How To Brew International Amber Lager: Around the World in One Pint

International Amber Lager does not have a storied past like some beer styles. There are no backstories that points to this particular beer being involved in some conspiracy or trade between two kings.

Rather it is a style of beer included in the 2015 Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) Style Guidelines, along with international pale lager and international dark lager, as a “mechanism to describe a group of beers with similar tastes”, as Gordon Strong suggests.

Upon researching this style, I stumbled on some interesting details. Many of the commercial styles do not actually contain the words “international amber lager.”

Instead these beers are labeled as other styles. These beers include, but not limited to: Capital Winter Skal, Schell’s Oktoberfest, Dos Equis, Brooklyn Lager, and Yuengling Lager.

As Strong continues to explain, “this style was invented to describe certain types of beers that are mass-marketed industrial lagers that are darker than pale but paler than dark, yet don’t have the intensity of malt flavor of beers such as Vienna lager, Märzen, and Czech amber lager.”

The International Amber Lager category in the BJCP guideline really tried to allow homebrewers a chance to enter these beers into competitions without judges unfairly penalizing them for not having exactly the same intense flavor or bitterness in traditional amber lager styles.

Amber-ish

Much of what we know and think about beer is due to our senses. The old adage that we eat (or drink in this case) with our eyes is certainly true, especially for the newer “styles” that have emerged over the years.

Although International Amber Lager is categorized by its color, these beers do not need to be strictly amber. The color can range from amber hued gold to reddish-copper.

To correlate with Stong’s assertion of the style being more inclusive as opposed to exclusive, it would make sense to allow color variations with the style.

Style Profile for International Amber Lagers 

Appearance

Golden-amber to reddish copper in color. Brilliantly bright clarity, with a white to off-white non-lasting foam.

Aroma

Low to moderate malt aroma which can be rather grainy, with a low or moderate caramel sweetness. Also can be toasty-malty aroma.

Hop aroma can range from low to none at all with floral or spicy character. Clean lager fermentation. Slight DMS or corny aroma is acceptable.

Mouthfeel

Light to medium body with medium to high carbonation. Smooth and creamy.

Taste

Low to moderate malt profile. Can be dry to grainy-sweet. Low to moderate level of caramel and toasty, bready notes are acceptable.

Low to medium-low corny sweetness is acceptable and not a fault. Hop bitterness can be low to moderate and hop flavor is low to moderate with spicy, herbal, or floral characters.

Food Pairings

Salty, spicy grilled or roasted meat is a great contrast to the sweet, bready notes of the beer. Burgers and seafood pair well with this style as well.

Alpine style cheese brings out the beer’s light caramel sweetness and nutty malt notes. Also, contrasting the beer’s flavors with a pairing of a spicy pepper jack cheese.

Tips for Brewing your own International Amber Lagers

Grain

The base malt for this beer can be 2-Row, higher protein 6-Row, or Pilsner malt. To add on to the biscuit, cracker-like character, some Munich malt will get you there.

An addition of Victory or Biscuit malt can help too. A moderate addition of Crystal 60 can help to achieve the light caramel flavor and the color of an amber,

Hops

The hops are pretty straight forward here since they really do not need to shine in this beer.

A good bittering charge at 60 minutes is mandatory since you want to achieve that sweet and bitter harmony between the grain and hops. A very light flavor or aroma hop addition can be optional.

It would be a wise decision to stick with German noble-type hops here. If you decide to use American hops to achieve that true “international” sense of the word, then American hops that mimic noble characteristics work really well here. Avoid citrusy, piney, dank, tropical or other overly aggressive hop profiles.

Yeast

A clean lager strain will be the yeast strain you should decide to use for this style of beer. WYeast 2007 Pilsen Lager, WYeast 2206 Bavarian Lager. White Labs 830 German Lager Yeast.

Fermentation:

Ferment at 50°F (10°C) or whatever your yeast manufacturer suggests until your final gravity is reached. It is a good idea to increase the temperature by about ten degrees at the end of fermentation to assist in diacetyl cleanup.

Once the beer completes fermentation and after the diacetyl rest, you may want to cold crash it to 35°F (2°C) for about 4 weeks to improve clarity.

International Amber Lagers By the Numbers

• Color Range: 7 – 14 SRM
• Original Gravity: 1.042 – 1.055 OG
• Final Gravity: 1.008 – 1.014 FG
• IBU Range: 8 – 25
• ABV Range: 4.6 – 6.0%

International Amber Lager Homebrew Recipe

Grain

• 78% 10 lbs Pilsner, German
• 10% 1 lb 4 oz Munich Type I Malt
• 6% 12 oz Victory Malt
• 6% 12 oz Caramel 60

Hops

• 1.00 oz Perle Pellets – Boil 60.0 min
• 1.00 oz Hallertauer Pellets – Flameout

Yeast

• 1.0 pkg German Lager Yeast (White Labs 830)

Directions

• Mash at 150°F (65°C) for 60 mins
• Boil for 60 mins

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Frequently Asked Questions

What distinguishes an International Amber Lager from other types of lagers?

The International Amber Lager differentiates from other lagers by its rich, malt-forward flavor profile and amber to reddish-brown color. It’s a blend between the traditional pale lager and more robust dark lagers, striking a balance that showcases both a mild hop bitterness and a hearty malt character.

This makes it an enticing choice for those who enjoy a beer with a fuller flavor without being overly robust or bitter.

How does an American Amber Lager compare to the International Amber Lager mentioned in the recipe?

The American Amber Lager is quite similar to the International Amber Lager but tends to have a more pronounced hop aroma and bitterness.

The balance between malt sweetness and hop bitterness might lean slightly towards the hops compared to the more malt-balanced International Amber Lager. The American variant may also present a richer color and a more pronounced caramel or toasty malt character.

Can the International Amber Lager recipe be adapted to create a Mexican Lager or a Brooklyn Lager clone?

Absolutely, adapting recipes is a common practice in homebrewing. For a Mexican Lager, you might want to use a lighter malt, and possibly corn as an adjunct to achieve the light, crisp characteristics typical of Mexican Lagers.

For a Brooklyn Lager clone, you might want to increase the hops to get closer to the distinctive hoppy character of Brooklyn Lager. Experimentation and minor adjustments to the original International Amber Lager recipe can lead to a variety of unique brews.

What might be the best dry yeast to use for brewing an International Amber Lager?

The best dry yeast for brewing an International Amber Lager would likely be a lager yeast that can highlight the malt flavors while providing a clean, crisp finish. Yeasts such as Saflager W-34/70 or Fermentis S-23 could be good choices.

These yeasts are known for their clean fermentations and ability to accentuate malt character, making them suitable for amber lagers.

When the recipe mentions “Advent beers American Amber Lager”, what does it refer to?

Advent beers are typically brewed for enjoyment during the Advent season leading up to Christmas. The term “Advent beers American Amber Lager” likely refers to brewing an American Amber Lager as a special project for the Advent season.

This could be a tradition or a unique brewing project to enjoy a homemade amber lager during the holiday festivities.