Bells Debs Red Ale

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

Bottled. When I poured this beer into my glass, it poured a mall tan head that had medium sized bubbles that fully diminished. The lacing was good on the sides of glass. The body was clear and the hue was reddish. It had a moderate hoppy aroma and also an aroma of clove and a hint of citrus. There was no carbonation present with this beer. It was bitter tasting from start to finish and the bitterness seemed to linger for a while after finished this beer.

This brew pours a small head of mostly diminishing fine light brown bubbles and a medium amber brown body. It had a hoppy aroma and a somewhat smooth thick flavor of hops, malt and spices.

This beer is a lot like sports in that it is a game of two halves. To begin with, I misinterpreted this beer from its name. "Red ale" made me think it was a mild amber-like beer, although coming from Bells I did suspect they'd make it interesting. (When I first saw the name "Eugene V. Debs" I saw it on the board of a legal history class I had as an undergradute, and I thought it was a court case: Eugene *versus* Debs...silly me. But now I understand how this is a play on Debs' "red" communism.) At any rate, this started boldly, reminding me of an English strong ale or mild barleywine, so full of raisin and vintage flavors in a malty body. It had tang and zing, with a bubbling carbonation released in the mouth. But it faded for me into a sour and slightly watery ale, leading me to wonder whether this was inspired by a Flemish red ale. Wonderful aroma and hazy red-brown body (with lasting bit of off-white head)...but those flavors...they collapsed in the second half for a real disappointment.

Finally good head. Nice copper color, great smell, citrus carmel taste. A very easy, very enjoyable drink.

Poured a deep copper with large beige head. nice aroma of malt and hops, initial tast is of fruity hops, followed by a wonderful carmel maltyness, very easy to drink, a great amber, better than bells original. A fine brew

Deep coppery red, with a slightly juicy hop aroma. Caramelly, wtihout being sweet. Effervescent bubbles tickle the tongue. This is a low alcohol beer of the highest quality.

Bottle. A hazy amber color with a laced tan head. Just a ton of malts mixed into a wonderful beer with a little citrus to add a sense of flair. Absolutely solid.

An elegant, upscale Amber. Another hard to find, once a year Bell’s, but well worth the hunt. If you treasure a great Amber/Red, you will love this beer.