Alaskan Brewing Amber Ale - Review
The last frontier. The great unexplored. Frozen tundra and high climbing mountains. These are the things we think of when we think of Alaska. But when I hear the word Alaska I think about Alaskan Brewing and their wonderful red can of Alaskan Amber ale.
You may be saying, Mr. Brew, I think you have a problem, and you may be right, but Alaskan Brewing started in 1986 (years before many of our favorite breweries) in one of the toughest places on the planet … and a pretty tough place to get beer out of, as well. It’s a miracle to see any Alaskan products on the shelf, but we’re always excited to try an icon, no matter where it comes from.
Alaskan brews their amber beer with Glacial-fed water, European and Pacific Northwest hops, and 2-row and specialty malts. It comes in at 5.3% ABV and 18 IBU. And they call this an alt-style (alt=old) beer because of the slow fermentation process that takes place and gives us some (fingers crossed) clean flavors and a dry finish. Let’s find out!
First Impressions:
On the Eyes--Clear and amber and topped with a thick and slightly toffee-colored head. Like the Alaskan landscape, truly beautiful.
On the Nose--Crisp and fresh, almost like a lager—likely from the long maturation—with the right amount of maltiness to excite the palate and the slightest hop spice.
On the Palate--Full-bodied and rich, which are always our first requirements for a great amber. It has a 2-row crispness that is not quite as sharp as a Pilsner malt, but wonderful nonetheless and very hearty and American in flavor. It’s malt forward with an almost Munich malt roasted and rich biscuit flavor, as well as being a little pretzel-y with a stroke of caramel sweetness. But it’s not too sweet and is appropriately balanced by the Euro and Pacific Northwest hops. The finish is dry, as expected from the fermentation process, and the deeper malt notes linger pleasantly.
Food Pairings: Amber ales are hearty, approachable, and especially good when local and paired with local fare, but the best pairing is a second amber ale.
Final Thoughts:
Well, I’ll admit it … Alaskan Brewing had me at Glacier-fed water. Like a good meal, if you start with fresh, local ingredients it’s hard to screw up. Alaskan’s Amber is crisp and rich, malty and sweet, and just fun to drink. I was initially worried about the low IBU, being only 18. Amber beers are sweet and loaded with malt, which requires some balancing from the bitter hops to achieve an approachable and quaffable beer. Most of our favorite amber beers linger around 25-35 IBUs to balance the sweet malt, but I found little issue with the balance in this one. The malt did linger long after sipping, but not unpleasantly, and certainly in a way perfect for a fall day.
Try this one out if you’re curious about amber ales or if you just need something to remind you why you like craft beer. It’s so crisp you can taste the glacier-fed water. And if for no other reason, try it because it’s iconic and very available. You won’t be disappointed.
Cheers!
Mr. Brew
Check out another review of Alaskan Brewing’s Icy Bay IPA, and then feast your eyes on one of our favorite Texas Amber Ales, Independence Brewing’s Austin Amber.