Special Amber - Sprecher Brewing Company

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy amber color. The head was quite tall and dense. Good carbonation. But the problem was a good amount of flakey floaters of some unknown origin.
Aroma was weak and mostly malts in the Vienna style. The beer was pretty smooth and even refreshing. It was quite malty and hop bitterness gave a good balance.
Perhaps I got a bad batch. The beer was desent at best.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2012 12:51:34 | More by micromaniac129

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.03/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - A hazy amber brown with a light pour only got a 1/4 of sticky sweet head in a lace.

S - Very faint if anything I get faint caramel and toffee (very faint) and some biscuit malts.

T - Yuengling lager only slightly sweeter with more biscuit malts. It's not terrible it's just not that great.

M - Light to medium like Yuengling it's easy to finish.

Overall it's been hit or miss with this brewery but I just don't see any reason to revisit this one.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2012 00:45:43 | More by DrDemento456

mactrail

California

2.23/5  rDev -38.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 1.5

Nice foam-up in the Stella glass, and decently carbonated. However, the perfumey flavor is just plain peculiar. A musty flavor with a sweet base. Candy and Karo syrup flavors. Slight bitterness but no hint of hop flavor. Vanilla ice cream with browned pie crust? Cardboard scent with a whiff of the clothes dryer. Flat and dishwatery aftertaste.

I had been impressed by several Sprecher's beers a few years ago on trips to the Midwest, but I have not had any good ones recently. Maybe the distributor strew some of their beers around the country a couple years ago and left them for the unwary beer adventurer.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 05:13:48 | More by mactrail

Jason

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz brown bottle with no freshness date.

LOOK: Slightly hazed amber, awesome head

SMELL: Freshly toasted bread, hint of caramel, spicy hop, herbal, yeast, clean, lemony

TASTE: Sweet, very bready, balanced, somewhat clean, herbal, peppery hop, Portuguese sweet bread, hop oil, semi-dry finish.

Not as refined as I anticipated but that did not throw me back at all, fresh flavors and a bit of rawness really worked here for me.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2012 04:04:10 | More by Jason

RoamingGnome

Wisconsin

3.95/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured out of a 16 oz bottle into a tulip style pint glass

A) Amber as the name implies. A foamy finger of head dissipates to a nice dusting. Good retention, not much lacing. Decent amount of carbonation noted.

S) Malty sweetness and a little bit of floral and citrus from the hops.

T) Nicely balanced brew. Sweet roasted malt, caramel flavor followed by light pine, grass and a bitter finish.

M) Lighter than I remember, and not lacking carbonation. It's pretty crisp. I wouldn't call it smooth, but it is easy drinking. Lingering aftertaste, that is just okay.

O) Very solid lager here, and definitely one of my favorites from Sprecher. Takes me back to the first Brewer game played at Miller Park. I was guzzling these in the Sprecher tent while tailgating. The next morning, my Dad asked me about when they opened up the retractable roof. I was like, the what now??? Who won? Thanks Sprecher...

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2011 02:52:41 | More by RoamingGnome

rsdaugherty

Colorado

3.78/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle into pint glass
A – A clear honey amber brew with an off-white 1 finger head which reduced to a thin layer with no lacing 3.5
S – Sweet caramel malts with subtle florals and a slight citrus hoppiness 3.5
T – Reminds me of the sweet Hawaiian bread. Malts are caramel with a nutty characteristic with just enough hop presence that you will not miss it nice balance 4
M – Light body and very good drinkability with enough substance to keep it from feeling thin 4
O – As I grow older I find the good experiences in my life are growing in number enough that I will only remember the extraordinary experiences. A nice beer I will not remember or visit again. 3.5

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2011 05:09:44 | More by rsdaugherty

Jammies

Illinois

2.95/5  rDev -18.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A- pours a golden orange with minimal foam. no retention as the foam immediately dissipates.

S- sweet and piney. Pretty balanced smell.

T- deep malty and piney taste. Doesn't "wow" me

M- light body slides across the palate. Maltiness remains

O- Drinkable, but I wouldn't buy this beer. If I had anymore I would probably give them away to make room for some other stuff.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2011 15:35:11 | More by Jammies

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

2.85/5  rDev -21.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Fresh bottle from the brewery. A little cheesy aroma. Much head that resulted in a small retained head, on light yellow body. Not very drinkable,grassy, herbal, light caramel, medium body. A Vienna, just not so tasty.A little sweet, no significant bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2011 01:53:22 | More by northyorksammy

KMcG

Virginia

3.78/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: The namesake is amber so I’m going to go with amber in color. The head begins big and then fades to include some slight traces of head on the edges of the glass.

S-The aroma is mostly malty with some hints of dried dark fruit.

T-Sweet malts and very slight hops are the predominant taste. The aftertaste is mostly crisp with hint of sweetness (caramel).

M-The carbonation is balanced with the flavor for this light to medium brew.

This beer is very easy to drink and is how a lager should be.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2011 13:52:42 | More by KMcG

fatmcb1

Texas

3.68/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear, amber pour with less than one finger of head. Quickly dissipates to a ring

Sweet, malty aroma with a decent amount of hop background.

Plenty of roasted malts and caramel flavor are up front. There is a slight hop balance, but definitely more malt forward.

Good carbonation provides a rich mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2011 02:52:58 | More by fatmcb1

tvv375ia

Iowa

3.38/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 16oz bottle into pint glass

A-Amber is in the name so it appropriate that it pours a nice amber color with about a finger of head that fades away quickly leaving not much for lacing

S-Slightly grainy carmel

T-sweet malts and carmel with a little hint of hops

M-good carbonation finishes on the sweet side

O-good easy drinking not to complex

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2011 21:44:27 | More by tvv375ia

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

3.48/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours out translucent golden brown with a short lived two finger fluffy head, mild lacing. Smells mostly of heavy caramel malt, bready yeasty notes, and some very mild earthy and spice hop aspects. Taste is like graham crackers and nut-tinged malts stampeding all over your tongue. The mild hop presence doesn't even appear until the finish, and even than it is an understated kiss goodnight of noble hops on your lips. It could use a small boost to those noble hops. However, the body is the main issue with this brew. To my mouth, this beer comes across as thin and watery, if only it had a slightly chewier texture, or just a bit heavier body, than I would have to search really damn hard to find something else to nitpick.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2011 18:50:44 | More by WastingFreetime

Lemke10

Wisconsin

3.9/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I bought a single bottle of this from Woodman's in Janesville, WI for $1.79 in early 2011.

Pours a golden amber color with a very bubbly head of foam. Scent is strong with grassy wheats, malts, and a slight touch of citrus. Taste is bold and refined. It is a smooth well blended mixture of wheats, hops, and malts. Is rather refreshing with a not too light/not to strong taste that drinks perfectly. Probably one of the best Vienna Lagers I've had to date.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2011 03:35:41 | More by Lemke10

greybeardloon

Rhode Island

3.15/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Bottled April 21, 2011

A: Dark amber, white head.

S: Caramel. Very mild spicy hops as it warms.

T: Caramel and mealy (somehow the texture seems relevant), overripe apple with just the slightest hint of bitterness. I would much prefer if the hops were there to balance the sweet malt, but as it is, it's sweeter than I like.

M: Medium with good carbonation.

O: A bit like a Brooklyn Lager without hops. I suspect this beer would accompany many dishes well. Without food, I can drink a few, but there are many others I would rather drink.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2011 02:42:30 | More by greybeardloon

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served in a Dogfish Head shaped pint glass.

Funny how "special" has a few meanings, each with its own level of prestige, so to speak. Let's see where this beer lands within that spectrum: It pours a clear amber (how thoroughly apropos) topped by a half-finger of slightly off-white foam. The nose comprises biscuits, graham crackers, and a touch of caramel. It's like a dry, slightly woody (dammit, I forgot to mention the hint of balsa, didn't I?) malt-bomb of the highest order. The taste brings in some mandarin orange and decidedly mild flowers, but these are in turn enveloped by the caramel and graham-influencing honey. It's a lot more nuanced than the smell, and the balance, though off, isn't altogether lost. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a feel that leans toward watery without ever actually making it all the way there. Overall, an okay Vienna, but way too one-sided and too thin to really produce a wow factor.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2011 00:19:36 | More by TMoney2591

Thads324

Connecticut

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

pours a clear and vibrantly bubbly amber color. on the lighter side of amber/copper. good sticky white head that loiters a while. smells musty and sweet, like lager yeast and a hint of corn syrup. Begins with a crisp bread-like flavor, with a sharp but not bitter hop flavor mid profile, before finishing smooth and again crisp. There is a very sweet linger after the finish that I notice halfway through my glass. Very neat package of flavor with no holes, tannins etc. mouthfeel is very crisp and slightly dry, with a good sharp finish that is quite clean.
A well done lager. I could drink this bad boy all day and night. Reminds me somewhat of a lighter colored yuengling, but better flavor. A nice sessionable brew

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2011 20:09:39 | More by Thads324

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16 oz. single from Abe's.

Golden amber body, good clarity, topped by three-plus fingers of snow white micro-micro-bubbles. Very creamy looking.

Strong clean aroma mixes bits of bakery and hay. Inviting though not overly assertive.

Light semi-sweet beginning in the midde of the tongue. Noble hops bite at the swallow and tingle through a long lingering and enjoyable aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is a bit chewier than expected, giving a bit more heft to the beer.

A good solid German inspired lager that you can have a couple of during an evening.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2011 22:20:20 | More by RonfromJersey

bsp77

Minnesota

3.78/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Serving glass: Poured from bottle into Pint glass. Julian bottling date that starts with 11112, so depending on their system, it is either April 11 or 12, 2011.

Appearance: Clear, golden amber with only a thin head.

Smell: Caramel, bread, cherry and a strong metallic note.

Taste: Initial malt backbone of bread, toast, caramel and cherry before giving way to a moderate bitterness consisting of straw, pepper and some metallic notes.

Feel: Moderately high carbonation, light to medium body, pretty dry finish.

Overall: Surprisingly robust Vienna Lager. Great flavor profile that is slightly dampened by a hoppy finish that is a little too metallic and just misses the mark.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2011 21:43:18 | More by bsp77

therica

Maryland

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

A= orange-tea colored, minor head, slight rimming that nearly after 2 minutes; minor pooling.

S= baked apple at first, then musty starchy sweet malts, can't find any hops traces.

T= not bad, drinkable, slightly watery, a bit dry, hops bitterness appearing after it sets for a few minutes.

M= hay and grassy malts, light bitters. In the first bottle, a slight and annoying sweetness on the tongue that doesn't match. I'd hate to call it a corn sweetness taste. I suppose some call it caramel but.... In the second bottle it didn't seem as obvious and had a nicer finish-- maybe a simple day-to-day change in preferences.

O= not bad, drinkable with meals or at social occasions where the beer isn't the feature ie decent table-beer. Should go well with roasted or grilled chicken, burgers, sandwiches, even salad. Going well with Mexican enchiladas at the moment.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2011 23:27:55 | More by therica

BigRedN

Nebraska

3.1/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: Poured from the bigger size 16 oz bottle into a pint glass. The beer pours a light amber to orangish color. My pour produces a generous white head over an inch in height (perhaps I was a bit too vigorous in pouring). Head fades over time to a decent cover/ring around the glass.

Smell: Light aromas of malt, lightly sweet malt. A hint of caramel, toffee, nothing hoppy here.

Taste: Some slightly sweet caramel malts. Faint bitterness on the finish. If I did not know this was a Vienna Style lager I would have bet on an all malt lager.

Mouthfeel: Smooth on the tongue with a faint prickliness on the throat as it goes down. This beer is light in body, light in carbonation.

Drinkability: Got a 4 pack of this for cheap on closeout for $4. Ok, not great (a stretch to even say good). Better representatvive beers for the style are available IMO.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2011 05:20:30 | More by BigRedN

chicagoabbot

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap in liter stein at "The Three" in Milwaukee during the Super Bowl, just catching up on the review now from some notes I jotted in my phone...the bar officially know as Y-Not Y-Not Y-Not. Props to the owners on a great Super Bowl Party, the venison stew was tops!

Bright almost neon appearance. This beer is super-bright orange! Very cool in that respect.

Smell is a little lacking. I like the hop and malt profiles, but the yeast funk is not strong enough for a Vienna style lager in my opinion.

Pretty tasty, not a stand out, but well balanced and nothing objectionable. I tend to be a little critical of ambers, but this isn't bad.

Must be highly drinkable, because I drank 4 liters worth of steins as the Packers romped their way to a victory!

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2011 21:35:46 | More by chicagoabbot

auro0006

Minnesota

3.35/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The color is a nice copper with a hint of red. The head rises quickly, but also dissipates quickly.

The aromatics are reminiscent of a nice German amber lager. Great toffee, toasted malts and caramel.

The body is crisp and nicely carbonated. Flavors of caramel and toasted malts wash over the tongue. Bready flavors mix with dark fruits in the center of the palate.

The finish brings forward nice hop bitterness for balance and hint of dryness.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2011 01:31:12 | More by auro0006

metter98

New York

3.68/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A: The beer is clear and light amber in color. It poured with just a few bubbles floating on the surface and no signs of visible carbonation.
S: The nose has light to moderate aromas of sweet toasted malts with notes of spicy hops.
T: The overall taste is rather malty and is both buttery and nutty. There is a slight amount of sweetness in the initial taste and some notes of bitterness in the finish.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and a bit watery with a very light amount of carbonation. There is a slight amount of dryness in the finish.
D: Drinking this beer is a breeze; it goes down easily and is rather sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2010 20:51:37 | More by metter98

CaptainIPA

Wisconsin

3.45/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a light amber color with a creamy white head that settles to a beading of foam. Sticky patchwork lacing on side of glass.

Hop bouquet with a sharp metallic note. Medium bodied and crisp with expressive carbonation. Opens with interplay between toasted malt and fresh hops. Suggestions of buttered biscuit and grain. Delicate balance between malt and hops continues with malt sweetness moving to the forefront. Finishes powder dry with a lingering hint of bitterness.

Drinkable sure, but not impressive enough to make it rewardingly sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2010 16:26:19 | More by CaptainIPA

GhostMtnAbbey

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +23.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is one of the best Sprecher beers I've enjoyed.

I'd rate this second (so far) under the Black Bavarian.

It pours great with a big billowy head with an aggressive pour. However like most Sprecher beers leaves very little lacing on the glass.

Smell is a great balance of malt and hops - with multiple hops seemingly present.

Very drinkable. Ambers are not one of my favorites, however this amber is worth buying a case for easy accessible drinking. Not an award winner for uniqueness, but its a great drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2010 03:14:53 | More by GhostMtnAbbey