American Amber Ale
American Amber Ale · 5 gallons
A beautifully balanced amber ale that bridges the gap between pale ales and browns. Rich caramel malt character with enough American hop presence to keep things interesting. A versatile crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
Grains & Extracts
Steeped — adds caramel and amber color
Steeped — adds biscuit and toasty notes
Hops
Yeast
Safale US-05 (American Ale)
Instructions
Heat 3 gallons of water to 155°F. Steep Crystal 60L and Victory Malt in a muslin bag for 20 minutes.
Remove grain bag. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in Amber LME until dissolved.
Return to boil. Add 1 oz Centennial at 60 min.
Add 0.75 oz Cascade at 15 min remaining.
At flameout, add 0.75 oz Cascade and steep for 10 minutes.
Cool to 66°F. Transfer to fermenter. Top to 5 gallons.
Pitch yeast at 64-68°F. Ferment for 2 weeks.
Bottle with 3/4 cup corn sugar. Condition for 2-3 weeks.
Brewer's Tips
The balance between malt sweetness and hop bitterness is the hallmark of this style. Taste test your malt extract to ensure quality.
Victory Malt (or Biscuit Malt) adds a wonderful toasty complexity. Don't skip it.
For more hop character, add 1 oz Cascade as a dry hop during the last 5 days of fermentation.
This is a forgiving style — great for brewers stepping up from their first batch.
Pairs excellently with grilled meats, burgers, and spicy food.