Does you really enjoy Amber Ales?

I really like ambers.
No they're not hoppy like an ipa, and no, they aren't malty like a barleywine. But, sometimes they are just a perfect balance for an evening of prolonged drinking.

 

Almost never go for a standard amber or red. If I know its supposed to be really good then I might, like lagunitas red, then yeah. But a standard red/amber, while very flavorful, they tend to be a bit boring, such as abita or bells amber, which are both very good but bore me.

 

When I think of ambers, I think of Red Seal, Troegs Hop Back, Mt. Carmel Amber , Bell's Amber, Lagunitas Censored, etc.

Beers like Lagunitas Imperial Red, Nugget Nectar, GL Nosferatu, Two Brothers Cane & Ebel, GF Hop Head Red, Bear Republic Red Rocket, etc. are completely different beasts.

I enjoy both styles..

 

Hop back falls with it's big brother Nugget Nectar as not an amber. HB is more an IPA and NN is completely a DIPA.

 

Hop Back is an amber ale, far from an IPA. They hop it up, but it's far from an IPA. NN is like an IPA to me.

 

I agree HB is not like most AIPA's but it is not an amber by any stretch. Look at it in a glass and taste it, it is a low end hopped IPA attempt using Pilsner malt. Compare it Northcoast Red Seal which is an amber and see the obvious difference.

 

I guess we can agree to disagree?

Hop Back is dominated by caramel malt and the hops don't really shine, IMHO. I agree Red Seal is a better example of a traditional amber and that Hop Back is somewhat of a hybrid, but I look at it as an amber ale all day..

 

Fair enough, I just don't drink HB anymore and haven't in a couple of years at least. Maybe I remember it wrong, but don't plan on finding out at this point. Red Seal I can drink all day though even more so than it's clone(according to the original brewer at Oskar Blues) Dale's Pale Ale.

 

I haven't had Hop Back recently either to be honest, but I've had it numerous times.

 

Shows the times we live in, just so many beers worth trying first before going back to what I remember as a solid beer.

 

This guy knows what he's talking about.

 

I couldn't said have but it better myself. Btw, in this day of age though, I think your post should read something like "No they're not hoppy like an ipa, and no, they aren't hoppy like a barleywine".

 

I does not, usually.

 

Amber Ales are good but Amber Lagers are better.

 

That's one that I really enjoy and get quite a bit of- almost as much as Caldera's Amber.

 

Deschutes Green Lakes is really good.

 

Amber ales are great. Love the toast.

 

Maine Zoe is as good as it gets in this category. Pours a beautiful amber/red and is drinkable as hell. Also, I don't think Nugget Nectar is anything close to a DIPA or even an IPA - it looks, drinks and tastes like an Amber/Red to me which is why I love it so much.

 

Many great ambers mentioned. We just brewed a really tasty one, too. Fresh Cascazilla is another Amber that I love, but I guess despite its SRM someone is going to claim it is an IPA.

 

I dig Nugget Nectar, but I'm usually very down on Amber Ales and Amber Lagers if they aren't Imperial.