Mamma Mia! Pizza Beer - Pizza Beer Company

leftmindedrighty

Pennsylvania

3.2/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

12oz fatty bottle poured into a pint glass. This "gem" was picked up from Steve's Liquor in Madison, WI.

Smell, huh. Smells kinda like day old pizza. Some oregano, faint hit of garlic, but no hops.

Taste, well, it, uh, kinda tastes like pizza. Strong flavors of oregano and garlic, along with that sharp acidic taste from tomato sauce. Hops are noticeable though, and I think that is this beer's redeeming quality. Goes down smooth with the exception of the garlic getting in the way. I love garlic, but not in liquid form.

Overall, it tastes like pizza. What did you expect? But really, it's one of the most unique beers I've ever tasted. Kudos to the brewers for thinking outside the box, and kudos to Sprecher for taking a chance on this beer. Believe it or not, this is the new "Extreme Beer". Beer brewed with food, it's the new fad. You heard it here first.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2008 00:15:52 | More by leftmindedrighty

Roeters

Michigan

3.2/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Light amber color, thin white head, no lacing

Nice herbal aroma of tomato, garlic, and some other herbs, Smells like left over pizza.

Mild front that picks up in the middle with a light tomato/herb flavor that is quite close to a good pizza sauce. Finishes nicely with little after taste.

Very light body, too light for the herbal flavors

I wish this was in Michigan, I would keep a few in the Fridge for cooking and to enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2008 07:34:18 | More by Roeters

Bitterbill

Wyoming

3.2/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I got this bottle in a trade with Nutbrown. Thanks Alan!

It pours a cloudy orange gold with a 2+ finger head of foam.

The smell has some sweet and some spice going on. I get notes of oregano and basil big time with a side order of tomatoes. Interesting.

The taste has those smells in the taste but not as overpowering as I was fearing. Nice bitter taste near the finish with more spice there as well. For a beer labelled as a Pizza Beer, I think they did a good job capturing the essence of pizza.

Good medium mouthfeel and carbonation.

Drinkability? 1 is definitely enough at one sitting but I'm somewhat surprised that I finished the bottle without a problem. Btw, head retention was very good and it had some decent lacing.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2009 22:41:04 | More by Bitterbill

Kolsch

Pennsylvania

3.2/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Hard not to judge this without being biased by the Pizza Smell/Taste claim.

Appearance: Orange colored with small cusp of head that remained thru drink.

Smell: Definitely smells like one of the chef-boyardee pizza kits that looks so good on the package but taste so darn awful.

Taste: Oregano, sauce, cheese....mmmm..getting hungry.

Overall: They achieved what they set out for-a beer that taste just like pizza. I see this going the way of the 3 Stooges Beer several years ago.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2009 15:23:31 | More by Kolsch

SykDoc

Wisconsin

3.18/5  rDev +19.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle into a tulip. It pours a clear, very light copper. A 1/4 inch head quickly recedes to no lacing.

The aroma is primarily like a malty lager with some notes of tomato, basil, and garlic, which are actually quite good.

The taste goes straight to the heart of pizza mixed with a nice malted beverage and good notes of tomato, basil, oregano, and a little less garlic although a nice garlicky taste and tingle lingers on the tongue.

The mouthfeel is fairly light bodied although this is made up for by a unique and reasonably good taste. There is an adequate level of carbonation and it is definitely not sticky.

Overall, this is a very interesting beer. I like the taste and overall presentation, although the mouthfeel could have been better. I can't say that I'd want to drink it frequently, but it is definitely worth trying and enjoying, as I was surprised by the quality. I will be having it again.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2009 00:32:42 | More by SykDoc

jhp40219

Kentucky

3.18/5  rDev +19.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

16 oz. bottle poured into a wine glass

A: Murky amberish orange with a thin white head. No lacing as you drink, but a good retention on the head.

S: Exactly as advertised: pizza. Tomato, oregano, basil, pizza dough, the whole nine yards. Like sticking your nose in a fresh pizza. I swear I smell green olives!

T: Tomato, pepperoni, garlic, olives, dough, even kind of salty. Liquid pizza! And like the last reviewer said, "background of pils type malt and wheat". Definitely not like any beer I have ever had before.

M: Little carbonation. Rather laight, not unlike a pils or lager. But not too weak.

D: Let's face it, you're going to get this for the same reason I got it: novelty. Drinkability doesn't really play into it. But it is what is is advertised as, pizza beer. If you like fresh pizza, you're probably going to find this drinkable. Even if it is a bit unusual tasting for a beer. Not bad at all. I could see myself drinking another one of these or two.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2010 00:25:37 | More by jhp40219

cdkrenz

Wisconsin

3.18/5  rDev +19.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Thanks drizzam!

A - Light, bubbly, quick-lived, eggshell colored head. The body is pale reddish copper colored and transparent with a strong amount of rising bubbles.

S - It has the aroma of a nicely spiced marinara sauce with a backdrop of malty brew. It reminds me of the dipping sauce that comes standard with a frozen pizza fries.

T - Well, for a spiced beer it tastes rather mild. There is a hint of spice throughout with a finish tasting a bit of oregano.

M - It has a fine coarseness to it. Remarkably, this brew goes down easily and at a rather quick pace.

~ At the very least this is a very interesting brew. I'm told this beer is no longer made, so if you see one on the shelf at your local brew store, you probably want to nab one, even if only for the sake of saying you gave it a try.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2011 02:29:25 | More by cdkrenz

joemcgrath27

Alberta (Canada)

3.15/5  rDev +18%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

A - clear golden, thumb of white head retained at a thin covering, lots of bubbles rising from the bottom
S - definitely smells of a herb & garlic tomato sauce as advertised, hints of adjunct and grains
T - reminds me of a canned pizza sauce, including a little bit of the can in the taste, the oregano and garlic really hang around, maybe even a little too long. As far as beer flavours, adjunct and grains like the nose
M - a typical thin adjunct lager feel
O - it starts promising but gets a little blah towards the end, but big points for creativity, a must try for the novelty factor

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2012 01:20:03 | More by joemcgrath27

THECPJ

Delaware

3.13/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Reviewed from notes:

appearance: orange amber color with a minimal white head

smell: tomato, garlic,

taste: tomato, basil, garlic,

mouthfeel: mild carbonation, medium body,

overall: reminds me sort of like a tomato soup flavor. not a terrible beer just different. Glad I finally got to try it.

Cheers,
The CPJ

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2011 01:44:41 | More by THECPJ

orbitalr0x

Illinois

3.1/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Brewed for Pizza Beer Company by Sprecher Brewing Co. Pours into my glass from the 16oz bottle a very hazy yellow orange with a half inch of creamy white head on top. No real lacing to speak of. Aromas start out with toasted grains along with a mix of kicthen spices. Oregano, basil and garlic all play a part, the pungent unmistakable garlic is playing the largest part. Light tomato in the background. It's not too bold and in your face but all the spices are there. Interesting to say the least.

First sip brings an extremely light cereal grainy maltiness upfront that's quickly met by a sharp, vegetal spiciness. Oregano, basil and garlic flow across the tongue. I get a light tomato flavor on the way down but it almost seems like an afterthought. Finishes with a light grain sweetness and lingering spices on the tongue.

Mouthfeel is on the thin side with fast moving carbonation that explodes with each sip. The body really disappointed me here as I think if it would have been fuller it would accentuated the beer much better. Overall, it's an interesting beer to try and fairly tasty being as the spicing is not overpowering. However, I can't say it leaves me wanting to run out and drink it again!

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2008 02:16:14 | More by orbitalr0x

ATLbeerDog

Georgia

3.1/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep a cloudy orange color with a below average head, and below average lacing and slightly under carbonated. Smells of pizza spices hops. Tastes of oregano, onion, and garlic that's complements nicely with a the hops. Not too bad...actually this is surprisingly fairly good

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2008 22:08:52 | More by ATLbeerDog

UCLABrewN84

California

3.1/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Bottle I brought to share at drewone's tasting.

Pours a hazy orange with a foamy bone colored head that settles fades to nothing. No lacing on the drink down. Smell is of malt and the pizza spices like oregano, basil, and garlic. Taste is much the same with a mild spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is an average beer that isn't as bad as I was expecting but definitely a novelty item in the beer world.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2012 00:24:57 | More by UCLABrewN84

drabmuh

Maryland

3.08/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

I have not so secretly been wanting to try this beer for a really long time. It is not normal and I think a good descriptor of this beer is that its interesting but not good. Its always hard to write these reviews, on one hand, I am conflicted. Did they make a beer that is flavored like a pizza? Yes, yes they did. Did they present it in a format that successfully launches a beer that is drinkable and pleasant? No, no they did not. I will thoroughly describe the beer and rate it based on my personal enjoyment.

Beer poured from the bottle into a pint glass (they say use a wine glass but give me a break). Beer is dark yellow / reddish in color and this one is hazy. A thin white head forms and there is a lot of carbonation that props it up. The carbonation is of large bubbles but there is not lacing on the glass.

The aroma is a homerun as far as a pizza beer is concerned. Every time I take a sniff, it smells more like pizza. At first its the basils, then the oregano, the oregano dominates for the while but then I pick up on some tomoato sweetness. Pizza smelling beer? Success, congratulations.

The first taste is the worst. I was scared to take it, the oregano and the basil are there the most. I was expecting some sulfur from the garlic but it just wasn't there. The beer was a little sweet from the tomatoes, they are well represented in a muted way. I've had other beers that use basil, a Bison beer and Black Thai, but this is just odd. It really tastes like pizza sause. Its kind of incredible.

There is an unfortunate pizza aftertaste that really subtracts from the experience. Beer has medium to low body and lots of carbonation in the mouth, giving it the illusion of more body than it really has.

I didn't love it, I won't have it again, I don't regret it, I respect it. It tasted like pizza. Nicely done. Time to cross it off my list.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2009 00:34:14 | More by drabmuh

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.05/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

16oz bottle. Sorry, I'm not sullying any wine glass of mine with this potential gag-bomb of a beer, thrice passed over in recent trips south of the 49th.

This beer pours a hazy medium golden yellow colour, with one finger of foamy off-white head, which leaves very little of note in terms of lace around the glass as things sulk away.

It smells of oregano, garlic, and tomato - pizza, as duly promised, all beer considerations aside. The taste is surprisingly an agreeable dance between pizza and lager - bready (from which source, it is a mystery) malt, and standard pie spice - the proclaimed oregano, garlic, and weak tomato sauce. Any superfluous hops just get doused in the hard to hate pasta goodness (I know!) that is somehow evoked here.

The carbonation is average, just a few bubbles here and there, with a middling pasta-influencing weight, and weirdly agreeable smoothness. It finishes pizza-friendly, for sure, and a bit less on the standard basic malted lager side of things.

Not the hot mess I had anticipated, and a damned sight better as a lead-in to the sexy local indie pizza option that just rang the buzzer for all my Saturday night gustatory needs...coming!

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 03:29:31 | More by biboergosum

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I saw this on the menu last night at the Sharp Edge Creek House and thought that it might make a nice accompaniment to the personal pizza that I was going to have as a late snack. I was not intimidated by it as I had the style a few years ago at Walter Peyton's Roundhouse.

The pour created a finger of bone-white head with good retention. Color was a medium-amber with NE-quality clarity. Nose had tomato, basil, and oregano. It was nowhere near as pungent as at the Roundhouse. Mouthfeel was medium with the tomato and garlic achieving prevalence on the palate. I know that I going to get dunned for liking this and not Chelada, but this was semi-palatable while the latter was simply awful. NOT recommended for all and certainly NOT with dessert. Calling a spade a spade - it is a novelty beer. Chefs Tom and Athena of the "Original Seefurth Family" probably had it brewed as a lark. Oakle doakle! This was a far cry from a national brand brewing up some Bob-awful crap and foisting it off on an unsuspecting audience. Chelada = Blah! This = Drinkable, but not overly so. I drank it while eating a pizza. I repeat - this is NOT a dessert beer! One with my pizza was just right. Finish was strong with tomato, basil and oregano. Sorry, garlic, but you seemed to get lost in the mix, amazingly. This or the W. P. R. H. version? WPRH. This or wine? Wiine with pizza? Ooof. This or an American IPA with pizza? I have had too many Hop Devils with pizza to make that a question. Mais oui! This was simply a lark of a beer that rates "All 3s" in my book. I was glad that I tried it, but equally glad to be finished. Call me "Mr. C." Ha!

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2009 15:15:50 | More by woodychandler

rickyleepotts

Arizona

3/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pizza beer? Oh man, I love pizza… I love beer. There’s no way this tastes like pizza. But apparently they use the same spices as… As pizza. I mean, I love pizza, name the toppings. I like the meats, and the veggies. As a matter of fact, I really enjoy BBQ pizza. The best pizza ever is the BBQ pizza from Pizza Hut. Alright, what’s the beer smell like?

Holy cow, it smells like pizza. What the heck… It literally smells like pizza. You know the smell when you walk into an Italian restaurant… Not just any Italian restaurant but the small local places owned and operated by an Italian. So if it smells like pizza, does that mean it tastes like pizza?

Um… The beer tastes like pizza. No… It tastes like pizza. What in the world do they use to make this beer taste like pizza… The spices apparently. I might not order this again, unless I was ordering it with a pizza. But man, calling this a pizza beer was dead on.

Sip it… Unless you like shoving a whole piece of pizza in your mouth!

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2011 16:28:56 | More by rickyleepotts

iconoklaztor

Indiana

2.98/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

this is a great idea on paper.

I poured this brew into my das boot. the smell is pizza-ish. I can smell oregano and tomatoe. This taste is wheat beerish with a hint of basil and oregano.

This beer, while sounding great, is very hard to drink. i just dont think pizza IN a beer go together.

Overall, I wouldnt go for this again.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2008 22:44:44 | More by iconoklaztor

bluejacket74

Ohio

2.95/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

16 ounce bottle. Picked it up on a recent trip to Champaign/Urbana, IL. I saw this and figured why not try it. Served in a pint glass, the beer pours a hazy dark gold color with a half inch white head. Head retention is average, not much lacing. Well, this beer definitely smells like pizza just like it says on the label (oregano, basil, tomato and garlic). I don't notice any hop or malt aromas, just pizza. It tastes the same as the aroma, but there's some hops I can taste too. Finishes a bit bitter. Mouthfeel/body is light, it's not watery but there isn't much to the mouthfeel at all. Average carbonation. Drinkability is OK, I guess. I'm pretty sure I couldn't drink more than one bottle of this at a time, though. This is definitely a unique beer, that's for sure. It's not great, but it's not awful either. All in all, I'd drink this again. For $2.29 a bottle, it's worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2008 02:32:09 | More by bluejacket74

rfgetz

New Jersey

2.95/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Expecting a murky reddish tinted brew, surprised to find a mostly clear dark gold liquid. Scent was mild and had notes or oregano and light vegetable. Taste lead with oregano again, but tomato sauce pokes through, a lightly salty note, mild bread, other faint notes of spice. Lighter side of medium, bubbly. Bought due to the novelty and was quite frankly afraid of what the outcome would be... overall i enjoyed it for what it was, but wouldn't need to drink again.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 18:52:40 | More by rfgetz

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

2.93/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

473ml bottle served in a wine glass

L - murky copper color with a short white head that just faded away.

S - tomato and basil.

T - upfront there's a bunch of oregano with the tomato and basil coming into play on the backend.

F - medium bodied with fizzy carbonation.

O - it is what it is, a novelty beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 21:16:12 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

Gavage

New Jersey

2.89/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: pours a hazy orange color with a short 1/4" head. No lace develops.

Smell: oregano, basil, and a bready aroma rise from the glass.

Taste: definite liquid pizza taste here as oregano, bread, and basil are very noticeable, and there is very little bitterness. After a swig or two the novelty wears away.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Lightly crips throughout. Long lasting oregano aftertaste.

Overall: not that good of a beer and gets a bit tiring as the glass empties. Interesting but not a beer I can revisit.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 20:23:18 | More by Gavage

woosterbill

Connecticut

2.85/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle into a Duvel tulip. Cheers to Knifestyles for busting this out as a surprise during a recent tasting.

A: Clear pale amber body under a thin, fine layer of off-white head. Ok retention, light lace. Not bad.

S: Well, yeah. It does smell like pizza. Huge parmesan, oregano, and doughy white flour. I can't hate it.

T: Follows the nose, but with a kinda gross, herbal aftertaste. Stale oregano? Not great.

M: Light-bodied and lively. All right.

O: I love pizza, but now I know that it's better to eat it than drink it. That said, this beer really wasn't as disgusting as its reputation promised - which was actually somewhat disappointing. I wish it had been really amazing or really horrible, not just weird.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 19:36:47 | More by woosterbill

womencantsail

California

2.8/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A: Pale golden in color with almost no head but rather plentiful carbonation.

S: I was shocked that the nose was actually full of oregano, garlic, basil, and tomato sauce. I thought for a moment that this beer might actually be good.

T: The flavor is definitely pizza-y, but not necessarily in a good way. The basil and oregano flavors are indeed powerful along with some tomato and garlic. It doesn't really go with the watery, thin base beer, however.

M: Thin and watery with very plentiful carbonation. To be honest, this might be a little better without such a fizzy feel.

D: Drinking this beer was comparable to eating a stale hot pocket.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2010 00:06:10 | More by womencantsail

drizzam

Wisconsin

2.8/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

Oh boy...not sure why I bought this one, but here goes nothing.

A - Pours a hazy amber color with tiny chunks of black sediment held in suspension. A very thin cap of white froth for a head, with no lacing.

S - Surprisingly it smells like fresh pizza. Tomato paste and some unidentifiable herbs are present, almost seems like you can smell a doughy character in there as well. Doesn't smell unpleasant I guess.

T & M - Well, it's pizza beer...and it tastes like pizza. The tomato didn't dominate as I would have expected from the aroma...instead it seems the pizza spices have taken center stage. Oregano, basil and garlic provide the flavor base, with a bit of tomato and bread acting as accentuating characters. Light bodied and finishes fairly crisp.

D - This beer is a novelty item in my opinion, but a fairly well done novelty item. They were aiming for fresh pizza flavors and they achieved that with flying colors. Does that mean I want to ever drink this beer again? Probably not. As a matter of fact, I'm not so sure I'm going to be able to finish this one.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2010 21:20:49 | More by drizzam

tectactoe

Michigan

2.78/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours a yellow-straw color, lots of clarity and a ton of carbonation bubbles rising to the top of the glass. White colored head that settles down quickly and leaves no apparent lacing. Nose is full of oregano and basil - it doesn't smell like a "pizza", rather it smells like "pizza sauce". The spices hint at tomato (probably from the basil) a bit, so it really smells like a fresh can of pizza sauce. It definitely smells "good" (considering I like the way pizza sauce smells), but I'm not sure if I like the idea of drinking pizza sauce. The taste is kind of a weird infusion of a crisp adjunct lager and a can of Prego or Ragu. The basil and oregano aren't too overpowering necessarily, but the rest of the beer doesn't offer much in terms of flavor, so they definitely stand out. Some very, very light hops and yeast-like malts are present throughout, but as I said, don't balance quite like they should. Thin body with a hefty helping of carbonation.

You know, when you buy "pizza beer", you have to think of how high your expectations really are for this thing. Probably not very high. With that notion, the beer isn't undrinkable, and it's a great novelty - it really is reminiscent of "pizza" in terms of the most recognizable portion of the pie, the sauce. I wouldn't sit down and throw back more than one of these, however. Actually, now that I've had it once, I'll probably never buy it again. I wouldn't go so far as to call it "awful".... but, highly unnecessary.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 17:54:14 | More by tectactoe