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Northwoods Amber

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Malt takes the lead in this amber lager, hopped with Cascade and Cluster. It was introduced in 1986, and among its ingredients are hops, barley, oats and water from Wisconsin. At 4.9% ABV and 18 IBU it is a year-round regular in the Leinenkugel's range.

ABV
4.9%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter18 IBU
SRM
amber12
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
maltycleancaramel
malty
clean
caramel
Aroma
The nose leads with gentle malt character—toasted grain and subtle caramel notes dominate.
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Northwoods Amber

◎ Appearance

Northwoods Amber presents a clear, medium amber hue with good translucency. The head forms with moderate volume and holds a tight, defined collar that clings to the glass walls as the beer is consumed. Carbonation is evident but restrained, appropriate for the style.

clear amberpersistent lacingmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with gentle malt character—toasted grain and subtle caramel notes dominate. Behind this sits a modest herbal and floral hop backdrop from the Cascade and Cluster varieties, contributing brightness without overwhelming the grain-forward profile. Clean fermentation character allows the ingredients to speak clearly.

toasted grainherbal hopscaramel sweetness

◐ Taste

Malt anchors the palate from entry through mid-point, offering a soft caramel foundation with underlying breadiness from the oats. The Cascade and Cluster hops provide a light herbal bitterness that remains well-integrated rather than assertive. The finish of 18 IBU ensures the beer stays smooth and approachable without any harsh edges.

malty centersoft bitternessclean finish

◑ Finish

The beer finishes dry and crisp, with the malt sweetness fading into a gentle herbal fade. Aftertaste is brief and clean, leaving the palate refreshed and ready for the next sip.

dry aftertasterefreshing
75
hopIQ score
Aroma
74
Taste
76
Appearance
77
Finish
75
Serve at 4–7°C

Serve at 4–7°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Stein

The sturdy German stein maintains temperature and keeps carbonation intact. Built for long, convivial drinking.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Northwoods Amber

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About Amber Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Amber Lager?

Amber Lager is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Amber Lager

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same malty, smooth-drinking, refreshing character as Northwoods Amber will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Amber Lager beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →