OnTap Magazine

STYLE GUIDE UNDERSTATED BEAUTY It helped launch the USA’s craft beer scene but fell out of favour for its lack of bold, ballsy flavours. Is there a place for the American amber ale in South Africa’s beer fridges? Lucy Corne takes a sip of this oft-overlooked style. I t’s kind of like the middle child of beer – less hoppy than an APA, less chocolaty than a brown ale. If it was a person, it would probably be described as “nice”. But the American amber ale has actually played a crucial role in craft beer, particularly in its native land. Like many of the finest joy-giving things in the world, the amber ale traces its roots back to the 1980s. As with most beer styles, the beer wasn’t “invented” – it just happened. In fact, it started life as a simple colour descriptor. The amber ales of the day were diverse – some were rich and malty, like Anderson Valley's Boont Amber, others more hop-focused like Full Sail’s Amber. This was a time when American drinkers were just being introduced to ales; a timewhen light lagers were omnipresent and people expected ontapmag.co.za | Autumn 2022 | 41