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Blue Buck

Phillips Brewing & Malting Co.
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🌍 Canada · Amber Ale · One of 21 Amber Ales in hopIQ

The brewery's long-standing house ale, built on a robust malt-forward body with crisp northwest hops underneath. Balanced rather than assertive, and the beer Phillips leans on as its everyday drinker. The ingredient list is short: water, barley, hops, yeast. It is the most widely packaged beer in the range, sold in three can multipacks, tallboys and two keg sizes.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
SRM
amber12
See all Amber Ale 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 Ale.
Hop character
hoppy
Malt character
malty
caramel
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Distinctive notes
smooth drinking
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Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Blue Buck

Appearance

Deep amber hue with bright clarity and clean presentation. A dense, off-white head forms readily and holds with good retention, leaving deliberate lacing down the glass. Fine carbonation evident throughout, contributing to the beer's refined visual character.

deep amberbright claritypersistent headfine carbonation

Aroma

Restrained and balanced on the nose, leading with soft caramel notes from the malt backbone. Northwest hops emerge as a secondary layer—crisp and clean, without aggressive citrus or resin. The overall impression is welcoming and approachable, with no solvent or yeast-derived esters.

caramel sweetnesscrisp noble hopscleansubtle malt

Taste

Entry is smooth and rounded, driven by a robust malt body that anchors the beer without heaviness. Mid-palate reveals layers of biscuit and light caramel, balanced by a gentle hop bitterness that refreshes rather than dominates. The finish is dry and clean, with lingering malt character and no harsh edges.

malt-forwardbalanced bitternesssmooth-drinkingbiscuit notes

Finish

Medium-length finish that remains crisp and refreshing. The aftertaste is clean and slightly dry, allowing the beer to function as an everyday drinker without fatigue.

clean aftertasterefreshing finish
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
75
Taste
80
Appearance
82
Finish
77
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Blue Buck

Serve at 8–11°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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

Food Pairing

What to eat with Blue Buck

About Amber Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Amber Ale?

Amber Ales have 4.5–6.2% ABV and IBU 25–40. Caramel malt sweetness balanced by moderate hop bitterness, a reddish-amber colour and smooth finish.

Finding a similar Amber Ale

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

Other Amber Ales in hopIQ

Explore all Amber Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse Canada beers →

WHERE TO BUY

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