Amber Light
Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company

Amber LightAmber Light
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From:
Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company
 
Wisconsin, United States
Style:
Light Lager
ABV:
Not listed
Score:
69
Avg:
2.73 | pDev: 19.41%
Reviews:
34
Ratings:
39
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Apr 01, 2015
Added:
May 21, 2002
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by WesWes:
Photo of WesWes
Reviewed by WesWes from New York

3.03/5  rDev +11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
The beer pours a golden color with a thick frothy white head that quickly fades to lacing. The aroma is average. It has a dry scent that boasts of pale malts and lager yeast. It is musty and devoid of any real malt aroma. The taste is average also. It is light with some grainy malt flavor. It goes down slow and finishes slightly sweet and very dry. The mouthfeel is decent. It is a low bodied beer with a little too much carbonation. This is a decent drinking beer. Their beers are so damn dry. It has decent malt flavor, but the dry aftertaste ruins everything. It's one and done for me.
Mar 07, 2005
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 2.75 by DaveMiller from Minnesota

Apr 01, 2015
 
Rated: 3 by Wortman1998 from New York

Jul 10, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by TX-Badger from Texas

Jun 05, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Walletsworth from North Dakota

Jun 15, 2013
 
Rated: 2.5 by Gatordaddy from Maryland

Nov 19, 2011
Photo of zeff80
Reviewed by zeff80 from Missouri

2.51/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Reviewed from notes. Poured out a clear, amber color with a small, tan head of foam. It had a short-lived head that left little to no lace. It smelled of caramel and grains - not much else. It had a sweet caramel taste with extremely mild hop bitterness. Mouthfeel was pretty weak. It was thin and somewhat watery. This idea of an amber light was intriguing but it really didn't deliver much flavor. I can see why they retired this one.
Sep 20, 2010
Photo of kmeves
Reviewed by kmeves from Wisconsin

3/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Impressive for a light beer. Light amber color. I can actually taste hops in a light beer? Bitter aftertaste. This was a nice alternative to other light beers, and I'd put it in competition with Sam Adams Light or Amstel Light. Great color, but (not surprisingly) a watery taste. If only it tasted as good as it looked and smelled...
Jan 14, 2009
Photo of kimcgolf
Reviewed by kimcgolf from Georgia

1.62/5  rDev -40.7%
look: 1 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Okay class, for today’s language lesson...Leinenkugel Amber Light means "Licking a Skunk’s Ass". The bad thing is, I was about 6 beers in when I tried this. God help those who try it as their first beer of the day. Fortunately, someone left a couple of these at the house, so i didn't have to buy this swill. Now, what to do with the others??
Jul 21, 2006
Photo of hanco005
Reviewed by hanco005 from Minnesota

3.3/5  rDev +20.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Went to my wife’s aunt’s house for dinner. She said “I’ve been saving a special beer for you. I have one left”. It was this one. A+ for effort, I must say. 12 oz bottle poured into a juice glass…there were not other glasses available. I took notes as I grilled pork loin outside

A—pours crimson amber with 1 inch tan fluffy head that quickly fades down, possibly due to the way the glass was washed, a touch of wispy lacing is produced on the glass.

S—lots of it, caramel sweetness, but some sour acidic notes as I swirl it in the glass,

T—sweet malts are strong, touch of caramel, but then turns a little sour and a little bitter as well. The finish reminds me of a macro pilsner.

M—smooth and light, but not too much so, respectable carbonation

D—not sure…a little sour, but I think this one might have been getting up there in age. Still drinkable. Could be a nice lighter session beer or perhaps a transition beer.
Apr 15, 2006
Photo of scaliasux
Reviewed by scaliasux from Wisconsin

2.13/5  rDev -22%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5
Appearance - Light yellow with a hint o' red. White soapy head that quickly dissapears. Crystal Clear. Better than decent for a light lager. In my experience Leinie's tends to make beers that at least look like they're gonna be good. This one is no exception.

Smell - Sweet and corny. Stronger than most light lagers, but not by much.

Taste - Very light. Sharp sweetness, almost fruity, with a lemony sour finish. Flavor is barely there. Crisp and clean - for whatever that's worth. I personally don't like the taste.

Mouthfeel - Watery. Appears undercarbonated.

Drinkability - I really don't care for this at all. Flavor is mild to the point of non-existance. The flavor that is there simply is not to my liking. The flavor isn't intentionally offensive like some macro-brews appear to be, but I will probably attempt to avoid this beer in the future. Probably the worst of Leinie's products. Heard this one's gonna be retired - good call.
Feb 28, 2006
Photo of jp32
Reviewed by jp32 from Michigan

2.28/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Pours a golden color, almost pushing a shade of amber but falling just short. Extreme fizzy carbonation everywhere.

The nose is weak. Hard to come up with anything much. Maybe a little malty I suppose, some grainy/funky smell as well.

Taste is quite a bit more bland than I had expected. Really not much to rant and rave about at all. Watery and thin, a little caramelly if anything at all.. but dont get your hopes up. Quite tasteless.

Mouthfeel is thin bodied toppled by prickly-pokey carbonation.

Drinkability is fine, I mean it doesnt taste bad or seem all that foul... just doesnt really have any traits to get excited about either.
Jan 09, 2006
Photo of mooseisloose
Reviewed by mooseisloose from Florida

3.47/5  rDev +27.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
This beer poured heavy into my pilsner glass. The head was very foamy with big bubbles but quickly died down to a circumference clinger. The colr is a deep gold. Very malty, but light , smell with hops classic of a lager. The taste is classic of beer I drank in the early years in cheeseland. We are lager kings. It's a Kingsbury but with a little sweeter tang to it. This is a beer you can enjoy session wise. It has the taste that is smooth through and through.
Jan 08, 2006
Photo of hylton44
Reviewed by hylton44 from Minnesota

2.53/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Hmm. My first light beer review. Not sure if these are supposed to stack up vs. only other light beers or vs. the "beer universe" in totality. I chose the latter perspective.

It is a little better looking beer than I expect for a light, with a surprisingly big head, and lacing that still remains on the inside of the glass as I type, and the beer itself is a memory. It struck me as rather flat as I drank it-not flat from a carbonation standpoint, but in terms of the vibrancy of its taste. Far from the worst light beer I've had, but a light beer, nonetheless.

From smell to the feel in my mouth, nothing particularly stimulating or dynamic. Drinkable, but this beer was purchased only incidentally (it was part of a sampler pack), and this served as a nice reminder why I have generally forsaken going down the light beer road at all.
Dec 23, 2005
Photo of BeerBuilder
Reviewed by BeerBuilder from Minnesota

3.05/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours to a clear golden color with a light amber hue. It forms a white head that quickly diminishes. It leaves a bit of lacing when sipped down. The aroma has a bit of caramel malts, some toastiness, and a bit of husk. The hops are extremely light in the aroma almost non-existent.

The flavor is grainy, with a light caramel malt sweetness. The hops are light and slightly spicy, and only make themselves known in the finish. Very light in body, a bit too thin....but it is a light beer.
I wasn't expecting too much, except for a light refresher and it delivered on that.
Dec 01, 2005
Photo of BeerBob
Reviewed by BeerBob from Nebraska

2.71/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Leinie's “Amber Light” pours a golden copper from a dark brown 12oz glass twistoff cap bottle. Head of light tannish white went to over two fingers of fine foam in my 16oz tumbler. Lace was at a few spots on the glass sides, a welcomed sight, but not in any great amount.

Nose is a light damp toasted barley malt with a faint whiff of citrus. Palate is at first a very light malt with a sour citrus second but markedly foremost followed by the sting of carbonation.

At 110 calories (on label) Leinie's “Amber Light” is not the lightest on the block, Beck’s “Premier Light” has only 64 calories, you would think that there would be a bit more to it than what it is... just another light in a sea of lights, and not that bright of a light at that.
Sep 23, 2005
Photo of bditty187
Reviewed by bditty187 from Nebraska

3.26/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Golden-amber in hue, a steady stream of animation raced through the clear liquid on its way to the white head. At the apex the foam was almost two-fingers in height, it quickly faded to a thin cap, this cap had good staying power, especially for a light beer. In fact, it lasted the entire consumption. What was added to this beer to accomplish this? There was some unorganized subsequent lacing, it didn’t cling all that well. Still, this is a good-looking beer.

The nose is clean with a grainy, toasty backdrop. Faint hops… earthy mainly. I detect a kiss of lemony-like zest. The nose is fairly pleasant, for a light beer. Good potency, plus it actually says something. Sure the conversation wasn’t profound but I was curious so I took a sip.

The palate is not as good as SA Light. Still, with that said, this beer tastes good enough. There is mild sweetness with toasty grains, a smattering of honey, and small earthy hops. It is mineraly, especially at the finish. Minimal bitterness. This light beer has way more flavor than anything the Big-3 produces in this category. It really isn’t a bad drink; I would drink it again… under extraordinary circumstances! Seriously, this is a notable Light Beer.

Medium-light in body, huge, active carbonation. This gives the beer a refreshing yet grating feeling. The mouthfeel is average but it isn’t too thin or watery. The sweet, toasty aftertaste is actually making me hungry for peanuts.

Drinkable? Sure, I suppose. Do I want to drink another? No, not really. I’ve been curious to try this beer for a while but I didn’t want to buy a six-pack. I saw a single for sale and I took the plunge. It was not a waste of money. All in all, this was a decent light beer. In a perfect world such a beer would not exist… oh well. Purchased in Omaha.
Jul 26, 2005
Photo of Beastdog75
Reviewed by Beastdog75 from New Jersey

2.48/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
I got this in the "Leinie Lodge" sampler package, which is made to look like a tackle box. Leinenkugel is more of a central U.S. thing, so I was surprised to see it in New York state. I heard that Leinenkugel brewed "entryway" type of beers but my curiosity got the best of me and I picked up the sampler. This Amber Light is pretty average for a general beer, but as a light beer it is quite decent.

Leinenkugel's Amber Light pours an (what else) amber color with a fingers worth of foam that lasts for about 30 seconds. The smell has some typical musty/husky light beer smell, but also had a bit of caramel malt in the nose. Not surprisingly the mouthfeel was thin and watery. The flavor had some decent caramel malt flavors, considering this is a light beer. The must light beer flavor was present, as was some soapy/cardboard like flavors. There was very little hop presence in the beer and the aftertaste was quite clean (maybe some grains and cardboard were detectable, but just barely). The brew finishes out with no alcoholic warmth.

This is similar to Yuengling Light and Sam Adams Light as it's an amber light beer. I wouldn't drink this regularly, but it is nice to know that there are light beers made with an attempt to retain some flavor.
Jan 11, 2005
Photo of BuckeyeNation
Reviewed by BuckeyeNation from Iowa

1.98/5  rDev -27.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2
Bright orangish amber; much more richly colored that most light lagers. Atop the beer is a dirty white head that is of poor quality and proves it by deflating rapidly and leaving the glass virtually spotless.

The nose is uninteresting in the extreme. It smells like sour, stale grain and... that's about it. The Leinenkugel website claims that Amber Light is brewed with both Cluster and Cascade hops. I think not. I'm not prepared to call them liars, but I defy the world's top 'scent man' from the House of Chanel to find even one ppm of Cascade hoppiness in this nose.

Bad beer. It isn't bad in the 'spoiled' sense and not even in the 'off flavor, vomit inducing' sense, but in the 'weak, watery, minimally flavored' sense. I know that no one really expects light beer to be bursting with flavor, but this is taking things too far. What flavor does find its way to my taste buds has, like the nose, a stale grain quality. Cascade? Surely you jest? Hops? Surely you jest again? The mouthfeel is ultra-thin and watery with an absent finish.

Needless to say, Leinie's Amber Light is lacking in all areas that matter and isn't worth your time or your money. Not even close. Given the lack of ingredients, it's hard to believe that the rich color has honest origins.
Jan 10, 2005
Photo of Billolick
Reviewed by Billolick from New York

2.48/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
12 ounce bottle, twist off cap, no freshness dating. wooohaaaa, this is some nasty,light stuff....does generate some decent lacing, but its very thin flavor wise, minimal malt,hops, character etc. A slight nasty metalic off flavor noted to boot. You can find better beer then this.
Aug 27, 2004
Amber Light from Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company
Beer rating: 69 out of 100 with 39 ratings