Drop Top Amber
Widmer Brothers Brewing Company

Drop Top AmberDrop Top Amber
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From:
Widmer Brothers Brewing Company
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
American Amber / Red Ale
Ranked #364
ABV:
5%
Score:
78
Ranked #26,946
Avg:
3.41 | pDev: 14.96%
Reviews:
240
Ratings:
446
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 04, 2024
Added:
Mar 11, 2003
Wants:
  14
Gots:
  34
availability: year-round
bitterness: 20 IBU
alcohol by volume: 5.0%
original gravity: 12.25° PLATO

malts:
Pale, Caramel 10L,
Extra Special, Honey Malt

hops:
Alchemy, Simcoe
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Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Zraly:
Photo of Zraly
Reviewed by Zraly from Virginia

3.73/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A new Widmer beer?

Drop Top Amber Ale comes packaged in the sleek Widmer bottle design. The label is rather simple and classic looking and has "man's best friend" on the bottom portion of the bottle. He appears to be panting, and has his tongue hanging out. He must have heard a bottle cracking open.

The light beige head pours beautifully and rests peacefully atop of what is a light amber, with the color spectrum leaning slightly toward orange.

A wonderful, straight-forward malt smell works its way toward the nose. The slight hop nuance compliments it well.

The flavor is extremely well-balanced, with notes of sugar, bready-malty flavor, and a slight note of smooth, milky chocolate. Lingering about is the slight bitter tinge on the tongue. This is a highly accessible beer. Creamy.

Usually I refrain from comparing one beer to another, but I think drinkers of Alaskan Amber would fully appreciate this beer. Especially if you have ever wished that Alaskan Amber was just a tad hoppier.
Mar 11, 2003
More User Ratings:
Photo of Crazy4hazy
Reviewed by Crazy4hazy from Oregon

1.92/5  rDev -43.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5
This is my first taste of this beer in a long time. This is a much bigger ale cone, bark and hop flavor that is well balanced. I think it’s a ok beer but does not rise above many others.than before and would no longer be a beer to give to someone moving up from a simple lager like Bud or Coors as it would have way too much flavor and body for them to handle. I think it has changed from what I remember. If you are use to drinking IPA’s this my be fine but It has an almost Red Ale body and a odd taste which I do not like and I will never buy again.
Jan 04, 2024
Photo of bv51
Rated by bv51 from Washington

3.75/5  rDev +10%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Easy drinking - great with a meal
Jul 13, 2023
Photo of LesDewitt4beer
Reviewed by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

3.72/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
I had this beer on a Widmer Brewery tour in 2006.
On tap in pitchers it has a dark amber color and smells very malty with a hint of baked bread. It drinks clean and really smoothly and is relatively sweet. Malting is sweet and caramely. The hops have a tea accent and it has a crispness to it and kind of a fast finish with that tea/hops twang at the end. Pretty good ale.
Nov 29, 2021
Photo of RogueDave
Reviewed by RogueDave from New York

4.59/5  rDev +34.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This is a simple amber ale from the Pacific Northwest. Widmer Brothers maintains consistent quality, and this is a reliable, albeit no frills, ale that I find particularly satisfying during the Summer when it is hottest. It pairs well with BBQ and general pub foods and is a favorite of mine during backyard cookouts. It is a bit sweet, so it should be avoided by those who do not care for sweet ales; however, it is not what I would consider overly sweet. Its simplicity is what I love about it.
Mar 25, 2021
Photo of NickSMpls
Rated by NickSMpls from Washington

3.37/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
On tap at Bouy 9 Bar & Grill - Hammond, OR while enjoying pretty good fish & chips
Feb 28, 2021
Photo of TheBricenator
Reviewed by TheBricenator from Oregon

3.62/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Look: Crystal clear amber with a decent-looking slightly off-white head that settles to a nice lid of foam and leaves good lacing behind
Aroma: Caramel, some toffee, toasted cereal grains, warm bread, a sweet malt note, and some fruity esters in the background
Taste: Sweet malt, bread, and caramel come on first with some toasted grain notes soon joining in. Toffee and light fruit notes enter the mix and these all mingle until the caramel and bread take charge and lead to the slightly sweet finish
Mouthfeel: Full, soft and clean throughout, medium-high carbonation, and soft and silky on the finish
Overall: I dig it. A true classic in the Pacific Northwest and still a solid and well-made amber ale. I honestly never knew they used lactose in this but it explains why I’ve always thought it was silkier, smoother, and sweeter than most ambers – a unique twist for sure. Nothing crazy here, just a tasty amber that’s reasonably priced and easy to find
Feb 18, 2021
Photo of dunkel_weizen
Reviewed by dunkel_weizen from Oregon

3.03/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
1 month old bottle poured into a pint glass. The color is a standard amber orange. The head was very disappointing, bad retention and almost no lacing or soapyness, and the carbonation is also weak. The nose is a unremarkable normal amber, nutty and malty. The mouthfeel finish is balanced, not dry or wet, with a oddly thin body. The taste is sour citrus melding into a classic amber nutty, sweet bread and biscuit finish that lingers reasonably long with some faint carmel tones.

This is a very drinkable and passable amber, but I have had considerably better beer of this style in the past. I would buy this to impress your light beer drinking friends, but not much beyond that.
Jun 08, 2020
 
Rated: 3.44 by rsteeves97 from Washington

Jan 30, 2019
 
Rated: 3.13 by 32arden from Maryland

Nov 03, 2018
 
Rated: 3.1 by TheCrowsEye from California

May 17, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by tbone1384 from Wyoming

Apr 14, 2018
 
Rated: 2.5 by TheBeerbarian from California

Feb 25, 2018
 
Rated: 3.21 by ADKbeerguy from New York

Dec 22, 2017
Photo of FLima
Reviewed by FLima from Brazil

3.13/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Amber copper color with a thick beige head with short retention and apparent carbonation.
Mild malty aroma with notes of biscuit and caramel malt, a bit of herbal hops and butterscotch.
Flavor with notes of caramels, earthy and floral hops, minerals, some spices, American yeast, toffee, sprinkle of onion powder and berries. Dry aftertaste with a mild bitterness.
Light body with appropriate carbonation.
Slightly below average American Amber Ale focusing on malt complexity. I found it too bland with muffled hops and drifting away from style.
Dec 22, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by Pretendeer from Washington

Dec 01, 2017
 
Rated: 3.94 by therealJAYZ from Pennsylvania

Jul 18, 2017
 
Rated: 3.23 by takusan1000 from Washington

Jul 15, 2017
 
Rated: 3.55 by MykeJ from Minnesota

Jun 24, 2017
 
Rated: 3.59 by Dschamp from Oregon

Jun 16, 2017
Drop Top Amber from Widmer Brothers Brewing Company
Beer rating: 78 out of 100 with 446 ratings