Top 10 American Amber Ales Brewed in America
This Top Ten American Amber Ales list is from the U.S. Open Beer Championship, Great American Beer Festival, and World Beer Cup. The top ten American Amber Ales range from light copper to light brown in color. They are characterized by American-variety hops used to produce high hop bitterness, flavor, and medium to high aroma Amber ales have medium-high to high maltiness with medium to low caramel character. They should have medium to medium-high body. ABV: 4.40% – 6.10%. IBU: 30-40
1. F-Town Amber – Copper Club Brewing – Colorado
2. Bobber’s Big Red Rye – Boiler Brewing – Nebraska
3. Hopsconsin – Great Dane Pub & Brewing – Wisconsin
4. Legally Red – Second Chance Beer Co. – Colorado
5. Heatwave Amber Ale – La Quinta Brewing – California
6. Zoe – Maine Beer Co. – Maine
7. Red Rocket Ale – Bear Republic Brewing – California
8. Blue Bridge – Galveston Island Brewing – Texas
9. Blazing World – Modern Times Beer – California
10. Tocobaga Red Ale – Cigar City Brewing – Florida
History of American Amber Ales
The history of American Amber Ale traces back to the craft beer renaissance of the late 20th century, when U.S. brewers began experimenting with traditional European styles while incorporating local ingredients and bold flavors. Emerging in the 1980s, this style was inspired by British pale ales and bitters but adapted to American palates with a focus on hoppier profiles and malt-forward balance. Breweries like Anchor Brewing in San Francisco and Sierra Nevada in Chico, California, played pivotal roles in defining the style, with beers like Anchor Liberty Ale showcasing a blend of caramel malt sweetness and citrusy, piney hops from American varieties like Cascade. The style gained traction as craft brewers sought a versatile, approachable beer that could bridge the gap between lighter lagers and heavier stouts, appealing to both novice drinkers and seasoned beer enthusiasts.
By the 1990s, American Amber Ale had solidified its place in the craft beer landscape, with regional variations popping up across the country. Brewers like Fat Tire Amber Ale from New Belgium Brewing in Colorado emphasized a toasty, biscuity malt backbone with restrained hop bitterness, making it a flagship for the style’s accessibility. The style’s flexibility allowed for experimentation, with some brewers leaning into fruitier esters or nutty malt profiles, while others amped up the hops to align with the growing popularity of India Pale Ales. Amber ales became a staple in brewpubs and taprooms, celebrated for their ruby-hued clarity and sessionable nature. Today, American Amber Ale remains a beloved classic, evolving with modern craft trends while staying true to its roots as a balanced, flavorful representation of American brewing ingenuity.
Top 10 Beers in America – Ales Lagers Specialty Barrel Aged