Widmer Brothers Drop Top Amber Ale

Brewed by Widmer Brothers Brewing Company
Style: Amber Ale
Portland, Oregon USA

***re-review Nov, 2008 on tap at the casino at Lake Las Vegas. - wow was this a totally crappy beer this time around. I actually lifted up my glass and frowned at it. weak weak weak. watery, crud flavour, etc...

The only other time I’ve had a Widmer brew was the Hefe and I bought it at a gass station somewhere in Oregon on a marathon trip to Bishop, CA to go climbing. Drank most of them in a hotel parking lot where I spent the night at Cave Junction. Poured out a respectable rocky tan head that vanished quickly. Deep amber brew that is a bit hazy with almost zero carbonation. The aroma is plesant but a bit off at the same time - barley, dark berries, bread, slight spice - old cinnamon?, and then there’s something that reminds me of vegetables. Taste is mild and plain - slight caramel malts, honey, but overall a little too sweet. I think I’d enjoy this more on tap at a bar. I am glad that I didn’t get hit with hops at all so that’s a bonus. Light medium bodied. The mouthfeel is quite soft and smooth with fine carbonation. The after taste is nice with its slightly lemony malts (I know, that doesn’t make any sence). The bitterness is very mild. Decent beer that I could spend the night on if it was on tap. Drank the whole damn thing in under ten minutes too. Very easy drinking indeed.

Orange, small head with some good lacing. Clean, slightly floral aroma. Surprisingly unusual flavor. Has a good zing for the style and the low ABV. Sweet, with a different sort of mild hops. Like it.

This beer seems watered down for an amber. Copper/amber color but very clearish. Head is thin. Aroma is unimpressive, one unique characteristic is a bit of light orange hops. Taste is ok but also seems watered down. Caramel malt balanced with some sweet fruity hops. This beer definitely has potential but they need to beef it up - too watered down to be a real contender in this category. Did I mention that it seems a bit watered down??

Draft. Pours a nice copper color with a good sized off white head, not a lot of aroma, really just some malts. Flavor is not very strong but there are some decent wheat flavors and some pretty solid bitters at the end.

Draught @ Piper Pub - Pours copper with a small off white head...aromas is light and slightly malty...flavour is light with a sweet, grainy note, light bitters on the end...meh...

Bottle, sampled at Tank’s Taproom Spring Beerfest. Pours a clear copper amber color with a medium sized head. Slight sweet aroma with some roasted malt. Fairly mild flavor. Easy to drink but nothing exciting.

this beer is refreshing and mild. its has a crisp light malt that with very little other heavy flavor and some light hops. highly carbonated

Date: May 08, 2009
Mode: Draft
Source: Taco Mac, Kennesaw
Appearance: hazy copper, creamy beige head, bits of lace
Aroma: dry caramel mat aroma, lots of earthyness
Body: creamy body
Flavor: caramel malt flavor, touch of bread, earthyness keeps it mostly dry, light bitterness
Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.7/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4