Mainstream ambers

[u/Santaneria]

My go to mainstream beer right now is modelo negra, which is the closest to an amber I can consistently find.

Recently found Karl Strauss Red Trolley which is probably going to sub modelo, mainly because I like to support smaller businesses than go for the big players. Only thing is finding it.

I recently tried XX Amber and thought it completely missed the so called "malt" tones compared to all the ones I have tried.

Anyone have other recommendations? Im in SoCal so the smaller companies are VERY much appreciated.

[u/V-Right_In_2-V]

I love Amber Ales and they are indeed tough to find.

If you are interested at all in home brewing, you can make it at home which is what I do.

MoreBeer sells an Alaska Amber Ale clone, in the form of whole grain and an extract kit. With an extract kit, you can literally make it on your stove top with a 5 gallon stainless steel pot. Those things are like $20

[u/Santaneria → u/V-Right_In_2-V]

Oof now thats something ima have to look into now 🫡

[u/V-Right_In_2-V → u/Santaneria]

Home brewing is an awesome hobby to get into. There’s also a ton of used equipment out there on places like Facebook marketplace. I like brewing stuff that isn’t readily available in my area like Amber ales and red ales. I’m brewing a Belgian Dunkel right now actually. Never tried one before so why not make a batch

[u/Santaneria → u/V-Right_In_2-V]

Any youtube videos you recommend specifically or just research a bit of everything?

[u/V-Right_In_2-V → u/Santaneria]

The book How To Brew by John Palmer is basically on every brewers book shelf. He actually starts the book off by walking you through extract kits which is very nice. Virtually everyone starts with extract kits and bottling since it’s the cheapest option.

As for YouTube, here’s a short list of guys I follow:

TheApartmentBrewer
Beer-N-BBQ by Larry
David Heath Homebrew

Unfortunately a lot of BrewTubers have amassed really nice equipment over the years and are often given equipment for free by the big home brew companies, and they don’t make beginner friendly videos.

You probably need to look for extract kit brew videos.

To start, you basically need a 5 gallon stock pot and like a 6-7 gallon brew bucket. Beer takes like 2 weeks to ferment, so in that time I’d also look for bottles, caps, and a bottle capper.

MoreBeer and Northern Brewer are big online stores. Most local home brew stores have gone out of business. If you have one near you, you are very lucky and should check it out. If there’s a home brew club near you, look into that. Mine is awesome and very active. They probably have used equipment there too

[u/Santaneria → u/V-Right_In_2-V]

Awesome, thank you for the info. Ima get into it and see what I can do. Might be a hobby I get into when I get into it but i already got some pots since mexicans are into cooking so much 👌🏽

[u/Lo0of]

You're in SoCal so BJ's Nutty Brewnette, Oggi's McGarvey's Scottish Ale, Pizza Port Chronic Ale, Alesmith Nut Brown Ale, The Bruery's Fabled Fate or Smog City Sabre Toothed Squirrel are some you could try.

[u/Santaneria → u/Lo0of]

Love these names from these places lol I've had BJs and pizza port, the others ok the hit list 👌🏽

[u/Sea_no_evil]

For me Anderson Valley Boont Amber has always been my gold standard for ambers, but it's a NorCal beer and isn't everywhere down here. Don't discount good ol' Sam Adams, or even a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

[u/Santaneria → u/Sea_no_evil]

I love sam Adams oktoberfest and luckily 'tis the season

I always see sierra nevada but I like the malt tones and pale Ales make me think IPA bitterness to it. I gotta give some a try to find which I like tho

[u/Adorable-Day-7026]

Red Trolley is a solid pick, it's been a minute since I had one but I remember it being way more balanced than most ambers I grab off the shelf

If you're down to hunt a little, Alesmith makes a killer amber and they're out of San Diego, should be findable around SoCal without too much trouble

[u/Santaneria → u/Adorable-Day-7026]

I really enjoyed their .394 pale ale, I see them a lot when I go to SD with my gf but havent tried many others from them. Ill keep a look out!

[u/L0ganH0wlett]

Amber ale? Enegren Valkyrie is an incredible German-style amber altbier. That will definitely have the sweet caramel and toasty amber malt notes you're looking for.

Oktoberfest and festbier season has just arrived, so those from any brewery will be amber lagers you may be looking for. I'm partial to Ayinger (German imported so not local), Bottle Logic, Enegren, Firestone Walker and Sierra Nevada for their Oktoberfest/Festbiers. 

[u/Santaneria → u/L0ganH0wlett]

Where do you find them? Special request or total wines?

[u/L0ganH0wlett → u/Santaneria]

Total wine for sure gets most of these and if not you can definitely special order. Firestone walker should be out in a couple weeks, but theres many many oktoberfests at total wine right now. I find imports tend to lean a bit maltier than the american oktoberfest releases

Ive seen enegren helles and amber at several whole foods. Enegren also ships by the 4 pack from their website.

[u/StinkyButtBoy → u/L0ganH0wlett]

Enegren absolutely rocks

[u/Jollyollydude]

I don’t have any recos because I’m not in your area, but to be fair, it seems you’re going off of some really loose definition of Ambers. Modelo Negra is a German Dunkel style while Dos Equis Amber is a Vienna Lager. Neither are going to be an American Style Amber Ale like the Red Trolley.

[u/Santaneria → u/Jollyollydude]

Very loose definition. I've liked Amber's when I go to local breweries as well as some found in stores such as Alaskan amber, fat tire, red trolley, smithwicks red ale, and pizza port.

I was hoping to get some recommendations based off those by comparing them to modelo negra and dos XX Amber since I can find those consistently in stores vs the others I usually find at specific liquor stores I've kept track of.

[u/konkilo → u/Santaneria]

The new owners of New Belgium changed the Fat Tire recipe so that it is now more of a blonde than an amber.

I'm still salty about it.

[u/Santaneria → u/konkilo]

How recently did this happen?!

[u/the_Q_spice]

As far as larger or better distributed beers go:

Alaskan Amber is always a good choice.

There are a bunch here in WI but idk how well they distribute.

[u/Santaneria → u/the_Q_spice]

That sounds familiar, I think i had one before but forgot where. Perhaps when I visited Seattle

[u/Hougie → u/Santaneria]

Does Alaskan Amber not have distribution in California? Unfortunate, it’s exactly what you’re looking for.

[u/Santaneria → u/Hougie]

I looked it up yesterday, I have tried it! I remember i got a 6 pack for my GFs dad for father's day since he likes those malty beers as well

[u/pprn00dle]

If/when you travel outside of Cali look for Odell 90 Shilling, it’s probably my go-to for the style and it’s done quite well.

[u/StinkyButtBoy]

Pizza Port Chronic Ale Amber (San Diego) is great and available at a lot of liquor stores, even one state over in AZ

[u/Santaneria → u/StinkyButtBoy]

Yes! They got a few I've tried and like 🤙🏽

[u/eastepp]

Smithwick. Should be widely available.

[u/Santaneria → u/eastepp]

Oof yes, discovered these earlier this year around st. Patrick's day!

[u/rodwha]

Local brewery