Top 10 American Amber Lager / California Common Brewed in North America
This Top Ten List of American Amber is from the results of the U.S. Open Beer Championship, Great American Beer Festival, and World Beer Cup. Light in body and color, American lagers are very clean and crisp and aggressively carbonated. Flavor components should be subtle and complex, with no one ingredient dominating the others. Malt sweetness is light to mild. Corn, rice, or other grain or sugar adjuncts are often used. Hop bitterness, flavor and aroma are negligible to very light. ABV: 4.10% – 5.10%. IBU: 5-14.
1. Bear Republic Red Rocket Ale – Bear Republic Brewing – California
2. McSteamy – Barnaby Brewing – Alaska
3. Boatwright – Tradesman Brewing – South Carolina
4. Bear Republic Red Rocket Ale – Bear Republic Brewing – California
5. Auburn Lager – Mad Anthony Brewing – Indiana
6. Shiner Bock – Spoetzl Brewery – Texas
7. Pinsetter Amber Lager – Real Ale Brewing – Texas
8. Key West Sunset Ale, Florida Brewing – Florida
9. Anderson Valley Boont Amber Ale -Anderson Valley Brewing – California
10. Rod’s Steam Bitter – Second Street Brewery – New Mexico
History of American Amber Lagers
The history of American amber lagers traces back to the 19th century when German immigrants brought their brewing traditions to the United States. These immigrants, particularly from Bavaria, introduced lager brewing techniques, which relied on cooler fermentation and longer aging periods compared to ales. Amber lagers, characterized by their rich, malty flavor and reddish-amber hue, evolved from styles like the Vienna lager, popularized in Europe by brewers such as Anton Dreher. In America, breweries in regions with large German populations, like Milwaukee and St. Louis, adapted these recipes using local ingredients, such as American barley and corn, to create a smoother, slightly sweeter version. By the late 1800s, amber lagers became a staple in American beer culture, with brands like Anheuser-Busch and Pabst refining the style to appeal to a growing working-class market, offering a refreshing yet flavorful alternative to heavier European beers.
The rise of industrialization and Prohibition in the early 20th century disrupted the prominence of American amber lagers. Large-scale breweries shifted toward lighter, mass-produced lagers to cut costs and meet demand, while Prohibition (1920–1933) forced many smaller breweries to close, diminishing the diversity of amber lager recipes. Post-Prohibition, the style struggled to regain its footing as consumer tastes leaned toward lighter beers like pale lagers and, later, light beers in the mid-20th century. However, the craft beer renaissance of the 1980s and 1990s sparked a revival, with microbreweries rediscovering and reinterpreting amber lagers. Brewers like Samuel Adams with its Boston Lager and Yuengling with its Traditional Lager helped reintroduce the style, emphasizing its balanced maltiness and crisp finish. Today, American amber lagers remain a beloved craft beer style, celebrated for their versatility and nod to the country’s brewing heritage.
Top 10 Beers in America – Ales Lagers Specialty Barrel Aged