Bells Amber Ale

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

Poured nicely with a average, lasting head. Body is hazy with a nice amber color, and there appeared to be some sediment. I jumped right into this one and found it to bitter an full of hops. I checked the bottle to confirm this was not a PA and went in again with the same result. The flavor mellows after a few sips, but I tasted nothing else. Based on the ratings I wonder if this was a bad bottle. May have to try it again.

RateBeer Rating, Style and Glass: 81, Amber Ale, English Pint; shaker ABV, Volume & Calories: 5.8% in 12 fl oz. estimated at 150 C Purchased at: Bound Beverages, Bensalem, PA for $3.33 Aroma: musky, dank, humid, sticky candy. 9 out of 10. Visuals: tasteful, well designed, natural, bronze, hazy, unfiltered, off white head, sticky lace. 5 out of 5. Taste: maple, cocoa, light bitterness, medium strength, high craft. 9 out of 10. Palate: high quality, clay, mud, longer malty finish. 4 out of 5. Overall: Perhaps the best amber ale I’ve ever had. I would have it again. Reasonable value. Very well crafted. 18 out of 20.

Two Hearted Ale is the nectar of the Gods...this, is the warm up. Superb I thought though. Pours pure amber, a bit of a Armangac color....super head. Fruits and candies play around nicely, some hop, and roasted malts make their way in there. Was usurped on thought by this. delightful

I have no shame in admitting that there isn’t a Bells beer yet I have met that I did not thoroughly enjoy. Truly, Bells has done no wrong so far in my beer book. Of course, there is always a first for everything, though hopefully Bells Amber Ale will not be that first exception.
Bells Amber Ale poured a foamy red-orange into my glass, bursting into a rich orange head which has faded into a thin film with little bubbles scattered about and ring lining my glass. I like to swirl my beer a few times before taking a good whiff of the nose and with each swirl pretty little rows of brussels lace coat my glass and linger. A touch of peaches in the nose, though it was crisp citrusy and piney hops that hit me first. Then it was sweet notes of fruit, peach and melon, and light caramel malts. My first quaff is surprisingly soft in the body with pleasant effervescence and carbonation. Not fizzy, just soft. A light body with a full mouthfeel. No lingering aftertaste, just a clean slightly citrusy finish. But even that doesn’t last long, making for a very sessionable amber ale. light and frothy from start to finish, sweet peaches, melons, and light caramel notes are balanced by an underscore of fresh citric hops, even a bit of oils and pine, creating a light and flavorful amber ale.
I haven’t had many amber ales, but Bells Amber Ale is at the moment my new favorite amber ale. Any beer I can quaff with ease and pleasure and flavor, l have no qualms about bringing it with me on the boat for a fishing trip. A fabulous session beer.

Pretty nice beer. Very clean. Amber pour with a light, whispy white head. Lots of sediment here. Aroma is mostly a nutty, caramelly sweetness. Taste is more of the same, with just a hint of hop bitterness and a nice subtle fruitiness. Medium, creamy body, just enough sweetness and a clean finish. Delicious and very drinkable.

12 oz bottle from John’s Grocery. Pours a slightly see through, but hazy amber/redish orange. No real head and no real lacing. A good amount of rising bubbles. Definite smells of pale malt, honey, lightly roasted caramel, and some citrusy hops. A very sweet malty flavor. Smooth and creamy for a pale malt ale with a medium body. The finish is sweet malty and bitter which lingers for the perfect amount of time. This is a fantasticly balanced beer. Overall, in my opinion, this may not be the finest beer ever made, but when it comes to session beers...this damn may be one of the best. The balance is perfect and for the style, this is superb.

As to my joy and luck finding this beer on vacation in a small town in northern Minnesota. Nice brown reddish color. Malt and caramel aroma was an eye opener. Malty and smooth was the flavor nice and creamy but not too heavy. Semi-sweet aftertaste some bits if hops on the tongue. One of the best amber ales.

Saw Bell’s Amber listed as a 94 in DRAFT magazine, so picked it up at the local beer store. Color is a light orange-red with a thick white head. The aroma is just the right mix of malt and caramel with a hint of hops. The flavor is full-bodied, with a strong sweet aftertaste and mouthfeel. This is an EXCELLENT session beer, and easily the best American amber I have had.