Hyland Amber Ale - Pioneer Brewing Co.

Murph

Arizona

2.98/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a crystal clear copper color that seems a bit too light for the style with a thick tan, bubbly head that sinks too quickly to a thin film. Barely perceptible malt breadiness in the nose with almost nothing else to bolster it. Lightly toasty malt with a lighter earthy hoppiness in the background that is rather weak in the background with a slight metallic taste as well. A decent starting mouthfeel with a medium body starts off well but finishes somewhat thinner than expected. Decently drinkable with a slightly sticky aftertaste. I used to drink this a lot when I first got into better beer about 4 years ago. Loved it at the time but it seems that I've moved past it. Oh well, it was a great stepping stone and helped me along.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2003 19:27:41 | More by Murph

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From BeerAdvocate Magazine Volume II, Issue V:

American Amber Ales run the gambit from excessively hoppy to absolute malt bombs. Let's give this one a go.

Awesome looking lace that almost looks like that fake snow spray on a window. Perfect clarity shows off a bright amber color. Quick kiss of caramel, hints of pear fruitiness and toasted breadiness come off mild but aromatic. A bit of a rolling smoothness going on here within the medium body. Bready throughout with a toasted end. Hints of caramel and fresh grass showcase the complexities of the malt. Mild citric tone from the hops, mild on the bitterness, but balances no doubt. Fruitiness is tame with pear and slight apple flavors. Finishes semidry with a touch of animal feed and grassy malt flavor that lingers.

Delicious and thirst quenching. Flavorful without all of the hoppiness. With that said, it is a bit of a malt bomb, though the hoppiness keeps the malt in check and the beer in balance.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2010 13:22:36 | More by BeerAdvocate

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

3.08/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours amber with a 2 finger head that disappeared fairly quick. Some minimal lacing.

Mild sweet toasted malt scents, some citric hop notes.

Some biscuit-like flavors combined with some mild malt sweetness and some light citric hops. Dry and clean in finish. Decent, but no knocking my socks off.

Decent carbonation, medium bodied.

Overall, I see this as a decent beer, but nothing I'd openly pursue again. It went down easy with no rough edges, but there wasn't much that stood out either. An average brew.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2009 11:58:02 | More by OtherShoe2

Nutleybeer

New Jersey

4.2/5  rDev +20.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Was going to Boston for the weekend, saw this place listed on Beer Advocate; right on the border of MA and CT. Decided to stop by. They advertise a beer hall on their webite.

Finding it was like finding a winery. You drive along historic like Sturbridge, then down a long winding road in the middle of nowhere before you stumble upon the location. Worth the stop.

$4 beers. I sampled a few, found the amber to be the tastiest; all were very good though. A coppery orange color. Kept a mild head. Only minimally hoppy. There was a touch of sweetness present as well. Very drinkable. Wish they sold their beers back in NJ.

Stop by if you are in the area. They have a bar area, not really a "beer hall," but it is a clean and friendly place.

Serving type: on-tap

07-07-2008 21:44:20 | More by Nutleybeer

gpcollen1

Connecticut

3.78/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours...well amber...into my imperial pint. Head rises a bit and falls to not much more than a skim. Aromas are lightly malty with a hint of hops. Taste is similar, in that this one does not pack a punch but stays along the lines of a simple amber - which I am not opposed to. Carbonation is not overdone and the initial simply malty sweetness rides quickly into some pretty dry hops and a mild bitterness. A very drinkable brew for certain.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2007 00:46:30 | More by gpcollen1

kelticblood

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The appearance was very good, with a long-lasting head, and thick foamy lace. The color is a clear gold with tons of bubbling carbonation. The aroma had hints of hops, fruit, and a piney flower odor.
The taste is great and coupled with the outstanding mouthfeel makes this an Amber Ale above the rest. Nice hop and Phenolic bitterness balanced perfectly with crisp carbonation, and lightly sweet malts. Goes down smooth with a creamy malt texture. It does have characteristics of more of a Pale Ale than an Amber Ale.
A medium body that leaves a long-lingering bitterness. Hints of wheat are noted on the finish. This is a great Amber Ale, and worth a second try. It's hard to find a good Amber Ale, but look no further than Hyland.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2007 23:33:28 | More by kelticblood

numenor1

North Carolina

4.18/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

22 oz bottle courtesy Ppoitras in SS 06

Pours light amber with a distinct orange tint. Nice frothy head, that leaves some good lace. Smells a bit grainy fresh, a touch nutty, slight citrus and light caramel. Starts out on the palate with a light touch of citrus then lightly toasted malts and some subtle caramel take over. Nuttiness returns, and everything dries out through the finish, hops becoming quite herbal. Perfect balance. Mouthfeel is light with soft but abundant carbonation. Tremendously drinkable.

Altogether, and exceptionally well mannered, straightforward amber with no rough edges. Not heavy or overly cloying (as some hyped up ambers can be). A fantastic session beer and definitely underrated. Exactly what i was in the mood for.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2007 08:50:25 | More by numenor1

Stimack

New York

3.53/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This brew poured to a somewhat cloudy copper color with a fair sized white head that had great retention and left a fair amount of lacing. The aromas area very malty, caramel and toasted grains and what seems to be s sight sour scent? The taste is nice, a little too buttery (?), but clear flavors of roasted grains along with a slight sour flavor. The flavor is not bad but just a little different, does not remind me of a normal amber ale. Over all this is a pretty decent brew, not one that I would actively look for.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2007 03:02:33 | More by Stimack

RedwoodGeorge

California

3.85/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This is a very nice, "by the numbers" Amber Ale without any differentiating characteristics but nicely executed. The pour is a deep reddish brown with a couple fingers of thick white lumpy foam. The head falls flat after a while with little in the way of lacing on the glass.

The nose is spot-on with clear notes of caramel, toasted grains and fruity esters. There's no real hop note to the aroma but the smell is quite rich and deep.

On first sip there's a pretty clear note of caramel with a light bready flavor and some very clear toasted grain notes. The fruity esters doesn't come in for a while but on the third or fourth sip there's a pretty distinct note of plum and apricot along with the grains. The hop finish is subtle but really quite nice with a distinct Cascades-like bite (but light enough to be just a nibble) It's a good finish to the sip.

Mouthfeel is okay but nothing spectacular. The brew is medium bodied with a medium amount of carbonation - not quite enough to finish each sip cleanly. There's a small amount of bitterness from roasted grains and an equal amount of hop bitterness - both of which are enough to balance out the slightly oily mouthfeel (which is typical for the style)

This is a pretty nice amber ale and in most ways the beer is straight out of the style guide. I can't help but feel like there's something lacking - perhaps a distinctive personality that might make it stand out from the crowd.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2006 03:49:30 | More by RedwoodGeorge

MABZ

Nebraska

4.13/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

This is a good all around beer. Thanks to ppoitras. Pours to a clear golden amber color with a nice fluffy white head which recedes after a few minutes. No lacing, no visible carbonation.

The smell is good. Some sweet caramel malt. A very sublte hop spice in there too. Even a little fruitiness from the yeast. Nice and gentle.

The taste is good. Very similar to the smell, though it is a little flat and lacks the oomph it needs. Otherwise it's good. Very smooth and quaffable. A little bit light on the body and carbonation, but if it weren't for that this would be a very solid amber.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2006 07:16:58 | More by MABZ

chOAKbarrell

Maryland

4/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On the paler side of amber ales, but with an awesome gigantic white head.

Sweetish scent. Kind of apple-like. Come to think of it, this beer is also a close shade to apple juice. Underneath the sweetness you can pick up a decent hop aroma.

Maybe its because this is my first beer of the day and I was thirsty, but this amber ale tastes pretty damn good. A slight bitterness shines impressively in the finish, which I like.

Mouthfeel is smooth and pleasant. Only slightly carbonated. Easy going and mild.

Out of all the Hyland's beers I've had so far, this one I thought was the best, and it was also my personal favorite.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2006 23:40:54 | More by chOAKbarrell

kmpitz2

Tennessee

3.98/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a solid golden color with a finger of head that falls to a modest coat over top with some pretty lacing as it recedes. Nose is bready/toasty, caramel, and moderate citrusy hops. I enjoy the aroma. Flavor is pretty well with the nose. Sweet caramel dominates, with toasty and breadyness coming second with nice sweet american citrusy hops to balance things out. Nothing lingers long into the finish. Feel is moderate with a moderate with a moderate to active carbonation. Overall, I'm pretty impressed with this beer. For a style I don't usually like, this one is doing it for me. Very well build beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2005 02:22:50 | More by kmpitz2

Jason

Massachusetts

3.23/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Presentation: 22oz bomber / silk screen label with no freshness date.

A: Semi-clear orange-amber hue, excellent head retention ... nice froth from the initial pour.

S: Sweet malt, mildly toasted with a hint of citric herbal hop.

T&M: Biscuity malt character throughout, mild but flavorful. Moderate body with enough carbonation to refresh the palate. Hop flavor is extremely mild with just a touch of bitterness. Light fruity twang from the yeast, finishes semi-dry.

D: You may as well call this an American Mild. Drinkable for what it is ... a no frills American Amber Ale.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2005 02:24:35 | More by Jason

villainchiwwin

Maine

3.9/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

poured into frozen pint glass from 22 oz. bomber
rich golden honey color with a moderate head that hung and clung. sweet caramel nose with some butter; musty. balanced, crisp mouthfeel. sweet maple at tip of tongue, light toasted graininess, butter, some hops sneak thru on back of palate, some copper- very clean, ghostly finish. very refreshing and light in body mean easy quaffing of brew.... well-balanced amber stuffiz.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2005 03:22:41 | More by villainchiwwin

meathookjones

Virginia

3.03/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

22oz bottle with no dates on it. Pours out a caramel amber color with a tall off white head. Light lace as the head drops into the body. Very light malt aroma with some caramel and light sweetness. Maybe some light toastiness. Flavor is about the same with an overall mild malt caramel sweetness. Some grain flavors but mainly sweetness. Mouthfeel is about what you’d expect. This is not bad stuff just way too mild and simple in the flavor and aroma.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2005 16:17:21 | More by meathookjones

fdrich29

Massachusetts

2.28/5  rDev -34.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Not sure where I picked this beer up, one of my local Waltham stores I'm sure. I wouldn't give you the specific store regardless because I don't want you to buy this beer.

I could tell you that it had a hazy orange amber body with a bit of frothy head and minimal lace, but I do so merely so you do not have to see it for yourself.

I won't tell you what it smelled like or what it tasted like. It doesn't matter. Beyond possibly it's appearance it hardly resembles what I understand to be an amber ale.

At best this beer is unremarkable. Worst? So unsettling that decorum prevents me from mentioning it here.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2005 04:19:45 | More by fdrich29

deejaydan

Michigan

3.78/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours more of a copper color, good head on it, decent lacing. I would expect it to be more amber than copper, just my opinion though.

Aroma is good... faint floral hop aroma. Nothing bad.

Taste is just okay. Slightly tart, lacking carmel flavor that I've come to expect from my amber ales. Mouthfeel follows, slightly dry and thin.

This is a drinkable beer, no doubt, however, I think that it misses a few style points for an Amber Ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2005 00:23:18 | More by deejaydan

CRJMellor

Arkansas

3.25/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to PPoitras for sharing yet another sample.
Pours an amber color with some bronze around the edges. Medium color tan head does not produce any lace.
Aroma is sweet malt, a little bit of buttered whaet bread a some spicy and somehwat grass hop aroma
Flavor is very sweet caramel to start with a grainy middle and finishes with a fruity hoppiness and just a touch of roasted nuttiness.
Mouthfeel is medium-bodied at best, even a bit on the light side for style. Nothing really grabs you here. Transition from sweet to slightly hoppy and even a bit roasted is OK but never really livens up the palate much.
Drinkability is fine just rather bland even for a pretty generic style.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2005 02:03:35 | More by CRJMellor

assurbanipaul

Texas

4/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear dark amber with a light fluffy head. Aroma is matly toasty and light hops.

Flavor is very good and crisp, lots of caramel malt, keeping it sweet up front. Toasty and nutty, bready enough not to become cloying. Bitterness comes around at the end with a nice, mild hoppy sourness that lingers into the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is medium and smooth. Excellent amber, no flaws, the best I've tried from this brewery. Thanks to ppoitras for the sample.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2005 02:29:35 | More by assurbanipaul

LuckySevens82

Florida

3.28/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22 oz bottle courtesy of PPoitras
Pours a very clear orangy amber color. Off-white head and pretty decent lacing.
Aromas of sweet malt, a little bit toasty, and maybe a hop or two (hop aroma isn't strong at all what so ever).
Taste is caramel, sweet malt, a bit of pear, maybe some other fruits. Not a whole lot of hops in the taste either.
Kind of slick for an amber, which isn't really what I look for in the style. Not a bad example, but I've had much better.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2005 01:43:09 | More by LuckySevens82

Kookiekwan

Florida

3.95/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours amber/orange has a one finger head with good retention and some nice lacing. The aroma is of sweet malt and citrusy hops. The taste is a caramel-like malt at first sip then leans into a spicy hop bitterness in the dry finish. The beer is medium bodied, and makes for a good session beer.

Reflection: This is a solid, well rounded beer. Since I live in the area I drink this one on tap whenever I can. Note - I get alot more hop aroma and flavor when I have it on tap compared to the bottle, but out of the bottle it's still an excellent beer!

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2004 15:33:28 | More by Kookiekwan

sulldaddy

Connecticut

3.2/5  rDev -8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I picked up a 22 oz bomber of this brew in MA. I am sampling @ room temp in a pint glass. The beer pours a bright clear amber color just as the brew is named. I get a fluffy off-white head to foam up 2 cm, the head fades very slowly and leaves large spacious latticework on the way. Aroma is caramel mixing with a variety of hop scents. I get citrusy grapefruit and maybe orange and also a wide array of floral notes. First sip reveals average body and fine yet prickly carbonation. The flavor is sweet caramel on my lips moving to a husky grainy flavor and mixing with a strong malty sweet almost brown sugar presence. The sweetness definitely dominates the beer throughout the tasting. Where did those hops I smelled go? The beer is smooth and easy to drink but doesnt match the nose and is a little sugary for my taste.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2004 04:33:03 | More by sulldaddy

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle purchased at the brewery store.

First imperial pint glass pours with a 1" slightly off-white head, with excellent retention and good lacing. Brew is clear and amber, as advertised, maybe even a bit on the copper side, with a well-balanced aroma, leaning towards the malts a tad. Taste is reasonably malty for the style, yet remains nicely balanced. Good mouthfeel, excellent drinkability.

Found this remarkably similar to the on-tap product, and I think that's a good thing. Enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2004 21:38:00 | More by ppoitras

Boto

Connecticut

2.68/5  rDev -23%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz. bottle: The name says Amber, but it can't be mistaken for that even by someone who is color-blind. The beer is golden, with absolutely no traces of an amber color at all. Very faint hops to the nose. Mostly some maltiness to the nose. Taste is a little sweet. Pretty much bland taste. I won't be coming back for more.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2004 13:50:41 | More by Boto

waughbrew

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Light orange color with a decent head, sticky and some retention. Sweet bready caramel malt, smooth English hop character and a bit of roasted malt. Nice chocolaty notes support the munichy malt sweetness/nuttiness. A bit of oxidation stops this brew from being its best, which I have a feeling would still be very average.

I declare this to be the most amazingly average beer I have ever had.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2003 23:31:59 | More by waughbrew