Amber beer

What is Amber beer?

Amber beer, though this one beer style is not a kind in itself, this beautiful copper-colored beer is very well known. But where does the amber color actually come from? We take you into the world of amber beer and talk you through the origins, the brewing process of amber beer. And believe us, after reading you will only want one thing, taste amber beer!

History of amber beer

Amber beer originated in England, where it was also known as 'pale ale'. At the time, most beers had a dark color, making amber a relatively pale color for a beer.

Later the world changed, when a variant of amber beer was created on the west coast of the United States, namely the IPA (in full: India Pale Ale). The Americans rediscovered this type of beer and added more aromatic American hops (hops with a characteristic taste and aroma).

Pale ale, as amber beer is also called, owes its name to the beautiful color. The name is therefore not a species name but a description of the appearance. Amber colored beers are popular all over the world, whether they prefer hoppy, American or the malty, Belgian variety.

“Amber beer, a beer that is actually not a kind in itself. Amber beer owes its name to its beautiful color.”

brewing process

Amber beer gets that beautiful color through the use of pale malts. The top-fermented beer is made with the so-called “special B” malt. This is added to the malt mix to brew amber beer. Part of the barley, the basic principle of the malt, is slightly more heavily roasted. This causes the sugars in the grain to caramelize slightly. It special beer colors along and the grains give a spicy, caramel-like taste to the amber beer.

Kinds of amber beer

Among the amber beers, different types of amber-colored beer can be distinguished:

• pale ale: This is a top-fermented beer that you also encounter as India Pale Ale or Irish Red Ale. The beer is soft and sweet thanks to the colored malts that give off the caramel-like aromas. The American hops used in modern IPAs add a hint of citrus fruit.
• Belgian Ale or Spéciale Belge: This Belgian amber beer is similar to its American brother but is often a bit sweeter due to the emphasis on malt.

What goes well with an amber beer?

Amber beer is known for its full and soft taste. The beer type has aromas of roasted malt, often also caramel and has a fresh character. Amber beer is very good to combine with:

• Carpaccio: by combining the soft bitter amber beer with carpaccio, the taste of the entire dish is enhanced.
• Port Salut and old sheep cheese: are nicely complimented by a somewhat sweet amber beer.
• Pineapple tarte tatin: This tarte tatin brings out the caramel notes in amber beer.