Ashland Amber Ale

Have you ever seen a movie that starts strong, then seems to take a turn for the worst to a point it becomes a chore to finish? In my opinion Insidious is a prime example of this. I mean, how bad was that final act? It came out back in 2010 and it still bothers me to this day. I thought it was a fantastic horror movie up until the whole “Further” explanation and then I struggled not to walk out of the theater before the credits rolled. The ending was even more ridiculous but then again this is a beer review blog, not a movie review blog, so let’s get back on track. Brewed out of Caldera Brewing Company in Oregon, Ashland Amber Ale is a beer that reminded me of every movie I have ever seen that started strong, but somewhere along the line went off the rails and became a chore to finish.

Ashland Amber Ale pours a clear amber with a cream colored head. The presence of the caramel malt seems to dominate the aroma. There is also a hint of hop spice that in retrospect teased the beer’s downfall. The first sip of Ashland Amber is full of caramel malt. it’s very sweet and almost creamy in texture. The initial taste reminded me of an Oktoberfest Ale, which is one of my favorite seasonal beers. As you can imagine I thought I found a winner. However, the deeper I got into the glass, the malt seemed to take a backseat to the herbal citrus flavor of the hops.

Normally I don't have a problem with an amber ale being a little hoppy. Sometimes it is a nice way to balance out the bold sweetness of the malt. The problem with this particular one is that the hop blend does not compliment the beer; it takes over and it takes over in a negative way. Sip after sip the lingering flavor of the hops overwhelmed my palate to a point the beer tasted nothing like the sweet almost Autumn seasonal beer it did when I started. It tasted bland and bitter with a hint of sweetness. Basically, it tasted far worse. By the time my glass was empty I felt relief instead of wanting another.

Overall I give Ashland Amber Ale a 2/5. It starts strong but fades in the last act. Look elsewhere for a good Amber Ale.

Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

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Thanks for reading. Sláinte!