Does you really enjoy Amber Ales?

+1 on Stone Levitation

Full Sail Amber is also crazy good (and cheap)

 

CCB Tocobaga is one of my favorites, would love to try Zoe.

 

Without knowing the OP's real intent, what if the question was - "Does anyone reach for straight ambers and reds that are not imperial or at least hopped up beyond the traditional take"? I still do, as I like a good straight amber for poker night with the guys or with greasy pub food. Many of the beers people are quoting to like on this thread fall into that imperial/hopped up variety that I consider to be almost its own category these days.

 

Id love to be able to try more their stuff. And yeah, the guy i traded with told me the same thing about them not making a bad beer

 

Love a good Amber like Bells...Irish reds though, gotta say are one of my least favorite styles.

 

W/no access to Bells here in my area,I received an Amber ale as an extra once and thought it was by far the best amber I have ever had.Tasty.

Cheers All......

 

Ambers can hit the spot when the mood strikes but they have a limited ceiling of enjoyment for me. I never expect anything more than good from even the best of the style.

Red's on the other hand....they can be absolutely phenomenal. Like Odell's Red which is one of my most favorite beers.

 

I try to keep an amber around as much as possible. A traditional amber. It is actually hard to find something that is not hopped to oblivion or imperial. Nothing wrong with a subtle flavor and a malt base.

 

I does likes 'em, too. Nugget Nectar, Stone Levitation, and my fave - Flying Fish Red Fish.

 

When fresh, I don't think Troeg's Hopback amber can be beat. Great balance (I find most amber ales cloying) and has a nice hoppy nose without it overshadowing its caramel flavor.

I also like SN Torpedo as an amber ale... :-o

 

Z O E

 

As a food pairing yes but on their own not so much.

 

Prohibition Ale
Nugget Nectar
Red Rocket
Yuengling amber lager

 

Bells Amber and Dark Horse Amber are by far my favorites for the style and are fantastic for a night by the fire on a summer's night.

 

Amber not so much. Something just doesnt translate well for me.
Red's yes. I do enjoy what you would call an Imperial Red.

Cheers!

 

I never find ambers to be bad, I just rarely find them to be memorable or worth it. So many blur together and lack identity and for that reason are disappointing. It's not that one of those can't accompany your meal just fine as a neutral element, just that with only so many opportunities to drink good beer, why waste one on something that doesn't do anything? Even for an average workaday utility beer for after work, the style doesn't appeal. I generally avoid the category due to too many boring, round, and forgettable offerings. I read some interview a while back with a brewer talking about why they chose certain styles and not others, and he was like, "The world doesn't need another amber ale." And I was like, "Amen, brother." With that said, the category seems pretty broad and varied these days so you never know what you might find. There's a lot of room for very different things. Stone Levitation was a nice surprise, for example. I'm just not willing to dedicate the time, money, and stomach space to sift through all the baloney to find the exceptions when I have a much higher success rate in other style categories. I'll let you guys be the guinea pigs and occasionally try one of the buzzworthies you rate up.

 

I personally don't consider it a style, but I like many many beers that fall into this bucket

 

I just recently discovered a new liking for ambers. I never really liked them until one day a few months ago, it just happened. I started to like the malty/biscuity/buttery flavors and it's become one of my favorite styles now.

 

Every once in a while it's a nice switch. I like Mac and Jack's Amber. It was one of the original beers that brought me into the craft world so I have a soft spot for a pint.

 

I love ambers of all sorts, whether pale ales or German alts.

Specifically I love most British examples on draft that we get here in the U.S. Stuff from Fuller's, Whitbred, and others are good.