Bells Amber Ale

Brewed by Bells Brewery
Style: Amber Ale
Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

Serve in English pint, Shaker

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When the name Bell’s comes up in Michigan, the two images people most frequently conjure are Oberon and Amber. The two most commercially successful of the Bell’s beers. Bell’s amber has a wonderful warmth to it ... a comfort food of beers. Dark amber with moody yeast swirls spiriting through the pint glass. A slight orange hue on an otherwise pristine white head. The hops are a little stronger than many ambers, but oh those malts! Those malts burst through on each sip ... like a hatchling escaping an egg. Similar to all Bell’s products, this beer is yeast-y but that doesn not detract. To borrow a line from Hugh Hood, ’Nothing ever tasted any better than a cold Bell’s Amber on a beautiful afternoon with nothing to look forward to but more of the same.’

Original rating: 2/14/02 - Fruity, yeasty aroma (pineapple?). Light amber color, which is very opaque due to the lack of filtration. The Caramel malt flavors you’d expect from an amber are there, but are mediated by some surprisingly strong and resiny hop flavors. The aftertaste has just a hint of sourness and more bitterness. I’d be curious to know the IBUs for this beer, because I think this is the hoppiest amber I’ve ever had. Medium body. A bit unexpected, but nice once you let it warm up a bit.
Update: 8/3/02 - I had the opportunity to try this beer on tap, and it was so much better than the bottled version it was unreal. The consistency was much creamier, the texture smoother, and the flavors blended together in a much more satisfying fashion, plus it was still unfiltered in the keg version. I’m giving this beer a few more points for the ’tap experience.’

Light amber color, medium head. Malt aroma. Hop flavor. Over carbonated.

I thought is was a pretty nice beer. Nice golden color. Nose has a bit some spice and some nice malty aromas. Citrus comes through in the body. Went very well with Lemon Pepper Chicken. Another nice effort from Kalamazoo.

Really, I’m not that all crazy about Amber beers. Strong flavor, almost like well water as it tastes like iron. Not bad but I’d prefer to spend my money on some of their other concoctions.

This is a delicious beer, plain and simple. The flagship of the Bell’s line. Is it an amber or something else? It seems like much more. It seems like an Amber cross-bred with an IPA. The hops hit you and then you are whacked by the malt and back to the hops again on the swallow. Nothing thin or light with this amber. Yum! A winner! You cannot go wrong with any of the Bell’s products.

Pale, cloudy orange; Head was thinish but whats there is dense; Aroma of bread, malt, and grapenuts. Mild first sip- hint of citrus, hint of spice, hint of malt, hint, hint, hint. Liquid biscuit. The perfect session beer? Could be.

An abstract depiction of a swan graces the label of this fine Amber Ale and serves as a harbinger of this brew’s grace and poise. Wafting from the glass comes a heavenly scent of what is clearly a beer brewed with much TLC. Nicely hopped, this Amber’s a joy to imbibe.

I am having a few bottles of this with my braut lunch. This brew pours a sparkling hazy (floaties - lots) amber (go figure). The tight frothy white head is mostly lasting with fair lacing. The fresh nose is spice, caramel, fruit, resin, and earth. The flavor is warm and complex (great balance - sweet, acidic, and bitter) with a rich full finish. The medium body is lively and creamy. The finish feels dry. An all occasion brew, very well done!

Slightly cloudy, dark orange color. Slight hoppy, fruit aroma. Very bitter finish with a touch of fruit. This is a great brewery by the way, gotta love the stout selection - amazing. Go there in November, when the stouts are brewed.