In the 1980's the American Craft Brewing scene had gotten under way and some lager brewers thought Pilsner to be too ordinary and too yellow. They wanted to brew something with more flavor and darker in color but use the malts and hops available within the U.S. The brewers used caramel malts to replace the Pilsner ones giving the lager a deep amber color, juicy caramel flavor, a medium bodied palate, and a snappy bitterness that matched the German beers.