Full Sail Amber - Full Sail Brewery & Tasting Room & Pub

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.1/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Lucent burnt orange with honey-colored edges; one of the darker versions of the style that you'll see. High-quality head of very slightly toasted marshmallow froth that's firm enough to last and sticky enough to deposit a fair amount of lace. Like most all Full Sail brews, this one is a looker.

The nose is pretty evenly balanced between toasty malt and hops. The Mt. Hood hops (a Hallertau variant) make more of a statement than the Cascade. It's hard to believe that Crystal and Chocolate malt are part of the malt bill, especially given the style. Considering the appearance and the aroma, I'd say that not much of either--in particular Chocolate--was used.

This is a solid Amber Ale, no doubt about it. It's tough for beer of this style to impress unless generous quantities of ingredients are added (personal bias). My favorites, of course, are those that contain heavy-handed amounts of hops, but a well-brewed, balanced Amber is just fine as well. Count this one as a member of the balanced club.

Still nothing that hints at Chocolate malt, but firm, semi-sweet, generously toasted caramel is in the house. Sweet makes a valiant effort, but is ultimately slapped down by bitter. Maybe there's more hoppiness here than the first few ounces led me to believe. Overall, I'm still going with balanced. On the palate, the grapefruitiness of the Cascade pulls even with the floral-spiciness of the Mt. Hood.

The body is firm rather than creamy, but still has a well-polished feel about it. There's no hint of a thinning out during the entirety of the medium-long finish. No complaints about the carbonation either; it's right in my comfort zone.

Full Sail Brewing Company ('specialists in the liquid refreshment arts since 1987') comes through again. While this isn't the most spectacular Amber Ale that I've ever had, it's more than solid and is well deserving of the many gold medals that have been earned in world beer championships over the years.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2006 13:31:52 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

clear copper colored amber with a nice thick two inch head of white foam that capped off the top and gave it a nice appearence until it started to fade

very light, which to be honest kinda dissapointed me. What I could pick up was very grainy and boring with big notes of cereal grain very apparent as well as a musty kinda of bread smell. Some light grassy hops were present way in the back but to be honest were really a non issue as this was dominate by a musty bread like malt. big time musky bready like flavor that just was too strong to really get anything else to come out from behind it. There was a slight hoppiness in the finish, but again I stress light as it was really not a factor in the overall flavor. This was truly a malty lager and really not the normal flavor I would expect from the style but thats neither here not there.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2011 19:19:44 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

3/5  rDev -19.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: The beer pours copper in color with a large, fluffy, off-white head.

S: Doesn't smell like I was anticipating. Corn and butter with overcooked grains are the initial aromas. Some light floral and grass hops and some fruity esters to the beer. A mild toffee aroma comes through as the beer warms up.

T: Luckily a bit better in terms of the flavor as there is some toffee and toasted bread to it. A hint of bitterness and some grassy hops in the background to detract from the sweetness.

M: Medium in body with a medium to high carbonation.

O: Like a lot of Full Sail beers I've had, this was a let down.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2011 22:30:04 | More by womencantsail

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.58/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a clear, dark amber body with a small, bone white head.

Smell: Aroma smelling of caramel with a faint roast note and slight earthiness.

Taste: Pale and dark caramel maltiness with a light toastiness and the tiniest hint of chocolate. Earthy, citrusy hop character with a medium bitterness. Drying finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: A fairly decent amber. I wouldn't turn down a second chance at it.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2008 18:33:50 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

3.48/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a clear russet color with a modest head that leaves a few squiggles of lace

Smell: Grainy bitterness with some toasty malt underneath

Taste: Starts out rather toasty, with a quick nod to caramel and chocolate powder as well as to the grainy bitterness; after the swallow, the bitter and sweeter flavors are balanced

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: Just not my favorite style and not my favorite example of it, either; too little on the hops for me

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2010 23:48:56 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

3.43/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear dark amber/copper color with a nice 2 inch beige head that fades to a thin cap on the top of the beer. Nice puffy rings of lace settle around the glass on the drink down. Smells of toasty malts and citrus zest hops. A fairly standard amber beer smell. Taste is a bit better with bready malt and citrus zest flavors. Very mild hop bitterness that quickly fades after each sip. Beer has a pretty good level of carbonation and is somewhat clean and smooth. Overall, an above average amber beer but nothing too special.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2011 01:23:46 | More by UCLABrewN84

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.03/5  rDev -19%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle: Poured a deep brown color ale with a nice foamy head with average retention and no lacing. Aroma of caramel malt is about medium with some dry hops also noticeable. Taste is also dominated by some caramel malt as well as some dry hops. Body is above average with some good carbonation. Not bad but nothing extraordinary either.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2007 18:09:27 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.53/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Sweeter and stronger than the average Pale Ale, Full Sail's Amber Ale hits the style squarely on the head with a firm caramel malt flavor with understated balance of citrusy American hops- all built nearly to perfection.

Pouring a deep amber hue with the sheen that gives a bronze-like color. Brilliant clarity and a thin but creamy off white head round out the rich looking appearance.

Malty rich aromas seem of deeply caramelized sugars, medium kilned barley, and spicy yeast. A balance of citrusy hops take on a grapefruit and sprucy scent. Simple in variety but its lack of challenge makes it very appealing to the nose.

Flavors behave similarly- caramel rich flavors stop shy of toffee character and carry medium to full sweetness. Lightly grainy, medium malt, and nutty flavors further round out the malt-forward flavor profile. The timid rebuttal of citrusy hops also carry a grassy or piney flavor that develops into a lighlty resiny bitterness in finish that almost balances the strong malt flavor. Lightly yeasty with a note of light bread, bread dough, and bread crust- this is the only noteworthy complexity that exceeds the malt and hop contributions.

Medium bodied, but the weight of the beer seems higher because of the sweetness from unresolved barley sugars. But the sweetness waivers just a bit into cola-like flavors and textures just before the hop bitterness assists in dryness. Light alcohol warmth and evaporative cooling further attempt to crispen the mouthfeel, but a lingering sweetness lasts well into aftertaste.

A very tasty Amber Ale that does all that the style perscribes. But more malt richness and less one-dimensional sweetness could have resulted in a better balanced American Amber Ale.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2011 03:38:37 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Gearin up for a doubleheader of Michigan footbal and the Tigers ALCS game one.Poured into a standard pint glass a deep rich amber with a creamy one finger slight off white top,love the creaminess of the head.Toast and fruity easters in the nose with a light shot of leafy hop in a passing whiff.Toasty and a little buttery on the palate with some caramel malt giving it mild sweetness,light fruity esters and a nice shot of leafy cone hops in the back end make this amber very drinkable.This is a great amber,for me almost a standard,well done.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2011 22:50:40 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Beautiful crimson tinted amber beneath a creamy head of off-white. Hundreds of fine bubbles can clearly be seen rising towards the surface. The head retention is quite good, but it lacks a bit in the lacing department.

S: The nose clearly expresses a sweet, caramelish malt that's carried over as the main component in the flavor.

T: It starts lightly sweet and caramelish, but grassy and leafy hops emerge across the middle, eventually turning a bit spicy in the finish. The bitterness is firm, and balances the maramelish malt nicely.

M: The body is dextrinous, and its fine bubbled, moderate carbonation lends a tingle to the tongue, leaving it smooth and somewhat creamy.

D: It's rich and satisfying, yet far from overwhelming, and it's highly drinkable pint after pint.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2009 10:53:09 | More by NeroFiddled

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Attractive coppery appearance, with a good, plush cushion of off-white foam floating above, eventually settling into a tight ring. Aroma, quite a pleasant thing, fruity, malty, mellow. Hops are seldom seen so far in this one, but it's plenty estery, and very nice.
These features return in the taste, with a perfect balance, to boot. Seamless integration, mellow, smooth, but with enough taste to make this easy-quaffer a joy to slide down the throat. A benchmark example of this style.
I hadn't had Full Sail Amber in so long, I'd taken it for granted and forgot how good it is. I still personally prefer the hoppier brews, but this is just right for food, parties, or just drinkin'.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2004 09:21:52 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

3.63/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a nice amber color with a thick frothy offwhite head that fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a slightly dry, yet sweet malt scent with a bit of hops in the background to round out the aroma. The taste is decent. It has a watery crystal/pale malt flavor with some hops and a bitter, grainy aftertaste. The mouthfeel is decent also. It is a medium bodied beer with less than adequate carbonation. This would be a much better beer if it had a bit more body and carbonation. It drinks decent despite it's flaws.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2004 01:32:05 | More by WesWes

metter98

New York

3.73/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A: The beer is clear dark amber in color and has a light amount of carbonation. It poured with a finger high off white head that quickly died down but left a thin layer of bubbles consistently covering the surface.
S: There are light aromas of caramel malts and earthy hops in the nose.
T: The taste has flavors of biscuit, caramel and nutty malts along with a bit of sweetness. There are slight hints of bitterness in the finish.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
D: The beer goes down very easily and is quite sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2011 23:40:12 | More by metter98

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.7/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

First off I don't really like the new bottles, the old ones had much more character. Anyway, this beer pours with a deep garnet color, and is quite clear when held up to the light. It has a light tan head that is reasonably persistent. The first aroma is one of hops; citrusy, and floral components. Then as you stick your nose in a bit deeper one gets a malty aroma and I seem to even detect a hint of roastiness, and some toasted maltiness as well. This is a quite malty brew with some definite hop notes to it as well. It has a sort of austere wine like finish to it, which is quite interesting. There is a good amount of body here, as the beer coats my taste buds and the back of my throat nicely. At the very end one gets a nice laying on of bitterness from the hops. It is not as hoppy (both aroma and flavor) as I remember it, but I suspect my tastebuds have changed quite a bit over the years.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2003 16:40:35 | More by Gueuzedude

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.15/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Acquired via trade from Wasatch, so a big "Thank you" goes out to him. Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a bright copper color with a thin off-white head that fades quickly and leaves a decent lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is caramelized malt, tea, a little fruit and a good amount of hops in the background.

T: The taste starts out malty and fruity with flavors of caramel, tea, citrus and some spice. A strong hops presence quickly comes in next, giving the beer a good balance and a bit more complexity than you normally get from beer in this style. The after-taste is slightly sweet and a little hoppy.

M: Smooth and very crisp, medium body, medium carbonation, clean and dry finish.

D: Tasty, goes down easily, not very filling, good kick, this is a good beer to drink continuously. I could see myself sticking with this beer for the duration of an evening.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2007 02:46:35 | More by TheManiacalOne

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.28/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this on tap at kinfolks after a fairly lengthy hike

Poured caramel/chestnut with 1 finger of offwhite head. Good lacing & head retention

S: Sweet malt & breadyness

T: Sweey malt, a hint of choclate & caramel up front. Earthy hops surface along with a little grainyness as this warms. Finishes bready, sweet & a little hoppy & dry

Medium bodied, great balance & near perfect carbonation

Drinks pretty easy, another winner from a pretty good oregon brewery. Nothing earthshattering, here, just solid across the board

Serving type: on-tap

03-05-2007 05:21:53 | More by russpowell

Halcyondays

California

3.48/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle, bought for $1.09 at Trader Joe's,

A: Pours a dark amber with a couple fingers of white head. Good retention and lacing.

S: Earthy hops, soil, amber malt.

T: Light crystal malt, not too sweet. Good balance with the piney hops.

M: Creamy, moderate light body, soft carbonation.

D: A solid version of this Northwest pub style. For around $6.50 a sixer, certainly a value, there's a lot of $9 ambers where you're not going to get any better.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2010 05:52:37 | More by Halcyondays

Gavage

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: clear dark amber in color with a one finger head that falls quickly to a thick surface foam. Mild lacing develops.

Smell: brown sugar sweetness with some nuts and fruits. More aroma than most other ambers.

Taste: strong fruitiness here, with toasted nuts, brown sugar, wrapped in a nice bready malt. Little bitterness.

Mouthfeel: smooth at the start and finish. Medium bodied. Very brief aftertaste.

Drinkability: a great session amber. This can be enjoyed all alone or with a meal. Worth having.

Serving type: on-tap

07-27-2006 23:39:16 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle with a twist off...("Torque off") cap:

Pours amber with plenty of clarity. A thin, creamy, off-white cap leaves some trailing lace behind.

The smell is of citric fruitiness and toasty caramel.

The caramel is more forward than in the aroma but the citric fruitiness is noticeable and balances it out. Sweetish finish.

Medium-bodied and smooth, this is an amber ale that I enjoyed trying.

Thanks to Wasatch for including in our trade!

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2007 14:41:54 | More by jwc215

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.8/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours a clear dark brownish copper hue, with one finger of thin foamy off-white head, which melts away quickly, leaving some sparse blots of lace around the glass. It smells of dry roasted caramel malt, ashy biscuit, and subdued earthy hops. The taste is nice straightforward biscuity malt, some nuttiness, and mild musty hops hanging out in a corner somewhere. The carbonation is fairly sedate, the body full, smooth, and a wee bit creamy. It finishes off-dry, the roasted malt persisting.

A nice malty, but not overly sweet amber ale. Simple, but good stuff - I could see sessioning these.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2010 23:05:18 | More by biboergosum

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Wow, it's like this is to the American Amber Ale, what SNPA is to the American Pale Ale. This pours an amber orange color with a short white head - decent retention and white lacing until the end. The aroma could be a touch richer, but it previews the malt and herbal hops mixture to come. The flavor starts with slightly sweet, bready caramel malts with note of toffee. The hops kick in midway with citrus and herbal flavors that slowly fade into the aftertaste. This is a full-flavored and very sessionable beer. Sort of sets the standard for the style.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2008 16:25:00 | More by tempest

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A 12 oz bottle from a recent trade with racerx.

A: The amber is aptly named, a darker brew that aims for equal parts brown and red but trends more towards the ruby red side. A small band of head atop the ale is the remnant of a more vigourous pour.

S: The aroma is focused on the graininess, biscuity with a vegetal flavor. Hops add a touch of flavor but for the most part are ancillary to the malts.

T: The taste mirrors the nose, focusing on the soft malt flavors and allowing the hops to sit in the background. The graininess is biscuity with caramel and vegetal flavors. The hops add a touch of bite midway through a sip and again near the end before allowing the vegetal malts to come through again on the way out.

M: The mouthfeel is clean and full, a relaxing drink that I could enjoy for several hours.

D: The low abv and pleasing taste can't be beat. This is a nice session ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2008 01:39:16 | More by akorsak

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is effin' good especially compared to usually predictable amber ales. Appears a deep amber red tone with a nice formed thicket of fine even lacing. A roasted caramel note with nuts, toffe, and herbal hops flowing, what a warming flow going on here. Flavor runs wild with smooth layers of caramel malt and wheaties like grains, really brings out depths of malt flavor with ample bittering hops making it really balanced. Great refreshing flow with bread crust caramelized sugars and an all out satisfying flavor. Mouthfeel is medium bodied smooth evenly carbonated definitely could drain a few of these bad boys. Drinkability one that I will revisit next time possibly a whole sixer good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2007 01:13:50 | More by WVbeergeek

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a dark amber color, almost no head. Hoppy, slightly bitter and sweet. Nice overall balance. A little on the bitter side. Plenty of hops. I picked up on some crystal malts perhaps and a biscuity flavor all the way through. A decet amber overall.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2009 05:58:16 | More by barleywinefiend

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Nice coating lace from a one-finger head. The color of the broth is dark amber (like maple syrup). Crystal clear.

Good caramel smell, although it is not sweet. Light hop pellet aroma. In a word: balanced.

A traditional amber with no notable flaws. Good caramel base--again, this is not sweet. The finish is hoppy bitterness, but it doesn't last that long. Again, this is a well-balanced beer. The body is on the richer side and the carbonation is on the lower side. Overall, I think this is one of the nicer Ambers.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2010 18:13:08 | More by smcolw