Widmer Brothers Brewing is one of Oregon’s Brewing behemoths.  While the Ale thrives in Oregon, Lagers have played a significant role in Widmer Brothers success.  This beer, Drop Top Amber Ale, has hints of lagerishness, despite its ale label.  The labeling on this bottle is somewhat spartan but with a happy dog apparently hanging out of a rag-top auto.  Being beer geeks, we love beer stats and beer info.  This beer bottle gives you neither.  It only gives you the generic “Amber” description.  Lame.  We want info!   At 5.0% ABV, this beer is certainly light enough for session purposes but you need to enjoy the lager like taste.

Photo of Drop Top Amber from Widmer Brothers Brewing in Portland, Oregon

Simcoe and Alchemy(?) hops are balanced out with lots of speciality hops in this light amber colored ale.

Nose /Appearance: Light amber in color, with a lacy light tan colored head.  Hints of dried fruit and slight woodiness please the nose of this lightly aromatic beer.

Flavor/Body: The dried fruit and and woody flavors are subdued by a strangely lager like flavor, perhaps from some of the speciality malts noted on Widmer’s website.

Finish /Mouthfeel: Despite its ale classification, this beer is largely devoid of notable hop flavor.  Hop Heads will be disappointed.  Think of a light yet flavorful Alt style and you will be happy.  Here at Bend Wild, we’re not terribly fond of alts so this beer suffers in our scoring.

Overall Drinkability: Despite having considerable complexity for a 5.0% abv beer, the overall drinkability suffers because of a German aftertaste.  Fine if you like that sort of thing, but the finish doesn’t win anyone over in the Bend Wild tasting garden.

Celebrity Likeness: Joan Cusack.  Likable with some complexity but not exactly stunning on the palate, if you have glamorous, Ale expectations.