Millstream Schild Brau Amber - Millstream Brewing Company

jwolfie70

California

3.73/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Many thanks to Hero27 for giving me an opportunity to try this beer.

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Sam Adams pint glass. It poured a typical bronze amber, with little carbonation and onlyh a thin head.

Smelled great, and what you would expect from a good Marzen, spiciness, sweetness, and malt.

Tasted like sourdough bread, with spicy malt, some sweetness (but surprisingly dry) and a hint of metallic flavor (not over bearing as in some beers, but a hint was there).

Overall, an enjoyable beer. I am looking forward to trying others from this brewery.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2008 02:38:16 | More by jwolfie70

LordofTime25

Iowa

3.9/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Tried in the Amana Colonies at the brewery!

Pours dark amber and slightly hazy with a thick creamy off-white head.

It has an aroma is very clean. Malty, caramel and frutiy tones too it.

Tastes tangy, nutty, fruity, with a big malt kick.

Has a light feel in your mouth with a full flavor.

I would drink it again!

Serving type: on-tap

10-14-2008 22:28:02 | More by LordofTime25

Gehrig

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear, pleasant copper-orange body topped with a thick finger of off-white head; modest duration and lacing accompany it. Subtle malty nose, decent caramel and a bit of hazelnut--not enough of either. The flavor is better with a bit of chocolate emerging eventually. Smooth mouthfeel, very nice. A fine all-around beer, certainly not spectacular nor off-putting, a good solid representative of the style. Wroth trying.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2008 15:02:21 | More by Gehrig

Deuane

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

My last of my Iowa care package from Badbeer.

A-Clear amber with a thin light tan head that reduced to a thin ring leaving minimal lace.

S-Sweet caramel upfront and a hint of lightly toasted malt in the background.

T-Sweet caramel with a brief hint of light fruit and a wafting of hop bitterness.

M-The best feature with this beer....medium-light body with a very clean,crisp jaunty mouthfeel. Very nice.

D-A decent session brew...but too sweet for me to make it one. This is the Iowa version of Yuengling Lager...only sweeter.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2008 22:11:59 | More by Deuane

Vancer

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a deep oaken amber, capped with a firm and frothy tan head. Bready, woody resins dominate the aroma, even some spicy notes mixed in the batch. And these aromas are all present in the quaff, along with some black pepper.

Medium bodied and drinks smooth and easy like a malty lager should. Very good beer from a behind the scenes brewer. A close to session brew for cooler temps with the 5% abv.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2008 22:55:46 | More by Vancer

BeerZack

North Carolina

3.88/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Dark copper color with minimal head.

Sweet caramel, marzipan, some toffee, fig, hint of spice (nutmeg).

Pleasantly surprising flavor, much more subdued sweetness than the nose shows. Some mild caramel sweetness balanced by some dry roasted barley notes and just enough hop bitterness to almost cleanse the palate.

Medium-heavy carbonation, a bit stinging, medium body. Pretty drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2008 19:18:42 | More by BeerZack

dnichols

Washington

4/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A friend in Iowa sent me a mixed six pack of Millstream brews including this one. I poured the capped 12 ounce bottle into a pint glass.

A: It poured a slightly hazy amber body with a finger high head of off-white bubbles that receded to an even cover over the top of the beer. The head and modest carbonation supported a lacing that was spotty and leggy.

S: It had aromas of lightly toasted malts with hints of caramel and fresh flowers and apples. It was very refreshing and clean.

T: It began with sweet toasted malts with hints of apples and pears, as well as floral hops.

M: It was light-bodied with medium carbonation and a clean crisp finish. No lingering aftertaste.

D: It was a refreshing and crisp brew that has a body and ABV level meant for a long session.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2008 00:27:39 | More by dnichols

zeff80

Missouri

3.43/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured out a burgandy/reddish brown color with a small, cream-colored head. No lace.

S - It smelled of grasses and very malty.

T - The dominant taste was a sweet maltiness. It also had a spiciness reminiscent of a Winter Warmer.

M - It was a little thin. A medium-bodied beer.

D - This is pretty good. It may have been a little too old. I'd like to try a fresher one during Octoberfest.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2008 18:22:55 | More by zeff80

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.3/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a clear amber body with a thin, bubbly white head.

Smell: Altogether mild aroma of toasted malts with light notes of apple and flowers.

Taste: Toasty maltiness with a mild sweetness and a hint of red apple peel. Vaguely floral hop character with little bitterness provided. Crisp finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-thin body. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: A fine, easy-drinking beer. Why, it's schild's play!

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2007 21:25:00 | More by ChainGangGuy

uwmgdman

Wisconsin

3.73/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This brew pours a nice deep amber into my pint glass. The head is off white and suspended in the beer are some small chunks, likely a bit of yeast, as it looked to be bottled conditioned (I don’t think it was dry hopped judging by the aroma). Speaking of aroma, the aroma has a moderate-high caramel sweetness, with a bit of toasted character, as well as some dark fruits like raisin and a little spicy hop, a nice nose. The flavor is moderately sweet, has a moderate spicy, toasted malt character, as well as a hint of dark fruit, almost a bit bittersweet. The hop bitterness is moderate and provides a nice balance to lots of malts. The finish is balanced and the beer has moderate carbonation and medium-full body. Overall this was a solid brew. I’d drink it again.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2007 01:56:20 | More by uwmgdman

Chaz

Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a very clear/nearly-brilliant golden-copper in color, with proper visible carbonation. A moderate pour produced a medium-tan head of average duration and lacing. Rich, malt-driven nose is fruity, slightly tangy-sour, and is a touch metallic (copper kettle?) Especially on the nose, this brew could be easily mistaken for an amber ale. Sweet and fruity on the first sip, with a mildly tangy, cleansing middle, and a dry, biscuity finish. A nice, light hint of caramel is present, and fruity esters work their way into the aromatics via the carbonation, and suggest notes of ripe red apple and golden pear. There's a touch of alcohol evident in the aromatics as well, but it is in no way "hot", but rather "present". Very minimal bitterness here, and the hop profile is consistent with the style. The metallic notes evident on the nose are likewise evident here, and are unobtrusive and stylistically consistent. The biscuity, bready malt finish is well anchored in the dry end of the spectrum, and it's this dry biscuity finish that lingers here, much more so than whatever bitterness this brew posesses. Instead, there's a mildly citric (orange) character which is evident throughout that lingering malt profile, and it's quite enjoyable (a bit like orange marmelade on a ginger snap). Schild Brau is a rather faithful rendition of the style, and has remained very consistent over the past five or six years. I enjoy it on draught every year and look forward to bringing some back to share with friends. A solid, session-worthy amber lager.

Served chilled, in a half-liter mug.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2007 22:15:19 | More by Chaz

BigBry

Alberta (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Brought back as part of a mixed case directly from the brewery in Amana.
Slightly shorter brown 12 oz bottle (as pictured above), month clipped into side of label.
Poured a copper/red color with a short white head. No real retention or lacing. Aroma of toasted bread, malty with just a bit of grass. Taste has more maltiness as expected woth some very light hop finish. Clean and light, slightly dry finish. Nothing spectacular, but well made. A great choice for something flavorful but not 'over the top'. I bet it would be great fresh from the tap.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2007 22:06:11 | More by BigBry

pootz

Ontario (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Bottle:

Poured a deep reddish-copper with a 1 finger cap displaying modest retention and lacing. Color is correct for a Vienna (about 15deg. Lovibond) .

Aroma is right for a Vienna..toasty, bready but not sweet some hay-like hallertau hops...very subdued though in this beer.

Taste is better, a fair dose of rich toasty Munich malts in the front are joined mid palate with spicey-herbal noble hops finish is clean lightly drying and biscuity.

This is a decent crafted all malt Vienna....very servicable and drinkable

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2007 23:48:37 | More by pootz

Zorro

California

3.7/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Obtained in a trade with hero27 as an extra in the box.

Quite a dark lager, this is way past what can be called amber and is a red ale with a head that doesn't really form.

The smell is very malty and quite full of the scent of Munich malt. Reasonably strong aromas of toasted grain and toffee candy and a lesser scent of coffee. Faint herbal aroma from hops but not a hop beer by any stretch of the term.

The taste begins neutral with a surprising chocolate and hazelnut taste. The hazelnut taste is so strong that it is almost as if a shot of Frangelico has been dropped in the glass. There is a lot of chocolate and toffee taste to go along with the nut taste and the overall effect is quite nice.

The mouthfeel is good.

Quite a nice beer and one that I could see drinking again.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2007 02:37:02 | More by Zorro

wcudwight

North Carolina

3.48/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to hero27 for my first Iowa beer.
Caramel in color thin off white head with little retention. Thin, wet, drippy ring of lace around the rim of the glass.
Aroma has lot's of caramel with a hint of spice. Nutmeg maybe. Smells like a winter warmer. Not a bad smell, I just wish it was a bit stronger.
Lot's of heavy caramel malts flavors. Nice mixture of spiciness in the flavor. Slight hint of butter in the finish but it's so slight it doesn't really detract from the overall flavor of the beer. Pretty good.
Mouthfeel is fuller and heavier than expected. Medium carbonation.
Smooth quaffable beer. Certainly not mind blowing in it's complexity or anything. But, it serves it's purpose. I enjoyed sitting down with this one. Wish I had a couple more.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2007 03:18:08 | More by wcudwight

scoobybrew

Iowa

3.78/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

This was poured into a pint glass from the bottle. It has a nice amber color with a decent head that settles into a lacing. The aroma is one of rich, sweet malt. Upon tasting, it's sweet, but not cloying. The malt taste is up front with a gentle hop finish. It's very clean. It has a medium-full body with moderate carbonation.

I think this is a good example of an oktoberfest. It's a bit malty for my own personal tastes of routine consumption, but it's very tasty none-the-less.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2007 22:33:52 | More by scoobybrew

afinepilsner

Iowa

3.5/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz brown bottle

Schild Brau Lager was a clear orange-red color with a small off-white head that quickly faded to a thin layer. The aroma was sweet caramel malt and a little toasty. The taste was sweet toasty malt upfront with some bitterness to balance in the finish. The body was medium with plenty of carbonation. Drinkability was above average. It's a decent beer that I have from time to time.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2007 23:02:27 | More by afinepilsner

terrabyte

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +25.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours a clear, dark amber. I poured aggressively, but only a small head formed.

Aroma smells like creamy caramel and sweet malts.

Flavor was "relaxation in a bottle". Extremely mellow, and very smooth. The main flavor I could pick up was caramel. Seemed to be sweetened by caramel or brown sugar. There was a hint of nutmeg, but not too much.

Mouthful was perfect. Despite the lack of head, it was well carbonated, creamy, and smooth.

This is a great concoction. I'm probably going for a record on using the word "smooth" too much, but that's exactly what this beer is, and I was so ready for another one. Never have I been so disappointed before about only having 1 bottle. It's ironic I've eaten at the Amanas a hundred times but never visited this brewery. Well that is going to change and I'm putting my mouth on this beer's tap!

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2006 22:13:40 | More by terrabyte

brewcrew76

Wisconsin

2.23/5  rDev -37.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Thanks to hero27 for this one from the BA fantasy baseball league.

A - Pours a clear amber with very little white head that is gone in seconds.

S - Heavy nutty and biscuit aroma with some vegetal scent mixed in.

T - Tastes like stale beer, which I typically seem to taste in beers with a good deal of biscuit. Very nutty and biscuit flavor with some caramel. I get a little DMS also.

M - Very highly carbonated making me burp after each sip.

D - Too many flavors I did not like to try again.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2006 03:49:16 | More by brewcrew76

nouseforotacon

Connecticut

3.7/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Props to BuckeyeNation for this one, it was an extra goodie in our trade.

Rich, semi-transparent garnet/amber colored bottom with a really weak head. Tiny, carbonated bubbles on top. No foam, no lacing.

Strong soapy/diacetyl aroma, sweet butterscotch, followed by a smoky/roasted character. Heavy on the malts, pleasant. Touch of fragrant perfume. Really reminiscent of the Baeren Maibock I had in Japan.

Lightly toasted malts and a tart flavor profile. Smoky, like tobacco. Touch of hops. Tartness lingers on the finish. Light, but has some body. Semi-dry mouthfeel. Refreshing, sustainable brew.

This one is not overly complex, but is a pretty good marzen nonetheless. Good for a session.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2006 18:33:16 | More by nouseforotacon

badbeer

Iowa

3.75/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a nice dark amber color, transparent, and had a white head; but the fact the head left with no trace brings it down. Smell of caramel and toffee. Sweet caramel greets your taste buds, paired with some toffee and a soft, earthy bitterness to even things out. Really well balanced taste. Higher carbonation than average, medium bodied. After finishing up a test, this one hit the spot nicely. I'd have another, but unfortunately this is the only one I had.
Worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2006 03:58:36 | More by badbeer

BretSikkink

Mexico

3.6/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Looks like an Oktoberfest, on the darker side. Flamed malts add distinctive character to nose and taste. Smell a little underwhelming, some grassiness. Taste is very smooth, nothing offensive to the palate, nor particularly stimulating. Light bodied, good spicing from Bavarian hops. Each sip goes down smooth, but I don't think I'll need more than one for now.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2006 04:55:00 | More by BretSikkink

beachbum1975

Ohio

2.95/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Everything thing about this beer was caramel. It poured a cloudy, rich caramel or dark copper with a surprisingly dark tan head that evaporated leaving no lacing or head. It smelled of caramelized malts, faint apples and possibly strawberries. After getting past a wave of almost buttery toasted malts and caramel, the taste reminded me of a light-bodied saison – strange, isn’t it?

To be honest, I was surprised to read this was a Märzen…

Like the other beers I tried from Millstream Brewing Co., I am glad I tried it, but don’t exactly feel the need to fly to Iowa to get more.

Thanks to Mynie for the trade!

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2006 02:30:32 | More by beachbum1975

Metalmonk

North Carolina

3.63/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Never tried this beer when I actually lived in Iowa (a whole 25 years), and now it comes to me via my beer-loving brother (BA name mnwags). Thanks bro!

The head lasts only a few seconds, the bubbles are plenty and the color is a clear, glassy amber.

Mild aroma brings caramel, brown sugar and even faint pumpkin to the nose. I really had to sniff hard to get anything out of the aroma here. But what is there I like.

Flavor is strong on the malts, plenty of caramel, toffee and just a little nutmeg. This is helped along by a wonderfully creamy mouthfeel, the best aspect of this beer. It hangs in there like melted butter and never thins.

Easy to like, hard to deeply love, but a good, sensible, worthy offering. Marzen/Oktoberfest purists may have some issues, but I'd never kick this out of my festival mug.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2006 22:40:30 | More by Metalmonk

dirtylou

Washington

3.55/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz single, must have come from Brennan's on a cheese/sausage/wierd beer run

appearance: poured into pint glass...bright amber body, small tan head with light lacing left behind...pretty standard

smell: sweet malt body, quite nutty, caramel, sweet apple/pear, a touch bready

taste: initial main taste a sweet and nutty flavour, sweet malt and grain form the body, light caramel...good but rather standard

mouthfeel: medium body, quite smooth

drinkability: pretty good

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2006 02:59:34 | More by dirtylou