Why aren't American Ambers more popular?

[DKershner]

Deschutes Drop Top Amber is a fairly decent example for those who have had it.

 

[cyberbackpacker]

Full Sail Amber has been around for 20 years... and it is a great example of an AAA.

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

I didn't see it so I figured I would throw Ambergeddon from the Ale Asylum in the mix. It could be my favorite.

 

[the_bird]

Been drinking Abita Amber this week. Very good beer, very drinkable although I wish it perhaps had a WEE bit more sweetness/maltiness/body. Still, a very nice everyday-drinking beer.

 

[spaceboi13]

Flying Dog's "Old Scratch Amber Lager" is still one of my faves

 

[dwarven_stout]

Deschutes Drop Top Amber is a fairly decent example for those who have had it.

Drop Top is Widmer, but yes.. it's tasty. Deschutes has Green Lake Organic Ale, which is an amber, and Cindercone Red. Both are tasty beverages, but I still say that you don't need any other american ambers, so long as you can get Anderson Valley Boont Amber.

 

[TexLaw]

Mendocino Red Tail Ale is another popular American Amber and, pretty much, where the style began.

There is a tremendous amount of overlap between American Amber and APA in the BJCP guidelines, and that drives me absolutely crazy. That's not so much because of the as it is because of the tremendous ambiguity in the AA guideline (e.g., what the hell is a judge supposed to do with "usually"?)

However, we cannot let the BJCP force a taxonomy of commercial beer. That ain't what it's about. The label "amber" meant little to many breweries when they were starting out. Often, it was a way to say "hey, this ain't no Budweiser." So, take the label as it is.

Also, with the current tastes out there, Ambers sort of fall between the cracks. They are too much for the BMC drinkers, and not enough for the hopheads. Mid-range beers aren't so sexy, but they are coming back.


TL

 

[FreakinA]

This thread has inspired me to try and brew a few ambers, see if I can get something I really like.

 

[petep1980]

Too bad, to me it;s the quintessential example of the style, but that's just my opinion. Maybe because it was the first version I ever tasted and it tainted by opinion.

Look and see if Bell's "Big porch ale" is available, it's pretty much the same beer repackaged to market the Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island. It may be available in NY under that name.

If not I have a simple extract clone recipe for it I came up with years ago, that although it is a tad darker than the original, tastes spot on.

Yeah, you already PMd me the recipe. It's been bottled for a few days now, and should be done in a couple weeks.

 

[-TH-]

My SWMBO has become quite the American Amber freak and she would rank Bells Amber #1 in her book. She does prefer the less hoppy ambers and from what I've seen these can be hard to find.

 

[DKershner]

Drop Top is Widmer, but yes.. it's tasty. Deschutes has Green Lake Organic Ale, which is an amber, and Cindercone Red. Both are tasty beverages, but I still say that you don't need any other american ambers, so long as you can get Anderson Valley Boont Amber.

Hehe, you're right. The organic ale is terrible though imo. I believe the gluten free ale from Deschutes is also considered an amber, though they may call it an ESB, its all cascade hops...

We have 3 bigger breweries in town, and everyone has a red, and there are a couple ambers. I guess I don't share the view that they are rare.

 

[the_bird]

Amber ales are one of my favorite everyday beers.

Here's one that may or may not be thoughs of as an AAA; Left Hand Brewing's Sawtooth Ale. I think they technically consider it to be an American ESB, but I'm not sure if an A-ESB is a "real" style or not. It's got the color, the body, the strong-but-not-overwhelming hop character that I think of with an AAA. It's extremely drinkable.

Is an American-ESB an actual style, or would Sawtooth be considered a form of an Amber ale?

Fat Tire's considered an Amber Ale too, isn't it? I've only had that once, it's not in my top-ten but it was certainly a pleasant part of my voyage to Iowa.

 

[TexLaw]

Is an American-ESB an actual style

It's as actual as anything else. Again, not all beers fit into BJCP styles, and BJCP styles are not meant as a taxonomy of beer.


TL

 

[Aubie Stout]

I like hoppy amber's and esb's. More crystal and body than a pale ale.

 

[Sithdad]

The American Amber I just made a month ago doesn't have a hop bite to it, but it certainly has a very nice hop aroma. I used Northern Brewer hops for all my additions. Just tried my first one last night (as it's just hit the 3 week mark). I was very happy with it. I think they are going to be going down pretty quickly. I might have to start brewing some more now.

 

[olllllo]

Huh. I had the under on 30 that someone would have posted a chic pic by now.

No. worries.

Keep it geek.