hopIQ
ENDE
Sign up freeSign in

Old Scratch Amber Lager

Flying Dog Brewery
Tap to rate
🌍 United States · Amber Lager · One of 12 Amber Lagers in hopIQ

A Vienna-inspired amber lager — the sort of easy-drinking flagship that keeps a brewery honest. Toasted Munich malt lends soft caramel and biscuit notes, a whisper of noble hops finishes it clean and crisp. Old Scratch drinks like a beer built for a bar you'd want to sit at, which is exactly what Flying Dog meant it to be.

ABV
5.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
amber11
See all Amber Lager alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Each axis lands close to the centre in a considered, even reading.

A profile in balance where the form comes from all sides, every layer speaks in turn.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Amber Lager.
Malt character
malty
bready
caramel
toasty
honey
nutty
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Distinctive notes
smooth drinking
Compare with another beer →

FEATURED IN

Featured inThe Best American Amber Ales

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Old Scratch Amber Lager

Appearance

A clear, bright amber hue with golden undertones, built on a foundation of pale and toasted Munich malts. The head rises with modest density and holds a fine, persistent collar against the glass. Carbonation is present but restrained, lending a refined visual quality without aggressive effervescence.

clear amberfine lacingmoderate carbonation

Aroma

The nose opens with soft toasted grain and biscuit—a signature of Vienna-style brewing. Gentle caramel sweetness emerges in the mid-palate of the aroma, with a whisper of honey and subtle nuttiness beneath. Noble hops contribute only a delicate herbal undertone, keeping the profile anchored in malt without assertive florality.

toasted maltcaramel sweetnesssoft noble hops

Taste

The palate enters with a clean, malty backbone and pleasant breadiness that frames the entire experience. Caramel and light honey notes sit comfortably in the mid-palate, followed by a restrained bitterness that polishes rather than dominates. The finish is crisp and refreshing, with a dry quality that invites the next sip.

malty, clean entrycaramel mid-palatecrisp finish

Finish

The aftertaste fades with measured grace, leaving behind a light toasted grain impression and the faintest echo of noble hop bitterness. This is a beer engineered to refresh without lingering.

dry, quick fadetoasted grain memory
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
79
Appearance
78
Finish
77
+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Old Scratch Amber Lager

Serve at 4–7°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

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

Stein
Recommended for this style

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

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Old Scratch Amber Lager

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, toasty character as Old Scratch Amber Lager will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Amber Lagers in hopIQ

Explore all Amber Lager beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →

WHERE TO BUY

Not sure where to find Old Scratch Amber Lager? Search on:

RateBeer →Untappd →