Dead Horse Amber Ale
Moab Brewery

Dead Horse Amber AleDead Horse Amber Ale
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From:
Moab Brewery
 
Utah, United States
Style:
English Pale Mild Ale
Ranked #14
ABV:
4%
Score:
77
Ranked #27,068
Avg:
3.35 | pDev: 14.93%
Reviews:
52
Ratings:
110
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 07, 2024
Added:
Aug 29, 2002
Wants:
  5
Gots:
  11
Dead Horse Ale is named after the scenic overlook near Canyonlands. A traditional english mild ale with a well-balanced malt-to-hop ratio. The perfect beverage to compliment all foods
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by RedBiddy:
Photo of RedBiddy
Reviewed by RedBiddy from Oregon

2.75/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
A dead horse is an appropriate symbol for this beer. It needs CPR desperately. It is light on all respects. Light in color, lacing, mouthfeel, taste, and general satisfaction. The brewmasters need to serve an apprenticeship at a northwest brewery. It's OK on a hot day when there is nothing but Bud, Miller, and Hamm's as alternatives - but that's not saying much. Joseph Smith...you need googles other than those made of stone.
Nov 04, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.5 by flgimp from Pennsylvania

Mar 07, 2024
Photo of brettsdailybeer
Reviewed by brettsdailybeer from Utah

2.93/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
This ale somewhat misses the mark for me. Despite its classification as an amber, it's surprisingly light-bodied and lacks the richness I typically seek in this category. While I'm a fan of amber ales, this offering falls short of delivering the robust flavors and fullness that make ambers my go-to choice. The experience is underwhelming; it feels like the beer's potential for complexity and depth got lost somewhere in the brewing process. It's not a brew I'd reach for when craving a satisfying amber ale experience. The one I have is 5% ABV, not 4% as noted here. (updated Utah liquor laws) 5% is still too light for an Ale in my opinion.
Oct 04, 2023
Photo of NorsemanOne
Reviewed by NorsemanOne from Utah

3.71/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
One of the two Mild styles I can find in Utah and one I fairly enjoy

16oz can, purchased at the grocer for $8.99/4pk

Poured at fridge temp into a can-esque glass

Pours a clean copper/rusty color with a bright white head

Heavy malt, followed by rich barley and some caramel

Fairly bitter (as per the style) and quite malty as well. Caramel begins to shine as it warms up

Creamy, bit moderate to higher on the carbo than I'd expect.

Overall I certainly have a bias because of the style and my limited access to it, but as advertised this beer really does pair well with food. My favorite time is Pie N Beer Day (Utah Pioneer Day holiday) because it pairs very fine with a steak or beer pie.
Aug 02, 2023
Photo of dfillius
Reviewed by dfillius from Iowa

3.74/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Ambers are not my favorite, this one came from BIL, and billed as one of the best he’s had. Upon closer inspection, this is an English Mild?! It has a nice pronounced bitterness, and finishes strong on the malt, with a bit of astringency that could be dialed back a tad. overall pretty enjoyable!
Jul 22, 2023
 
Rated: 3.48 by SouthCrescent from Pennsylvania

May 18, 2023
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Rated by Manta200 from Kentucky

3.39/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
From a variety pack during our Utah RV trip.
Apr 07, 2023
Photo of JZH1000
Reviewed by JZH1000 from Colorado

4.12/5  rDev +23%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Had from a fellow traveler's growler at the air BnB

On the pour into a tiny skinny glass that was available at the BnB, a solid 1.5 fingers of just barely off white sticky but attractive looking foam on top of a relatively light golden amber verging on brass. Some lacing was left. Slight chill haze.

Aroma is nutty roasted barley and a caramel sweetness slight hop bite in the back. Comes off as quite toasty. I like a toasty amber. Compared to flavor aroma is a bit light.

The flavor is a full blown malt bomb. Sweet caramel malts mixed with a toasty nutty biscuit malt are right up front with a noticeable traditional bitterness from hops in the back. Throughout an almost English ale vibe is present giving even more full flavor, and boosting the sweetness of the malt making this very full flavored especially for the color.

Feel wasn't all that memorable, it wasn't bad, but nothing stood out. There was a slight dryness leading into a full bodied long malty finish. Definitely an armchair beer, but it has some lawnmower properties. (Armchair to Lawnmower is the beer feel spectrum now)

Overall this was a very nice amber ale with the malt character I am looking for in something called an amber. At the same time, despite the sweetness, it is balanced nicely to prevent it from being cloying. Very nice and I'm excited to try the hefeweizen.
Mar 26, 2023
 
Rated: 3.33 by WDJersey from Colorado

Oct 23, 2022
Photo of Bouleboubier
Reviewed by Bouleboubier from New Jersey

3.54/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
(shaker pint pour at the brewery on 13 Sep at 8:15p... review copied from notes taken on my phone, assessment made with the Breckenridge Amber I had earlier in the day in mind...)

Now we're talkin'!... This is more like what I want in an amber... more caramel cookie, dry toasty bite... poured in a dirty shaker... an 'amber' and yet they call it an English pale mild?!

what I can add from memory: My initial reaction to this was of relief because of the 'bad taste' the Breckenridge Amber had left in my mouth... an auspicious first few sips, but the Moab didn't reveal any more, actually just kind of getting more dull as it went (or was I just losing my sense acuity from a long, tiring day?) (2019)
Sep 18, 2022
 
Rated: 3.43 by dd53grif from Michigan

Apr 29, 2022
 
Rated: 3.72 by chrishiker1409 from New York

Sep 08, 2021
 
Rated: 3.38 by SViterileroux74 from Texas

Jun 03, 2021
Photo of nascarbob99
Rated by nascarbob99 from Nevada

2.67/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
Looks good, slight malty taste. Just OK.
May 30, 2021
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Gotta love when the brewery calls it an amber ale and BA calls it a mild ale - english pale. So this beer might be one of three different styles, who knows.

Color appearance gives credence to the amber ale assertion, as it is light amber in color, rather than 'pale'. 1/3" white head. Aroma of malty dustiness, no hop character. Purported English yeast was also lost on me aroma wise. Poor showing for the BA folk style designators, you're 0/2.

Taste is a little bitter amber ale, mild toasted caramel and toffee feels, some copper to it. The copper, probably doesn't really jive with the mild ale style either. You would think it would be smoother at this session strength. Its not a pungent ipa like bitterness, but given the lack of anything else to the beer, it stands out. This is a beer for someone who isn't that much into beer, even by session standards, its below average in terms of 'any' taste, much less one that you would actually want to go back to. Forgettable stuff.
Sep 01, 2020
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Reviewed by Beer_Right_Back from Arizona

2.7/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.5
We were shocked that Moab calls this an amber, because while it is somewhat reminiscent in color, it is totally in another category when it comes to flavor. Unfortunately, the final product is rather lack-luster and unoffensive.
Nov 21, 2019
Photo of Parmesan
Reviewed by Parmesan from Colorado

3.05/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
L:. Pours a clear Amber yellow orange with a small white head and soapy lacing around the glass.

S: Toasted bread, sweet apple malt, some caramel, fairly average aroma.

T:. Toasted bread, sweet malt, a medium bitterness, some caramel and toffee. Very average taste.

F:. Medium body and carbonation.

O;. This is a very average Amber.
Nov 16, 2019
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

3.56/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
An interesting rendition of an EPMA coming from an unusual place.
Largely malty in the nose and Taste, there are just enough hops for balance; respecting this classic style.
This is a well crafted beer.

There are three reasons why I think this beer comes from "an unusual place." First, the West Coast/Mountain style is to use lots of nearby hops. So, a malt-balanced style is an unusual choice for young brewer. Second, Utah law encourages 4% beers. And this actually may cause micros to focus on nearly-forgotten mild styles that are more subtle than piling in the hops or amping up the alcohol. And that seems to hold true after reviewing Moab's rating counts on BA. Six of its 10 highest counts are at 4%. The third reason of the "unusual place" is Moab; which most know as the town nearest to two spectacular national parks. Founded in 1995, Moab Brewery (and restaurant) offers a good service to tourists.
Oct 23, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by atlbravsrno1 from Maine

Oct 19, 2019
 
Rated: 3.43 by QuakeAttack from California

Nov 12, 2018
Dead Horse Amber Ale from Moab Brewery
Beer rating: 77 out of 100 with 110 ratings