All About Beer Magazine

British and North American Ales

The Lords of the Ales: A Powerful Onslaught of Ales from the Two Towers of North America and Great Britain

Many North American brewers are now producing ales that are identified by the term “amber ale.” This is a more modern, non-traditional style, and many of these beers borrow heavily from the characteristics associated with more classical styles such as pale ales or bitters. Amber ales are light- to medium-bodied and can be anywhere from light copper to light brown in hue. Flavorwise they can vary from generic and quaffable to serious craft brewed styles with extravagant hoppy aromas and full malt character. Typically amber ales are quite malty but not heavily caramelized in flavor. For our purposes amber ales will also include ales commonly identified as “red ales,” and “American ales” as, from the consumer’s viewpoint, the dividing line between these styles can often be a more a marketing concern than a consistently observed brewing convention.

Interpreting the 100-point Scale

Consumers can translate the point score to the following quality bands:

Point Range	Quality Band
96-100 points	Platinum
90-95 points	Gold
85-90 points	Silver
80-84 points	Bronze
Less than 80	Not Recommended

Legend

= Brewpub
ABV = Alcohol by volume
Date denotes the date on which the beer was tasted

86 Appalachian Amber Ale, Thomas Creek Brewery (SC). 5.5% ABV (3/10)
Deep amber color. Aromas of Bananas Foster and roasted nuts follow through on a round, supple entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium body with brown sugar, delicate spice and roasted fennel notes. Finishes with a crisp, creamy nougat and earthy hop fade.

86 Eric the Red, Grumpy Troll Brewery (WI). 6% ABV (3/10)
Deep amber color. Aromas of apple Danish, dark roasted whole nuts and a sautéed Swiss chard with a touch of apple cider vinegar follow through on a round, supple entry to a dryish medium body with tangy apple and lemon compote, and herbal honey notes. Finishes with a crisp, toffee and citrus marmalade on toast fade.

86 Triple B Ale, Oxfordshire Ales (England). 3.7% ABV (3/10)
Golden amber color with a white blanket of fine foam. Aromas of nutshells, muddy hay and sweet cream follow through on a round, silky entry to a dryish medium body with toasted lemon bread and Brazil nut notes. Finishes with a crisp, slightly peppery straw and lemon honey tea-accented fade. Lager-like crispness makes this drink like an earthy Kölsch.

86 Mummer’s Brew Amber Ale, Quidi Vidi Brewing Co. (Canada). 5% ABV (3/11)
Deep amber color. Caramelized nut, raisin scone, apple cider vinaigrette and peach pie filling aromas with a supple, frothy, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a honeyed pumpernickel, kiwi and peppery arugula-like hop finish.

85 Pride of Oxford Ale, Oxfordshire Ales (England). 4.2% ABV (3/10)
Slightly hazy golden amber color with slight carbonation. Aromas of apricot butter, toffeed nuts and earthy hops follow through on a very soft entry to a dry-yet-fruity light body with toasted nut bread, wood and a dusty earthy hop finish. More of a session mild ale and quite pleasant.

85 Annie’s Amber Ale, High Noon Saloon & Brewery (KS). 5% ABV (3/11)
Lightly hazy copper color. Butter caramel and apricot Danish aromas with a supple, dryish medium body and a savory peppery okra, brown sugar and mustard greens like finish. A nice BBQ beer.

84 Boerne Bernstein Amber Ale, Dodging Duck Brewhaus (TX). (2/09)
Deep mahogany color. Nutty toffee and Nutella-on-toast aromas follow through on a frothy entry to a moderately sweet medium body with honeyed grain and tangy taro root and kale notes. Finishes with a wispy, slightly prickly cocoa, potato bread dough, aspartame and grapefruit fade.

84 Albion Amber Ale, Marin Brewing Co. (CA). 5.5% ABV (2/09)
Dark amber copper color with a lacy head. Curious aromas of soy sauce, toffee and roasted beets follow through on a brisk, round entry to a sweet-and-sour medium body with burnt sugar, nut skin, turnip and pewter notes. Finishes with an earthy honeyed nut, cocoa and root veggie fade. Interesting flavors, but not integrated.

84 Rahr’s Texas Red, Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. (TX). 4.9% ABV (2/11)
Deep pure amber color. Aromas of toasty bread and roasted veggies have a hint of cured meat. Round and frothy with a dry medium body and a crisp, grassy hop and water chestnut-accented finish.

84 Red Mountain Ale, Silverton Brewery (CO). 6.5% ABV (2/11)
Aromas of lightly toasted pumpernickel, mocha, toasty nut brittle and wet potter’s clay with a supple, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a jicama and grassy hop-accented finish.

83 Steelhead Red Ale, Grizzly Peak Brewing Co. (MI). 5.6% ABV (2/09)
Deep copper color with a thin blanket of foam. Bread dough and brown sugar aromas follow through on a soft, foamy entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium body with wet grain, honeyed cinnamon raisin toast notes and a chewy orange marmalade, praline- and catsup-accented finish.

83 Avalanche Ale, Breckenridge Brewery (CO). 4.4% ABV (3/10)
Bright amber color. Aromas of dusty multigrain bread and lightly earthy hops have a tinny edge and follow through on a round entry to a dryish medium body husky toasted grain, chalk and pewter notes and a powdery, lemon rind-accented finish.

81 Marsh-Mellow Ale, Oxfordshire Ales (England). 4.7% ABV (3/10)
Deep amber color. Soy-sautéed shiitake mushroom and eggplant, roasted nut and faint dried fruit aromas follow through on a brisk, soft entry to a dryish light-to-medium body with splattered uneven character and limp carbonation. Finishes with quick, dusty, trail mix fade.

81 Clancy’s Amber Ale, Moosehead Breweries Ltd. (Canada). 5% ABV (3/10)
Light amber color. Delicate aromas of toasted peach Danish follow through on a crisp, frothy entry to a dryish light-to-medium body with lemon and lime curd notes and a crisp, drying, grassy hop finish.

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