Amber Ale
The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery

milkshakebeersucks from Maryland

3.43/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Deep amber appearance with a large tan head and good lacing. Muted, sweet malt aroma . Moderately sweet taste, some tartness, some herbal hops. A touch of sourness in the aftertaste. Medium bodied, nicely carbonated mouthfeel with an average length finish.

Aug 17, 2020

BJB13 from Maryland

2.98/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 ounce bottle poured into a nonic.
Best by 7/20.

Pouring a murky light brown with a reddish hue, capped with one finger of cream-white fluffy foam. The nose is moderate in strength, sweet caramel, chewing tobacco, toast and earthy hops. The flavor is dominated From beginning to end by a coppery tang with underlying caramel and toast and leaves an iron-like aftertaste. Thin bodied, almost watery, medium carbonation.
Disappointing. I’m not sure what is going on with the flavor. It doesn’t seem like oxidation and probably shouldn’t be at two months inside of the best by date.

May 23, 2020

chitoryu12 from Florida

3.54/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Look: Relatively clear dark amber with rising bubbles. One finger of foamy white head with good retention.

Smell: Gummy candy and caramel.

Taste: Lightly toasted malt with a predominately sweet flavor. Slightly metallic aftertaste and faint bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Average body with high carbonation.

Overall: A decent amber with a unique but uninspiring flavor.

Mar 13, 2020

macrosmatic from Florida

3.5/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from notes. Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Cigar City Brewing goblet.

A: A dark amber with ruby highlights, and really very clear. Forms a half-finger of white head that fades fairly quickly. A good amount of visible carbonation.

S: A very low amount of aroma on this one. A light presence of lightly toasted malts, a touch of minerals or hard water. A light vegetal hoppiness - maybe noble hops?

T: Follows the nose – toasted malts, brassy minerals, grassy and vegetal hops. Lightly toasted whole grain bread and mild toffee to the malt bill. A bit of citrus rind towards the end. Nearly balanced on the finish, though stays a little heavier on the malty side.

M: An average body for style, though carbonation sensation is a little low. Alcohol flavors are minimal.

O: This seems like an old school amber beer. It's certainly not a hoppy red that I sort of expected (thought I’m not certain about bottle age - no date found on the bottle). It's clean and balanced, but not something I’d go out of my way to grab for a repeat performance.

Nov 13, 2019

Bouleboubier from New Jersey

3.69/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

(12 oz bottle, best by Oct 2018; purchased cold... poured into a Belhaven pub pint)

L: mostly-clear, deep amber liquid; finger-high tight pad of off-white foam... head doesn't hold, but it leaves a thin collar... no lace

S: peculiar honey-graham malt aroma right away, woody hops soon creep out, and finally a sharp apple cider ester note... once that odd opening riff trails off, its core foundation of rich, gob-smacking caramel emerges - gotta be one of the most intense caramel aromas I've ever smelled on a beer - could be a sign of layered, complex malts or a slug of saccharine syrup... faint whiff of grassy hop, but this all about the malt

T: taste falls somewhere in between or just outside of what was anticipated by the caramel tones - caramel apple is the first impression, and it's curiously (and luckily) dry and somewhat muted in its finish with a bready, slightly nutty, lightly woody-bitter (and metallic?) aftertaste...

F: light-medium-bodied, but with loose skin... minimal sizzle going through; finish semi-vanishing; little residual sugars or resins on palate... its lingering bitterness and alcohol leave a mild numbing hum on the back of the palate... needs a little more zip and/or definition - shapeless

O: while it is relatively dense in its malt build, and undeniably of an amber ale profile, it's bogged down by restrained dimension... I'm trusting the contents of this bottle were perhaps just in decline, because I get this feeling this may be more intensely tasty fresh or on draft... in another light, they could probably switch the labels of this with their Marzen

Oct 04, 2018

dacrza1 from New Jersey

3.51/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

DATE: August 18, 2018... OCCASION: returning to this about a month after picking it up in State College--fond memories... GLASSWARE: Stoudts pint... pours a rich, dark copper red body, steady in its effervescence with a light-brown head settling to a thin sponge of bubbles... almost striking... equally rich caramel strikes the nostrils first, followed by baked bread, candied sugars, a foreign suggestion of citrus, and wine-like woodiness... a friendly introduction... lightly effervescent, business-like and medium-bodied mouthfeel, with a staying power that illuminates its flavor profile well after the sip is drawn... this aftertaste reveals orange peel, lemon zest, metallic ping, plum, and some herbal variants, before the whole shifts to sweet caramel, toffee, and fresh baked bread... a malt-forward ale that fosters both drinkability and appreciation, mellow enough to be session beer and solid enough to deserve a close-up.... much like its label, this beer houses a dual persona, and one I am glad to have finally experienced myself--better than the sum of its parts...

Aug 18, 2018

Foyle from North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +31.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 12oz bottle into schooner glass. A healthy 2" frothy head drops slowly with plenty of lacing. Mostly clear amber color with abundant streaming carbonation. Aroma of pleasant malt bread dough, raisin, plum and some floral hops. Mouthfeel between light and medium with an easy going dry finish. Flavors of caramel, raisin, plum, a hint of molasses blend well with the earthy and floral hops. Really enjoyed this one.

Jun 15, 2018

MackT from Florida

3.4/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Pours a amber/reddish. Slight aroma, non distinctive. Effervescent mouth feel, malty back taste. Not hop heavy, would go nicely with most any meal.
Not bad, not note worthy, not regretting the buy, just wouldn’t search it out.

Mar 06, 2018

SmokySignals from North Carolina

4.74/5  rDev +38.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

The world of amber ale is so diverse. Maybe too much....But THIS . Is. Amber as I prefer it. Absolutely rich and delicious. Destroys Abita amber,flat tire and so many others. Richness that reminds me of Green Man ESB, but not quite as dense or heavy on the palate, which is fine. Fat, caramel, toffee heaven. Pours beautifully. Will definitely be getting more of these!

May 20, 2017

ThePold from Virginia

2.35/5  rDev -31.5%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75

Is it a duck, or is it a rabbit? Is it a good beer or a malt bath? Looks like a duck, quacks like a malt bath, as it ought to. It is a decent light dark beer. Really ideal for Thanksgiving dinner. Excited to find this at a Target, of all places.

Nov 05, 2016

jkrich from Florida

3.67/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle: bright and clear, amber with red highlights; quickly receding, foamy beige head left some nice lacing on the glass. According to the label, this amber should be consumed by April, 2016, so it is a little old.

The aroma was typical of a malt-accented amber ale - syrupy and malty with a complement of flowery hop aroma.

Very nice amber ale flavor profile: caramel and malt flavor with faint hints of roast, as well as a nice addition of hops to keep the ale refreshing.

The ale has restrained carbonation and a long, malt-accented and caramel mouthfeel while never becoming cloying.

I am surprised this ale is rated only "Okay" here; it is not very complex, but is rates favorably with nearly all the ambers I have tried. I hope to obtain a fresher example that has been refrigerated in the future.

Mar 30, 2016

Dragginballs76 from South Carolina

3.34/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours - red amber color not much head no lacing.

Smell - Very little stands out I may get a little roasted malt.

Taste - I get a little roasted malts and caramel maybe a little smoke flavor.

Feel - medium body clean feel.

Overall - I was not a big fan of this beer probably would not have it again.

Jan 28, 2016

DMACH from Florida

3.47/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from bottle ( best by 9-15-15 yup its 10-3-15. My bad for not checking) 2 finger tan head over a dark bronze color. A little thin feel,and not much to mention at first but did get a nice caramel finish . Not sure I was gonna like it ,but the brew grew on me. Had better amber but this an OK one

Oct 04, 2015

The_Kriek_Freak from Pennsylvania

3.66/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

It pours dark amber with a red hue and with a head that goes away completely after a few seconds. The aroma and taste are very toasty, with elements of caramel and toffee. Fairly light body.

Aug 28, 2015

Slatetank from Pennsylvania

3.41/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

I poured ths bottle chilled into a glass -a gusher, unexpected.

The color is a dark rust with 2 finger cream head with hazy look and spots of lace stick. The smell has malty and slightly metallic scents with bready and light alcohol aroma with slight woody hop scent. The feel is medium high carbonation with vinous and fruity element with low sweetness andd slight biscuity tinge with semi-dry finish.

The taste has mild woody flavor up front with copper -looking so caramel expected but more oxidized and pine-like hop with light bready middle with slight dried fruit and mineral flavor as it finishes very dry perhaps a slight caramel element is there. Overall this is not great I wonder if this was an older bottle since I got it as part of a mix-a-six howeve I will revisit if possible to give benefit of the doubt -no sign of infection taste wise just heavily oxidized.

Aug 13, 2015

mikeg67 from New Jersey

3.63/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

12 oz bottle. Pours amber with tall, long-lasting, fluffy white head and nice lacing. Aroma is of herbal hops and caramel malt. Body is medium and full. Herbal hops, caramel malt and ripe fruit fill the mouth. Finish is long and herbal. Overall it is great brew.

Jul 20, 2015

metter98 from New York

3.63/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is clear reddish amber in color and has a light to moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a short beige colored head that died down, leaving delicate lacing on the surface and a thin collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of toasted caramel malts are present in the nose.
T: Similar to the smell, the taste is quite malty and has lots of flavors of toasted malts along with notes of caramel malts. Although there is no bitterness, there are enough hops to cancel out any sweetness.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is rather drinkable for a malty amber ale. The toasted nature of the malts shares similarities with a Vienna lager.

Serving type: bottle

Jul 03, 2015

Ozzylizard from Pennsylvania

3.42/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle dated BB 2/15 at 40 degrees into nonic
Aroma slightly fruity, fades quickly
Head small (2 cm, aggressive pour), off white, frothy, diminishing to 2 mm ring and broken layer
Lacing – complete rings of tiny to medium bubbles
Body medium amber, slight haze
Flavor begins slightly sweet, somewhat like over-ripe apples. Faint maltiness; no hops, no alcohol, no diacetyl
Palate medium, watery, lively carbonation

Appearance 4, Aroma 3.25, Flavor 3.25, Palate 4, Overall 3.5

Apr 30, 2015

mattcrill from Ohio

3.5/5  rDev +2%

Aroma: Light caramel and wheat bread notes. Low earthy hop aroma.

Appearance: Brick red hazy pour with a low white head that retains very well.

Flavor: Slightly sweet caramel and deep bready notes up front. Firm hoppy bitterness provides a good base. Balance is nearly even. Finish is clean and dry.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with medium-high carbonation. No heat or astringency noted.

Overall impression: A very approachable Amber. Nothing exciting. Well crafted.

Sep 07, 2014

delta490 from Virginia

3.35/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

Poured a clear deep amber with a nice off-white and lightly foamy head. Head has solid retention and leaves some good lacing. The aroma is a little "meh" with a generic malt aroma. Not much distinctive about it. The taste is about the same. It is pretty generic, a little sweet, a slight bitter quality. But nothing discernible. It has a pretty good weight to the body but it has little bit of a carbonation bite on the finish. Not terrible, but not noteworthy, either.

Jul 03, 2014

Goosehunter75 from Missouri

3.52/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a copper red with a one finger slightly offwhite head. Ok retention with very little lacing

S - Very very light aromas. Mainly malts...lots of caramel with a slight roast.

T -Great taste. Didnt expect it after the aroma was so light. A very caramelly malty beer. Nice roastiness to it as well. Not bad!

M - A pretty light feeling beer. Nice and creamy with lots of carbonation

O - A very easy drinking beer with a wonderful flavor. Definately a sessionable beer. Nothing spectacular about it but a solid beer.

Apr 02, 2014

Jeffreysan from Maryland

3.49/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle, poured into a pint glass

Appearance: Pours a murky brown color, not amber at all, almost muddy, with a quarter of a finger of white-head that quickly dissolved into a thin lacing of foam that almost completely covered the top of the beer in wispy clouds.

Aroma: Very malty and bready, with some pronounced sweet aromas of honey and toffee.

Taste: Malty up front, quickly followed by some pronounced but not overpowering hoppy bitterness. There’s practically no sweetness present, just a lot of pleasant hops.

Mouthfeel: Medium with some good carbonation to tickle the taste buds. With an ABV of 5.5%, there’s no presence of alcohol on the palate.

Overall: This is a pretty solid amber ale, and unique to other ambers that I’ve had (Fat Tire, Honker Ale, etc.) in that it’s much more hop forward that I’m used to, but in a very tasty way. I’d certainly have it again.

Oct 29, 2013

rangerred from Tennessee

3.56/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

Had on tap in a pint glass.

Pours a clear reddish brown with just a thin off white head.

Aroma of caramel and toast along with a touch of roasted malt. Some grassy hops sneak through too.

More roast in the flavor. It is on the light side, however, and there is a very healthy dose of toffee and toast. Grass and hay from the hops and a moderate bitterness. Mouthfeel is on the watery side.

Overall, a decent amber ale but nothing really makes it stand out. Not my favorite from Duck Rabbit.

Sep 15, 2013

Zraly from Virginia

3.78/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured into a wide mouth Lagunitas glass. Notched as best by 8/13, so I am right on the cusp of the freshness threshold. A nice amber color with a fluffy off-white head. Notes of sweet malt and earth.

Crystal malt flavors predominate. A bit chewy, which is nice as it gives the mouthfeel a lot of substance, particularly for an amber ale. Hops are subdued and offer enough counterpart to allow the flavor from becoming unbalanced. A touch of roasted warmth and creaminess in the finish and it ends on a semi-dry note. Carbonation is maybe slightly overboard, but it also helps too with sugary-cloy prevention. Overall, malty goodness and likely a great crossover beer (i.e., something to convert non-beer drinkers to trying different styles).

I bought a few from the Duck Rabbit line today to give the "Dark Beer Specialist" a try. I have to say this is quite nice for an amber; reminds me a little bit of Alaskan Amber; seems to be a bit of an American-German alt beer hybrid (or at least strikes me as so). Solid session ale for spicy pizza.

Aug 29, 2013

BradtheGreat7 from Ohio

3.66/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

I recently had this on tap on the pier of Atlantic Beach, NC and it was worthy of a 3.5 overall. I always find bottled offerings a bit better. Why risk, so instead of reviewing it I went 3 miles down the beach and bought a single bottle. This review is based off that bottle.

While the excellent part of the draft version gave a solid pour the bottle was equally good. 12 oz Brown bottle with usual Duck Rabbit artwork and label with Amber ale sketched toward the bottom of the label. Really a nice looking label from this Georgia brewery. Both versions were poured into a standard pint glass.

A - deep amber with some ruby highlights. soft colored light tan head pours nice and settles into a sturdy ring of lace never really losing any size in terms of the creamy ring of lacing. Some excellent stick to the walls of this glass.

S - roasted malt aroma with some nuttiness. Breast with some caramel and toffee whiffs. a faint earthy hop whiff in background.

T - very similar to the aroma of roasted, caramel and toffee malts. A light readiness to it with some nuts. The difference in the flavor is the addition of some sort of weird weird fruitiness. I can't describe it other than that. It could have benefited this amber ale greatly, but instead I feel it hurt its flavor a touch. earthy hops show themselves again, but again just aren't quite enough for me.

M - very drinkable and while being fairly thin it still carries a pretty good texture and its drinkability is off the charts impressive in regards to a sessionable amber ale. Smooth mouthful.

O - I do like Duck-Rabbit and I always try to grab their stuff when I'm down this way. This amber offering has a lot of good things going for it but it's one that if rethought and one if they went back and tweaked a few things would be extremely tough to beat in the style. But for right now it's just another ale that is worth a try but nothing that will leave you remembering it's name. For me I don't get that awesome American amber ale style with this. No knock on duck rabbit or English made ales, but while drinking it I couldn't help but think this thing carries an English malt forward style. I love English ales but they aren't doing what American breweries are doing to amber ales. not a ton mote, but some more hops would send this into the 4 ranking. But it still does have a few pretty gold qualities.

Jul 07, 2013