Taste is subdued malt, grassy hops with a dry finish. Thin bodied. Nothing remarkable, but a mild, pleasant tasting amber.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2012 04:03:31 | More by LiquidAmber

kjyost

Manitoba (Canada)

2.7/5  rDev -21.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Bottle purchased at Happy Harry's Grand Forks, North as part of their mixed 12. BB May 11/12. Poured at ~4C into a Sam Adams Perfect Pint glass.

A: Copper, clear with a light tan head that is small and drops with little to no lacing.
S: Caramel malts, some earthiness, a hint of butter.
T: Fairly nondescript, with some sweetness and a hint of caramel with a touch of bitterness.
M: A hint of butter, crisp carbonation, lingering sweetness.
O: A nondescript beer. My first real "meh" beer from Boulveard

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 20:12:32 | More by kjyost

TheCondor

Missouri

2.73/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

As I have stated in the past, I am a bit biased towards Boulevard. I really like most of their products, and they are my hometown brewery. That being said, I got the Amber Ale in a sampler, because I find it difficult to pick one particular brew out so I buy the 12 sampler. Poured from a bottle into my National Guard mug.

Appearance – Just like it says, it pours a rich amber color. However, even after an aggressive pour, there is a faint half finger head that quickly dissipates. Don’t even think about lacing, there is none.

Smell – Light malt with a hint of bready biscuit. Not much else, pretty mild aroma. Kinda smells like beers that cost half the price.

Taste – Shockingly underwhelming. A bit of malt, hints of caramel in the middle with a slight pop of hop bitterness at the end. Not much to speak of. Again, I expected much more.

Mouthfeel – Finished fairly smooth, light carbonation that makes it feel watered down. Almost no aftertaste.

Overall – This beer was surprisingly underwhelming. Although I realize I am not a fan of this style to begin with, I have had much more impressive examples of the style for the same money. There just isn’t anything about this brew that would make me want to buy it again. Of course if offered I’d drink it, but I would not pay for this beer again. Sorry Boulevard, I gotta call a spade a spade and not a manual earth restructuring implement.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 01:00:53 | More by TheCondor

Smurf2055

Washington

2.48/5  rDev -27.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

From the variaty 12 pack, picked up at Chuck’s 85 and poured in to my Duvel Tulip (of all things lol) Ap: Pours with a finger head. Murky amber. Ar: Sweet straw and faint spice. T: Sort of wheat, sweet, straw taste. Some hop presence. P: Smooth but a bit watery. Overall, nothing special, but decent enough. Wouldn’t go looking for it.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2012 10:10:24 | More by Smurf2055