Spendrups Julbrygd 5,3
Spendrups Bryggeri AB

Spendrups Julbrygd 5,3Spendrups Julbrygd 5,3
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From:
Spendrups Bryggeri AB
 
Sweden
Style:
European Dark Lager
ABV:
5.3%
Score:
74
Avg:
2.87 | pDev: 12.89%
Reviews:
13
Ratings:
17
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 29, 2016
Added:
Nov 27, 2004
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
Malts: Pilsner, Münchne, Caramünchner, Melanoidin and Carafa Special. Hops: Magnum, Perle, Cascade.

Fermented for twelve days in 11° C. Lagered for 4 weeks in -1°.

OG: 14° P
Residual sugar: 3.7% weight
Colour: 90 EBC
Bitterness: 30 EBU
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Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of Wer34truh
Reviewed by Wer34truh from Minnesota

2.8/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Pours a dark but slightly opaque color. Calm appearance.

Smells of various sticky spices, alcohol, roasted malts, and slight notes of figs.

The taste is incredibly restrained, with not much besides some slight roasted malts in the aftertaste alongside some fruity bitterness. Mouthfeel is delightfully light however.

If it wasn't for the fact that this was the only beer my friend had, I'd never have tried it. I probably never will again, but it's fine I guess.
Nov 29, 2016
 
Rated: 2.88 by Silke_Neryn from Sweden

Nov 14, 2015
 
Rated: 2.25 by olradetbalder from Sweden

Nov 21, 2014
 
Rated: 2.75 by TheBrk from Sweden

Nov 15, 2013
 
Rated: 2.75 by DbbC from Illinois

May 23, 2013
Photo of Evil_Pidde
Reviewed by Evil_Pidde from Sweden

2.55/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
A: This beer pours deep amber with a large, creamy off-white head. Dissipation is quick and leaves nice lacings.

S: Roasted sweet malt. Some dark bread. Faint bitter hops. A cherry tone to it.

T: Sweet roasted malt, a bit faint. Very faint bitter hops.

M: Mild carbonation and thin body. Aftertaste is short.

D: I won't buy this one again.
Dec 31, 2010
Photo of ThaCreep
Reviewed by ThaCreep from Belgium

2.63/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
Sold in bulk at IKEA, the Christmas beer has yet the taste of a lager banal, which is odd anyway. Dark brown. More than a european dark lager Schwarzbier. Aromas of lager and light coffee at a time. Mouth with a slight bitterness banal way caffeine. Nothing too transcendent for a Christmas beer. The Belgian classics are better.
Dec 27, 2010
Photo of jhtipton
Reviewed by jhtipton from Spain

2.93/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Picked up a 50 cl can at the local Ikea. Nice festive can with an elf on it. Pours a nice dark amber with quickly dissapating head. Smells slightly metallic with some of the roasted malt hints. Mouthfeel is somewhat flat and medium bodied. Drinkability is okay but fortunately I can only buy once a year.
Dec 18, 2010
Photo of rarbring
Reviewed by rarbring from Sweden

2.65/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
The beer is clear deep red amber, has an off-white head that dissipates quickly. leaving uneven floats - but good lacing.

The smell is mostly sweet grain, dark bread.

A slight sweetness, malty grains, a rather rough short bitterness.

Low carbonation, a bit watery, a thin body and a slightly dry finish.

Sorry, this did not make it for me.
Dec 16, 2010
Photo of BoitSansSoif
Reviewed by BoitSansSoif from France

3.2/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
Bought 50cL can today at Ikea in Toulon, France.

A-Into snifter, pours a clear reddish brown w/off-white head, okay retention.

S-Smells like sweet tea, bits of doughy malt, floral notes, herbs.

T-Doughy malt w/tea, and a nutty finish w/bitter hops. Aftertaste is slightly herbal.

M-Fairly high carbonation, very light-bodied, decent balance w/dry finish.

D-Decent session brew at 5.3%, good accompaniment to putting together a Billy.
Nov 17, 2009
Photo of BlackHaddock
Reviewed by BlackHaddock from England

2.8/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
This review is of two 500ml cans bought for me from IKEA in the UK, both BBD of 18 May 09, drank during a bad lager evening on 14 Mar 09.

Poured into my 'La Chouffe' tulip glass (four times). Large off-white head sat on top of a dark amber, clear body. It looked fine and the glass showed it off to its full potential.

An aroma of tea with sugar was what I thought of as my nose approached the beer. Then some molasses and treacle came through.

The taste was strange, the tea smell gave way to a mild coffee flavour and some toffee sweetness, I didn't like it much.

The body was weak, a bitter finish in the mouth didn't help its cause and I was pleased they had been a free gift and I hadn't paid for them.

Promised so much at first, but sadly lacking once tasted and when compared to other dark lagers.
Mar 15, 2009
Photo of chinabeergeek
Reviewed by chinabeergeek from Massachusetts

2.43/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
from IKEA in beijing. 500ml can dated july 2, 2008, with a "best by" of april, 2009

clear brown with amber tones. decent head, but fades quickly to wisps and ring. splotchy and inconsistent lacing that doesn't really last either.

noble hop aroma is grassy. very faint malt note. clean but dull.

sharp hoppiness and bitterness upfront in the flavor. not much malt to speak of. bitterness has moments of medicinal character before fading to an otherwise dry finish.

slightly thin, with astringent character and fizzy carbonation.

unimpressive. do scandinavians actually drink this for the holidays? no wonder euthanasia is legal there...
Dec 25, 2008
Photo of Bierschenker
Reviewed by Bierschenker from Belgium

3.81/5  rDev +32.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Served in a « Stein » Bought at IKEA in Nossegem near Brussels.

A very large head developed while pouring. It has a brownish grey colour. There's no lacing. It's irregular in shape.
The colour is rusty brown, it resembles cola. There's not a lot of carbonation present.
The scent gives roasted malt, walnut and chocolate.
The taste is faint at first: foamy, chocolate mousse, cookie dough. Taste becomes stronger over time: roasted malt and wet grains. The sensation is overall dry.
The aftertaste still contains that burned dry sensation.

The website gives this brew a C, I disagree, I'm actually quite satisfied. It's not subtle, on the contrary, I has a strong wild element that appeals to me.
Jul 05, 2008
Photo of aussielars
Reviewed by aussielars from Australia

3.26/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Very dark and poured with a creamy head that disappeared very quickly. Smelled of malt, caramel and lots of nut.
Predominantly nutty in taste with a hint of grass and some malt.
Light to medium bodied with a fairly thin mouthfeel and a good carbonation. A bit light for this style of beer, but anyone who has indulged in a real Swedish julbord (Christmas smorgasbord) for 3-4 hours would appreciate the lightness of this beer.
Mar 02, 2008
Photo of brendan13
Reviewed by brendan13 from Australia

3.37/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Obviously supposed to be some sort of Christmas beer given the can/bottle artwork.
A - Poured from the can a very dark mahogany colour with a couple of centimetres of beige head that quickly fall away.
S - Smell is caramel sweet with fairly strong dark fruit touch. A very vauge smokey hint is present.
T - Again caramel sweet and dark fruit like the smell. Some light spice notes.
M - Medium bodied and pretty low carbonation.
D - The richness of this limits it's drinkability somewhat but if you like rich, dark beers then this ain't too bad. $2.99AUS per 500ml can is an OK price too.
Dec 06, 2007
Photo of stcules
Reviewed by stcules from Italy

3/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Quite dark appearance. A lot of foam, beige, quite creamy, but quickly falling.
The smell is malty, with dark malts.
In the taste is more on the caramel sides, but without being cloying.
Honest. A bit of bitterness, liquorice and roots.
Average body. Malty and caramel aftertaste, qith some liquorice again.
Aug 18, 2007
Photo of bark
Reviewed by bark from Sweden

2.66/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
The foam is beige, compact and finger thick. The colour is dark ruby.

The smell is quite mild, malty and somewhat sweet sour with some notes of crisp bread.

The carbonation is quite strong with small bubbles as it should be in a Swedish Christmas lager.

The taste is malty with some sweet notes. The slowly growing bitterness got some burned and fruity notes. The finishing taste is gentle and dry.

This is a quite discreet dark lager. On the other hand, if a beer should be able to accomplish the Swedish yuletide smorgasbord with its smoked, salt, sweet, sour and peppery tastes, it might not be too robust.
Nov 27, 2004
Spendrups Julbrygd 5,3 from Spendrups Bryggeri AB
Beer rating: 74 out of 100 with 17 ratings