Alcohol-soaked amber retains superb head, bitterly hopped mineral grain authority and rich caramel finish. Cracked wheat, toasted barley, and cereal grain sweetness trumps sugared cocoa-butterscotch illusions. Definitely for strong ale lovers.

Barely benign ‘American-styled’ amber lacks punch. Piney lemon-peeled orange rind, grapefruit and currant bittering mildly counters crystal-malted barley toasting to alcohol-burnt finish, where grassy hop moderation, bark-dried wood acridity and earthen vegetal tinge sneaks in.

Brown-sugared caramel malt sweetness parlays mineral-grained hop-smoked light-bodied ale to above average status. Vinous ester-y grape sourness simmers beneath metallic Scotch-soaked alcohol burn.

Slim malt capacity, wispy honeyed biscuit trifle, and sedate barley roast gather soft wheat bed, but phenol cocoa bean-soured coffee tangent and plain grain finish wilt.

Heavily carbonated musty-fruited amber explodes out of the bottle with carbolic hop bitterness and dry orange-apricot-tangerine tartness. But ill-defined sour malts lack appeal.

Dry amber-coppered ale bestows earthen vegetal whiff on funky peat-smoked rye exertion, musty malt acridity, and toasted honey nut fluctuation. But dank orange sourness and dovetailed grapefruit astringency sabotage any promise.

Thick smoked chocolate nose, sweet mocha palate, and wintry cinnamon spice give malt-thickened dry-bodied rust-hued Scottish-style ale up-front vibrancy. By contrasting sharp grain bitterness against caramel creaminess, its Scotch finish compares favorably to heartier-than-amber ales.

Foamy cold filtered amber ale lacks distinction, clarity of purpose, and advertised maple syrup thickness. Too fizzy (champagne, anyone?) and flat, lacking body. Hidden nut flavoring is slight while slick wine undertones create weird juxtaposition. Picturesque elk on label is its most interesting character. Brewery defunct: 2009.

Hazy golden medium-bodied cereal-grained amber ale thankfully sacrifices initial nasty oxidized acidity for routine maltose compaction. Dry honeyed oats and toasted barley override sour lemon detour and nutty fret, securing biscuit-y wheat sweetness.

Disturbingly mainstream yellow amber fizzle. Petty barley roast, flirty citric hop bittering, and mocha malt murk mire cracked wheat compaction preceding diacetyl finish. Declining carbonation may downgrade incipient crispness.

The King of Beers goes to New Hampshire to brew this reddish wintry amber? That’s right! A fine sweet yeast base and unassuming mineral grains provide easy flow. Good for novices, but too lackluster for pros.

Spiced hops linger above pale-chocolate malting, gaining influence as zesty mandarin orange enticement and mild blueberry bitterness gird soft-toned mountain-watered medium body. Earthy finish picks up tobacco-dried tea nuance. Finds intricate balance between musty malt-stricken toasted lager and crisp dry-hopped wheat ale.