Third Shift Amber Lager 6Pk

Third Shift Amber Lager 6Pk is a 5.3% ABV American amber lager sold in a six-pack of 12 oz bottles, brewed by Coors Brewing Company under the Molson Coors umbrella. This craft-style lager earned a gold medal at the 2012 World Beer Cup in the amber lager category, a distinction that helped launch it from a small-batch experiment into a nationally distributed brand.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5.3%  |  Origin: Golden, Colorado, USA  |  Style: American Amber / Red Lager  |  Brewery: Coors Brewing Company (Molson Coors)

Production & Heritage

Third Shift Amber Lager originated at the Sandlot Brewery in Denver, Colorado — a small pilot brewhouse where Molson Coors brewers develop experimental recipes. The beer was originally called "Flor Hosen," a tongue-in-cheek nod to the German brewing tradition, before being selected by MillerCoors's innovations division from a pool of gold-medal-winning recipes and rebranded as Third Shift. The amber lager is malt-forward in construction, relying on Munich and Vienna-style malt character to deliver its toasted, caramel-driven profile, balanced by moderate hop bitterness and crisp lager fermentation. Production later moved to the company's larger brewing facility in Fort Worth, Texas, for nationwide distribution.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Caramel malt leads the nose, followed by a wheaty, breadlike sweetness. Subtle toasted grain and a faint hop presence round out the aromatics.

Taste: The entry is malt-forward with distinct Munich and Vienna malt flavors — think lightly toasted bread and caramel sweetness. Mid-palate, a mild wheaty note emerges before a noticeable hop bitterness arrives to cut through the malt on the back end. The overall impression is smooth and well-balanced, leaning sweet but never cloying.

Finish: Dry and moderately crisp, with sharp carbonation that cleans the palate efficiently. Lingering toasted malt and a hint of biscuit fade quickly, keeping the beer easy to drink across multiple pours.

How to Drink Third Shift Amber Lager

Serve chilled at 42–48°F in a standard pint glass or a Vienna-style lager glass to let the golden-amber color show. This is a straightforward drinking beer that doesn't require fuss — pour, drink, repeat. For a Michelada, the malt sweetness pairs well with lime, hot sauce, and tomato juice, adding body that lighter lagers lack. In a Beer-a-Rita, the caramel undertones complement citrus flavors without being overpowered. It also works in a Shandy mixed with lemonade, where the toasted malt adds depth that a standard pale lager cannot provide.

Best For

• Backyard barbecues and cookouts where a flavorful but approachable lager is needed
• Introducing macro-lager drinkers to malt-forward amber styles
• Watching sports with friends who want something a step above standard light beer
• Casual weeknight drinking when you want flavor without heaviness

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Third Shift Amber Lager taste like? Third Shift Amber Lager is a malt-forward beer with caramel sweetness, toasted bread character, and a moderate hop bitterness that balances the finish. It drinks smooth and easy with a dry, crisp close.

How does Third Shift Amber Lager compare to Shiner Bock? Both are malt-driven, easy-drinking beers popular across the American South and beyond, but Third Shift leans more toward Vienna/Munich malt flavors with a drier finish, while Shiner Bock tends to have a slightly fuller body and darker caramel sweetness typical of the bock style. Third Shift is also a lager at 5.3% ABV compared to Shiner Bock's 4.4% ABV.

Is Third Shift Amber Lager good for beginners? Yes — its smooth, balanced profile and moderate 5.3% ABV make it an accessible entry point for anyone looking to explore amber lagers beyond standard pale lagers. The malt sweetness is present but restrained, so it won't overwhelm new craft-curious drinkers.

Where is Third Shift Amber Lager made? Third Shift Amber Lager is brewed by Coors Brewing Company, a subsidiary of Molson Coors, headquartered in Golden, Colorado. The recipe was originally developed at the Sandlot Brewery in Denver before production moved to the company's Fort Worth, Texas facility for wider distribution.

What foods pair well with Third Shift Amber Lager? Grilled burgers and bratwurst complement the toasted malt character. Smoked pulled pork mirrors the caramel sweetness nicely. Sharp cheddar cheese creates a satisfying contrast with the beer's malt-forward palate. Roasted chicken with herbs works well against the dry, crisp finish. Soft pretzels with mustard are a natural match for the Vienna-style malt backbone.

What sizes does Third Shift Amber Lager come in? Third Shift Amber Lager is commonly available in six-packs of 12 oz bottles.

Is Third Shift Amber Lager worth the price? Third Shift Amber Lager positions as a value-tier craft-style offering, priced competitively with other domestic specialty lagers. For a gold-medal-winning recipe with genuine malt complexity, it delivers strong value relative to its price tier.

Why Third Shift Amber Lager?

What separates Third Shift from the crowded field of mass-market amber lagers is its origin story — it was born as an award-winning small-batch recipe at the Sandlot Brewery, not engineered by committee in a corporate lab. The 2012 World Beer Cup gold medal validates the recipe's quality against international competition. Its Munich and Vienna malt backbone gives it a flavor complexity that most beers at this price point simply don't attempt. For drinkers who want more character than a standard American lager but aren't chasing hop-heavy craft styles, Third Shift fills a genuine gap.