Old Scratch Amber Lager Review

America’s history is rich with lagers, recipes brought over by desperate Germans looking for a new life. They brought with them an entire beer drinking mentality which changed how Americans view beer. Flying Dog issues their own Amber Lager and shows off their recipe and ideas.

The initial pour is a gold amber color, as you’d expect from the title, with a light white head which dies off within a minute of the pour. The carbonation is subtle when peering through the golden liquid but tickles the tongue upon sipping.

You’ll find little aroma from this brew, very subtle and light. This is an absolutely must try beer for those experimenting with micro brew recipes and new drinkers to the genre. For those used to mass market beers, this will be easy to consume and understand. The beer does resonate complexity on the pallet, more than a lighter mass market brew, with a caramel sweet taste and a slight bitter finish.

Like many of Flying Dog’s lighter golden, dare I say “summer” style brews (this isn’t a seasonal), their beers are often less hoppy than others, which is desirable to some and a turn off to others. If you’re looking for a hop riddled beer to bombard your senses with bite, look elsewhere. If you’re looking for a relaxing beer with a sweet taste and enough hops to build a complexity and slight bite without a lingering aftertaste this is a must buy.

Alcohol by volume is 5.5%, not exactly a potent beer, but you can taste that by sipping. The sweet taste is subtle and has no need to be overpowering as the alcohol content isn’t as high as some of their other brews. The higher content beers require a bit more balance to work well in the mouth and Old Scratch is a lighter drink in taste and punch.

You’ll find you can consume the Amber Lager in a matter of minutes, so the 5.5% ABV can catch up to you quickly if you find yourself cracking open a few bottles. Old Scratch has won awards since 2004 and continues to be a heavy hitter in the industry.

Although it doesn’t have any overwhelming characteristics it’s a great beer to relax to during a sports event, on the lawn or at the pool. You won’t be blown away by hops or alcohol but you will feel satisfaction in a dollar well spent. And, with hop prices on the rise, we all have to feel some satisfaction in our expenses, right?