Ales: Amber, Red and Blonde

The ale styles known as Amber, Red and Blonde are what I like to think of as your "basic" ales. There's nothing fancy going on here, no truckloads of unnecessary hops, no addition of flavorings like fruit or coffee, just plain ol' ale! One could think of these ales as the craft beer industry's answer to the American pale lager...a much wittier and more well-read answer! They all clock in at 4.5 - 6% ABV and have a moderate hop profile of 25-30 IBU. They all tend to be similar in some respects to lagers, but with a layer of subtlty and complexity not found in most lagers. The main difference among these three styles is color. The blondes are naturally a golden yellow, the reds a coppery red and the ambers somewhere in between, although some reds can differ in taste, with a sweeter, maltier character reminiscent of a Vienna Lager or a Märzen. Of the amber ales, New Belgium's Fat Tire is a great example, as is Nebraska-brewed Lucky Bucket and Odell's 90 Schilling. Red Ales seem to proliferate around St. Patrick's Day, with Killian's being a great example of the style. Don't confuse a red ale with that Midwest abomination, beer mixed with tomato juice!