What Is Amber Ale? A Guide to Amber Ale Beer

Amber ale is a type of ale known for its amber to copper colour, moderate malt character and balanced hop bitterness. It's richer and fuller bodied than a traditional lager, but lighter and less roast forward than a dark beer like a porter or stout.

So what does amber ale actually taste like? Toasty malt, caramel, biscuit and just enough hop bitterness to keep things balanced. Rich without being heavy.

"Amber ale" covers a pretty wide range of beers though. Colour, sweetness, bitterness and alcohol content can all shift depending on how the beer is brewed.

At Beau's, Barn Burner is our take on the style. It's a malt forward, easy drinking amber ale that brings plenty of flavour without going full dark beer.

Here's what actually makes an amber ale an amber ale.

What Is an Amber Ale?

Amber ale is a broad beer style defined by its amber to copper colour and its balance between malt and hops.

That colour comes from specialty malts. Brewers lean on different malts to add colour and flavours like caramel, toast and biscuit, without pushing the beer as dark or roasty as a stout or porter.

Amber ales are fermented with ale yeast, which gives them a different character than lagers. Lagers use lager yeast and tend to land cleaner and crisper.

Put it together and you usually get a beer that's:

• Amber, copper or reddish brown in colour

• Medium bodied

• Malt forward

• Caramel and toasted in flavour

• Moderately bitter

• Smooth and balanced

• Easy to pair with food

There's no single recipe every amber ale has to follow. Like most beer styles, brewers put their own spin on it.

What Does Amber Ale Taste Like?

Amber ale typically tastes malt forward, with notes of caramel, toast, biscuit and light fruit, balanced out by enough hop bitterness to keep it from turning overly sweet.

It's richer than a lager or light ale, but that doesn't mean it's heavy.

Depending on the recipe, an amber ale can lean toward:

• Caramel, toasted malt and biscuit

• Or hops, citrus and a drier finish

That range is part of what makes the style interesting. There's plenty of malt character, but a good amber ale always comes back to balance.

Why Is Amber Ale Amber?

No mystery here. The colour comes from the malt.

Brewers use different types of malted barley to build different colours and flavours into beer. Pale malts create lighter beers, while darker and more heavily kilned malts add deeper colour and flavour.

Amber ales typically use specialty malts that bring that copper glow, along with caramel, toast and biscuit flavours.

So when you pour an amber ale and see that deep copper colour in the glass, you're looking at the malt doing its job.

Is Amber Ale a Dark Beer?

Amber ale is darker than most pale ales and lagers, but it isn't usually considered a dark beer the way a porter or stout is.

That distinction matters. Amber ales get most of their colour and flavour from caramelized and toasted malt. Darker beers like stouts and porters lean on more heavily roasted malts, which bring coffee, chocolate and roast flavours into the mix.

In other words, amber doesn't mean heavy.

Is Amber Ale Bitter?

Amber ales typically land at moderate bitterness. The hops balance the malt character rather than take it over.

That makes amber ale a solid middle ground if you like some hop bitterness but still want to taste the malt.

Bitterness varies quite a bit from one amber ale to the next. Some lean maltier and sweeter, others lean more hop forward.

Amber Ale vs. Lager

The biggest difference between amber ale and lager comes down to fermentation and flavour.

Amber ales ferment with ale yeast. Lagers ferment with lager yeast. That one difference shapes the whole profile of the beer.

Beer styles overlap constantly though. There are dark lagers, hoppy lagers and light amber ales. Beer doesn't always read the rulebook.

Amber Ale vs. Red Ale

Amber ale and red ale are pretty close cousins.

Both can show reddish or copper colours and plenty of malt character. The difference usually comes down to how much a beer leans into malt, caramel and roasted flavour versus hop bitterness and darker malt character.

There's also a lot of overlap in how breweries actually use these terms, so the name on the label won't always tell you exactly what's in the glass.

The best way to know what you're getting? Read the tasting notes. Or just crack one open.

Amber Ale vs. Pale Ale

Pale ales are generally lighter in colour and tend to put more emphasis on hop flavour and aroma.

Amber ales bring more malt character to the table, with caramel, toast and biscuit playing a bigger role.

If pale ale is your usual pick for citrusy, hoppy beer, amber ale is a good way to explore the maltier side of things without jumping straight into something dark.

Meet Barn Burner

Barn Burner is Beau's take on the amber ale, and it's all about balance.

It's got the amber colour and malt forward character you'd expect, built from a mix of toasted and caramel malt flavours balanced by hop bitterness.

At 5.5% ABV and 30 IBU, Barn Burner sits right in the sweet spot between light and easy, and big and heavy. It works just as well around a campfire as it does with dinner, which is exactly where we want it.

What Food Goes With Amber Ale?

Amber ale's mix of malt sweetness and hop bitterness makes it a genuinely versatile food beer.

The caramel and toasted malt flavours pair especially well with foods that have some char, roast or richness. Try an amber ale with:

• Burgers

• BBQ

• Grilled sausages

• Steak

• Roasted vegetables

• Pizza

• Sharp cheddar

• Smoked meats

• Roast chicken

The malt character stands up to richer foods, while the bitterness keeps every bite from feeling too heavy. Barn Burner and a backyard BBQ is a pretty easy call.

Is Amber Ale Sweet?

Amber ale can carry caramel and malty sweetness, but it isn't necessarily a sweet beer.

A well balanced amber ale uses hop bitterness to offset the sweetness coming from the malt. That's why it can taste rich and malty without drinking like a dessert beer.

How Strong Is Amber Ale?

There's no set ABV requirement for amber ale. Alcohol content varies by brewery and recipe.

Barn Burner sits at 5.5% ABV, which puts it firmly in the range of a full flavoured, everyday beer rather than a high ABV specialty ale.

So, What Is Amber Ale?

Amber ale is a malt forward ale with an amber to copper colour, caramel and toasted flavours, moderate bitterness and a balanced, medium bodied character.

It's richer than most pale beers, but generally lighter and less roast forward than porters and stouts. Amber ale is a broad style, which leaves plenty of room for brewers to make it their own.

At Beau's, that's where Barn Burner comes in. Our take on an amber ale that's malty, balanced and easy to drink.

If you've mostly stuck to pale lagers or hoppy IPAs, amber ale is worth a try. You might just find your new go to.

Amber Ale FAQs

What is amber ale?

Amber ale is a type of ale known for its amber to copper colour, malt forward flavour, caramel and toasted notes, medium body and balanced hop bitterness.

What does amber ale taste like?

Amber ale typically tastes malty and balanced, with flavours like caramel, toast and biscuit alongside moderate hop bitterness. Some amber ales also carry fruity or citrusy hop character.

Is amber ale bitter?

Amber ales generally sit at moderate bitterness. The hops balance the malt character rather than dominate the beer.

Is amber ale a dark beer?

Amber ale is darker than most pale ales and lagers, but it's generally lighter and less roast forward than dark beer styles like porters and stouts.

Is amber ale sweet?

Amber ale can have caramel and malty sweetness, but a balanced amber ale isn't necessarily sweet. Hop bitterness helps offset the sweetness from the malt.

What is the difference between amber ale and lager?

Amber ale is fermented with ale yeast and typically has more pronounced malt and caramel character. Lagers use lager yeast and tend to run cleaner and crisper, though both categories cover a wide range of beer styles.

What is the difference between amber ale and red ale?

Amber ale and red ale can be very similar, both often showing reddish or copper colours and malt forward flavours. The exact difference varies between breweries and recipes.

What type of beer is Barn Burner?

Barn Burner is an amber ale from Beau's Brewing Co. It's 5.5% ABV and 30 IBU, with a malt forward character balanced by hop bitterness.