Breckenridge Avalanche Amber Ale

Breckenridge Brewing Company
Denver, Colorado

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Nice light brown-copper color. Clear. Think head, laces the glass. Fine bubbles.

AROMA: 2.25/4
Clean, caramel notes. Slight nuttiness. Malty, smells like a typical amber.

TASTE: 5.75/10

• Hop/Malt Balance: 2.5/4: Caramel, malty nutty notes. Hop bitterness at end, no appreciable hop flavor or aroma.
  
• Aftertaste: 1.75/3: Bitter bordering on astringent. Slightly metallic.
  
• Mouth-Feel: 1.5/3: Bouncy, yet watery. Meh.

OVERALL: 1.5/3
Roasty, carmelly, nutty beer. Not overly impressive; if you want a good amber, get your hands on Alaskan.

TOTAL: 12/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: A boring beer—boring even for an amber. Not terrible, but that's faint praise.
Ben: Better than Boulevard Amber, doesn't come close to Alaskan Amber (the standard, as far as I'm concerned). Could have more hop character .

Boulevard Amber Ale

Boulevard Brewing Company
Kansas City, MO

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Nice, pretty - deep dark reddish color. Foamy, almond head. Slight haze. Maple syrup color.

AROMA: 2.75/4
Sweet and malty. Brown sugar notes. Subtle nuttiness. Minimal hop.

TASTE: 4/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 1/4: Zero hop - all malt. Really sweet and sugary - too much so.
Aftertaste: 1.5/3: Real sweet - beginning, middle, and end. Subtle pumpkin-spice flavor. No hop bitterness or flavoring.
Mouth-Feel: 1.5/3: Thin, watery, fizzy, and harsh.

OVERALL: 2/3: Not that good a beer. Tasteless, bland, and watery. Needs a lot more hop and a dryer finish.

TOTAL: 10.75/20–Anything Else On Tap?

NOTES:
Matt: A forgettable beer from a brewer that can make great beer. An attempt to woo Fat Tire drinkers apparently.
Ben: If you want an Amber then by all means drink Alaskan not this.

Blue Moon Harvest Moon Pumpkin Ale

Blue Moon Brewing Company
Golden, Colorado

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
White, foamy head that fades fast. Crisp orange-brown color.

AROMA: 3/4
Sweet–all malt. No hop aroma. Caramel apple character, some nuttiness.

TASTE: 6.75/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 2.5/4: Malty, fades to a slight bitter finish. No hop flavor.
Aftertaste: 2/3: Very little of the promised spice. SLIGHT pumpkin sourness, very subtle clove/spice at the front.
Mouth-Feel: 2/3: Full mouth-feel, effervescent, fairly dry.

OVERALL: 2/3: It's an amber–if they didn't say pumpkin on the label, we wouldn't have thought of it. A bit overcarbonated, but a good, crisp fall beer.

TOTAL: 14/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: I was hoping for more spice, but it was not to be. A decent amber, that's about it.
Ben: A good amber, good for a Coors product. Not overwhelming pumpkin, but that's as it should be.