Special Amber - Sprecher Brewing Company

Wisconsin

Wisconsin

3.88/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16 ounce bottle into a pint glass

A - Pours a clear amber body with a thin half inch off white head. Plenty of carbonation rising to the top. The head dissipates to a lace after a couple of minutes.

S - Roasted malts and some faint hops standout along with some earthy notes.

T - Much like the smell. Roasted malts are the strong aspect of this beer with the hops and earthy notes not quite as pronounced. Carbonation is provides a good balance between the malts and hops.

M - Roasted malts standout initially with a slight blast of carbonation which finishes up nicely with the hops and earthy notes.

D - This is a pretty good beer. Aside from hot days during the summer I could see myself having a few of these rather easily. Definitely a good beer to have aside a fall bonfire.

I don't understand why this beer is rated so low, maybe the style just doesn't appeal as much as others. However, for the style I think this a pretty solid brew.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2009 01:20:53 | More by Wisconsin

blackearth

Minnesota

3.83/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Purchased from Sprecher Brewery gift shop in Glendale, WI. Poured a bright golden amber body with a thick white head. Aroma was of fruity esters. Medium bodied with a nice bready maltiness and good carbonation. It also has a nice little hop bite in the finish. A very drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2009 15:55:31 | More by blackearth

AmberMan22

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had this on tap, though sadly poured into a plastic glass. Gotta love economies of scale.

Appearance: Burnt (as in slightly darker) amber color, The lacing was clearly somewhat present, but stood no chance of sticking to the plastic cup.

Smell: Smells of caramelly malt, light hops, and some strange sweetness.

Taste: Tastes of rich caramel malts, maybe slightly hoppier than other vienna/amber lagers I've had before. The fact that sprecher brews root beer definitely shines through, as it is a very sweet tasting beer.

Mouthfeel: A nice closer-to-medium bodied lager, slightly heavier than other ambers I've had before.

Drinkability: Definitely enjoyable during a summer/fall night, not too heavy on the alcohol, nor on body. A nice beer to savor with warm apple pie, I feel.

Serving type: on-tap

08-09-2009 20:39:29 | More by AmberMan22

RickS95

Indiana

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

Dark honey color, with a thin white head. Just dark enough to be opaque.

Hops dominate the nose, with malt playing second fiddle in the background.

The taste is a bit unique. The hops again are in the forefront, but the malt does a nice job of balancing out the bitter, give it almost a sweetness before the hoppy bitter prevails in the finish.

A lot of carbonation on the palate. A medium-bodied beer that would suit most occasions.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2009 17:14:57 | More by RickS95

sweemzander

Illinois

3.8/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

16oz. bottle poured into a dimple mug. Bottled sometime in February 2009.

(A)- Pours a clear perfect amber. Huge head that simply did not go away. Super fluffy white stuff that has some serious lacing to it.

(S)- Some caramel maltiness combined with some earthy yeast, hay, and wheat nuances. Some honey in there.

(T)- An interesting combination of a slight bitter hoppiness at the beginning, but then smoothes out to a light malty sweetness of honey, lemon, and muted maple syrup.

(M)- Its crisp and a refreshing combination of sweet malts, lightly hopped, and good carbonation; overall balanced well.

(D)- Its refreshing, balanced, and an all around good beer! Would gladly enjoy this over any american adjunct lager any day of the week.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2009 23:12:04 | More by sweemzander

ClockworkOrange

Pennsylvania

3.13/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a stubby 16 ounce bottle into my nonic pint glass. The lager appears a clear medium apricot color with about a finger of off white foam. Nose and flavor are of biscuit malts, a touch of caramel, earthy grassy hops, somewhat fruity. A bit light bodied with barely adequate carbonation. About average for the style overall.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2009 04:00:48 | More by ClockworkOrange

Ragingbull

California

3.4/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Copper to light amber in color with very active prickle and a head that dissipates rather quickly. The nose is malty with tones like passion fruit or plantain. Very interesting nose. Soft smooth attack with a malt heavy flavor. Some maltiness lingers in the mouth upon the finish. Pretty simple and straightforward aside from the nose.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2009 14:37:11 | More by Ragingbull

yourefragile

District of Columbia

4.05/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

16 oz bottle poured into a nonic.

Clear, medium amber color with creamy off white head that quickly dissipates to a film leaving thick rings of lacing. Aroma is of biscuity malt and light hops. Sweet biscuit and caramel malt body, relatively light with moderate carbonation finishes with a light hop bite. Very crisp and refreshing, almost pilsner like. Nothing extraordinary, just remarkably drinkable and refreshing with a nice hop presence.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2009 20:04:58 | More by yourefragile

zeff80

Missouri

3.73/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Poured out a clear, bubbly orange color with hints of ruby. It had a thick, foamy, off-white head. It left some soapy trails of lace.

S - It smelled fruity and malty with a slightly floral nose.

T - It tasted smooth a malty, nice caramel taste with just enough hop presence.

M - This was smooth and crisp. A light to medium-bodied lager.

D - This is a really nice vienna lager. It is easy drinking and tasty.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2009 01:55:49 | More by zeff80

endincolorado

Ohio

4.08/5  rDev +13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I was really looking forward to trying this because I love the root beer these guys make. I also think the pint-sized bottles are great, and the artwork, though simple, is pretty cool in an old-world sort of way.

Appearance- Pours a clear copper-amber with cream colored head. Nice lacing.

Smell- Nice bready malt is fragrant even from a few inches away. (Serving this at just the right temperature) Some inviting toastiness.

Taste- Great malt flavors. Bread, toast, grain. Nice, light-fruit hop flavor to balance well. Clean finish.

Mouthfeel- Good, medium body. Satisfying. Appropriate carbonation.

Drinkability- An excellent, well-rounded drinker.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2009 00:01:11 | More by endincolorado

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

3.63/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from pint bottle into the Sprecher Maaskrug/ Dimple mug. Awesome glass- perfect size for their beer.

A - A good darker amber color was inviting but produced minimal head.

S - A toasted malty presence was clearly evident and surrounded by a small level of hops.

T - A good balance of hoppy hints and toasted malts with this beer. Nothing spectacular stands out to me. Slightly dry finish.

M - A refreshing and dry texture in the mouthfeel with a good level of carbonation.

D - Easily drinkable. Its certainly a good, solid amber!

I think that based on the small level of info I collected from the smell and taste its something I know I like a lot but would like to revisit and consentrate on more.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2009 15:52:18 | More by BeerFMAndy

LJArsenal

Wisconsin

3.68/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a sixteen ounce bottle into my New Glarus tumbler. Would have used the Sprecher one, but the wife broke it washing dishes a year or so back. Amber reddish-brown hue with a one finger head that quickly dissipates. Some lacing present.

Smell is mainly of toasted malt and a hint of hops. The label touts an "impressive hop bouquet," but I'd say it's marginal at best.

The toasted malt flavor pervades the taste. It seems like there's more here, but it's being somewhat overshadowed. The carbonation and mouthfeel make this one an easy drinker that goes great with a pizza or similarly greasy food to cut the taste. An utterly drinkable beer that doesn't try to do too much, but as a result isn't all that memorable. A respectable offering from an overlooked Wisconsin brewer.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2009 01:51:06 | More by LJArsenal

wheatyweiss

Wisconsin

3.28/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 16 oz. bottle into a pint.
Pours a light amber with a decent one finger head with quickly dissipating lace that leaves spotting of lace on the glass.

Aroma is of light malt with a smallish hop hit. The aroma is actually pretty weak and needs a little more, even when warm.

Flavor is crystal malts and a smallish hop flavor that barely comes through. Despite the relatively low ABV, the beer has a small booziness in the finish. Cracker and bread flavors from the malt and a sweetness that is very up front. Somewhat of a burning from the carbonation that is needed to cut the sweetness.

Mouthfeel is medium and the carbonation is prevalent enough to make it somewhat annoyinng.

Not too impressed, and if SA Lager is a vienna lager and gets great marks, then this is way off style. SA has MUCH more hop flavor, which according to description shouldn't be as upfront. So which is correct?

I know I like SA Lager much more than this beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2009 01:35:45 | More by wheatyweiss

AgingWarrior

Florida

3.65/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a pretty dark amber color into my Duvel tulip glass. Hard pour yields a thick two finger head that provides pretty good lacing and retention.

Smell is sweet, malty and toasty. The scent gets better as the brew warms up a bit.

Taste is a lot like the smell, smooth and malty, but a little lacking.

Medium carbonation and body, very smooth.

Nice easy drinking brew at 5.0% ABV.

I liked this brew, but it just seems to be lacking a little bit on the taste. I'd drink it again, but wouldn't go looking for it.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2008 14:32:19 | More by AgingWarrior

HopDerek

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a clear amber with 1 finger of foamy white head. OK retention leaves behind some spotty lacing. Smells of caramel, bread, a touch of citrus, and a hint of earth. Tastes of honey, caramel, doughy bread, white grapes, and citrus juices like apricot and lemon with a touch of earthy hops in the back end. Medium light in body with good carbonation. Sweet and balanced with a light bitter finish. Nothing extraordinary, but very easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2008 21:30:33 | More by HopDerek

captenaj

Minnesota

2.53/5  rDev -29.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

I had this beer ice cold. It had a nice one inch, pale head that quickly dissipated.

Appearance: Nice light amber color.

Smell: Malty and slightly hoppy. No spices discernible.

Taste: Malt, slightly hoppy but not overpowering.

Mouthfeel: Thin and felt slightly acidic.

Drinkability: OK to have one but I would get tired of it quickly.

Over all and OK beer if nothing else is around.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2008 17:00:58 | More by captenaj

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

3.4/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - pours a drab, slightly hazy orange/amber. A thin head breaks up into a partial cover. Weak dots of lace.

Aroma - light caramel, some butteriness, a hint of sour twang at times.

Taste - sweet, mildly tart beginning with some diacetyl. A light roastiness is decent but a little swept away by the butteriness up front and a nice little hop wash after the swallow. A little touch of citrus there, building up some bitterness as the finish begins to dry. A very English beer with a nice touch or dry bitterness, that's my take on this.

Mouthfeel - medium feel, diacetyl-assisted smoothness. Carbonation feels a bit prickly at first but is really a bit to the lighter side.

Drinkability - okay session beer. I was hoping for a toastier, maltier bottle but this still drank fine.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2008 04:16:22 | More by brewdlyhooked13

Offa

California

4.58/5  rDev +26.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This is an excellent Vienna, interesting, complex, tasty, yet very smooth and highly drinkable.

Deep amber, it has medium, dense, off-white head that slowly dissipates to a rich, foamy ring and leaves a little weak lace.

The aroma is malty with grain, toasted whole wheat, yeast, and a hint of nuts. It's very nice and fairly strong.

The taste is similar to the aroma, with malty, toasty whole wheat bread, hitns of yeats, caramel, nuts. It's very pleasant and smooth, yet tasty and wonderfully balanced between malty sweetness and flowery hop bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2008 23:54:15 | More by Offa

toolbrew

Illinois

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

Poured from a 16oz pint bottle. Nice amber color with a thick white head at first. Good head retention and lacing.

Mild sweet malt scents with a slight hop aroma.

Can taste hops initially. They fade out into a sweeter malt, and then finish with a slightly bitter taste.

Full mouthfeel - almost buttery in a way. The bitterness lingers on the back of the palate.

A very drinkable amber. Great for just sipping.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2008 03:42:11 | More by toolbrew

dbtoe

Wisconsin

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

16 oz bottle poured into a pint glass

Look reddish amber body with a white head.

Smell is slight sweet malt and flowery hops

Taste just like the smell slightly sweet big toasted malt and finished with flowery hop bite. I really liked the flavor a lot.

Feel a little creamy with lively carbonation, enjoyable

Drink Very good goes down easy. I'd like this for just one or for an all nighter.

Comment I really like the use of the 16 oz bottles. I got 2 of these in a sampler pack and really like this one a lot. The taste just grabbed me and I greatly enjoyed it.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2008 18:36:12 | More by dbtoe

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

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

16 oz bottle into a pint glass.

An aggressive pours yields a clear golden amber with 2+ fingers of creamy off-white head. A thin creamy layer of retention just skims the surface, leaving some decent looking swathes of lace behind. The aroma is not overly assertive at all but I can still pick up some notes of caramel, bread, some citrus, and a touch of floral hops on the back.

The taste is toasted bready malts, caramel, a splash of citrus, and a twinge of hops in the back add some balance. The mouthfeel has a light medium feel with good carbonation that goes down easy.

I didn't find anything too special from this Amber Ale but it offered just enough to keep me interested and the drinkibility was good for the style.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2008 16:42:00 | More by Kegatron

WJVII

Wisconsin

3.83/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a pint glass this beer has a nice golden, amber color that is slightly transparent in the light with a decent white head leaving minimal lacing. The aroma is a little sweet with nice spice from hops coming through. The taste is similar to the smell, there is a slight bitterness from hops, but a decent balance with noble hops. Decent brew all be it is not my favorite, the flavor is there.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2008 02:30:04 | More by WJVII

nickynick

Illinois

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

Sprecher Special Amber poured a very nice amber/orange color with a nice white. Smell was strong of malty sweetness and good hops. Taste was malty sweet, and got sweeter as this beer warmed in the glass. Also fruity hints through out the beer. Good hops on the finish. Mouthfeel was nice with good crisp carbonation, and not to thick. Drinkability was nice, could session this beer very easily. Overall I enjoyed this beer a great deal. Nice balance, but the sweet malts really come through. Will purchase this beer again.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2008 14:03:15 | More by nickynick

mynie

Indiana

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

On tap at the brewery. This and the black bavarian are the flagship beers for Sprecher.

Pours like a nice amber. Translucent and dark red with a solid white head.

Smells weedy, nothing hugely strong. Nice and tart and fruity, though, much stronger than many other examples of the style.

Tastes like it smells. Surprisingly firm for the style and exceptionally well balanced. Fruit nodes, lightly weedy malt, and a very smell hint of spice hops at the back.

Too many popular session ambers are just lightly upped versions of crappy adjunct lagers. This one does it walk.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2008 17:23:14 | More by mynie

Gehrig

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +21.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

An aggressive pour yielded an amber body with an orange tint topped with a full finger of off-white head. Modest foamy residue left little lacing. Rich, malty aromas confront the nose, on the sweet side with caramel and berry. I'm much more impressed with the taste than the smell, which I'd sooner be any day. Full-bodied, this is a damn good, malty beer with a hint of hazelnut finish. Creamy and smooth, Sprecher has again produced a very good and satisfying brew worthy of attention and praise. Delicious, and one I'll frequently revisit.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2008 18:27:47 | More by Gehrig