American Amber Ale - A taste sensation!

[makum101]

I dont often go to the pub but last summer I had a meeting with someone in a pub. When asked what Id like to drink I said "Oh something brown thats not lager or Guinness"

Best pint I've tasted in ages, Undertones of grapefruit and spice. However I stupidly left before asking what exactly it was.

Jump to Christmas. Got a gift of 6 different Northwood Bottles of beer. Decided to drink the bland ones first. First up American Amber ale, ugh, bland amber ale, I'll get it out the way. Woah! This is the same as the pint I had during the summer! This was not Amber Ale as I knew it. After a bit googleing I found American Amber ale should not be confused with its bland British Amber ale counterpart

Straight down my brew shop and found that Youngs do a kit. Jump to now and I'm half way through my first batch. Cracking ale. and only 55p a pint! Id recommend this kit, it's so true to the commercially brewed American Amber Ale Id had in the pub.It keeps its strong flavours due to adding the hops after fermentation has completed. Smashing!

[Anavrin]

It's the American hops like Amarello and Citra that do it, my last two brews have been American IPA's , make the most of it while it lasts, there's a major hop shortage coming, and all the commercial brewers are buying them all up, especially the American ones as they've become really popular over here.

[Mash]

Wow. How timely. I had an American IPA last week and was left thinking.... Hmmm ought to try making that next. Had anyone sourced a all grain recipe?

[Icefever]

Try this this site here
for AG brews Mash

[Anavrin]

I was quite impressed with my last one, I'll post the recipe when I get home tonight.

[Mash]

I do a cascade wheat ale which is rater nice for the summer but this American pale ale has really got me going.

[Anavrin]

Here's my recipe, I couldn't be bothered to type it all out so I took some screen shots from beer smith

I Boiled for 75mins but didn't add the first hops until 60mins remaining and let the flame out hops rest for 20mins

And I used standard Caramalt not crystal malt with the marris otter

[Mash]

Did you use a fall American IPA?

[Anavrin]

Sorry Mash but I don't know what you mean by fall?

[Mash]

Predictive shite.
Did you use Saf ale American yeast

[Anavrin]

I see lol

No, I just used a Gervin ale yeast, I forgot to get a yeast when I was buying my hops so I used one I already had, I stopped using safe ale yeasts a few years ago, I used to use SA04 but it fermented too quickly for my liking, I think they do one called US04, from memory that's the American version but I could be wrong.

[Mash]

I have to say that gervin English ale is a fantastic yeast bit v hard to get.

[Runningman]

Hey Mash
You ever use Nottingham yeast its a beast of a yeast.
regards
Patch

[Mash]

No. But only based on cost... It always seems to be double everything else. Think it's made by lallemand... My favourite yeast manufacturer by far. Poor show really

[GrunthosTheFlatulent]

Gervin English Ale IS Nottingham. Different packaging, different price, same strain.

It's my general purpose 'go to' yeast.

Having said that, I prefer Mangrove Jack's East Coast for my American ales. I generally brew to 45 litres and then split the wort between two buckets, often with two different yeasts, and when I did an American fermented side by side using Gervin and MJ, the MJ was a clear winner.