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Poor Richard's Tavern Spruce Ale
Yards Brewing Co.
- From:
- Yards Brewing Co.
- Pennsylvania, United States
- Style:
- Herb and Spice Beer
- ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- 81
- Avg:
- 3.58 | pDev: 16.2%
- Reviews:
- 218
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 07, 2022
- Added:
- Jan 05, 2003
- Wants:
- 27
- Gots:
- 118
Based on Franklin’s original recipe, which called for barley, molasses, and essence of spruce, our Tavern Spruce is as approachable and engaging as was the man himself. We source blue spruce clippings from a local organic farmer, steeping them in the kettle to create this one-of-a-kind deep amber ale.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by unclecrappy:
Reviewed by unclecrappy from Pennsylvania
3.85/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.85/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Gingerbread? Yep.
I picked up a single bottle at 3 Sons in Pittsburgh. I've sampled a spruce/pine beer before, and was expecting the same kind of piney, sharp bitterness. I got something completely unique instead.
Pours a very dark red. Small head, some lacing.
A whiff from my glass was the first clue that this was different: a little sweet, bready, with just a hint of the spruce I was looking for.
The first taste was ... gingerbread. Sweeter than I expected, but it doesn't dominate. The spruce essence does a nice job of providing balance. And as I read on the completely cool blue bottle, the gingerbread comes from molasses used when it's brewed. It's weird ... but it works.
Mouthfeel was nice, almost creamy. Drinkability? More than a couple at a time could become a little cloying, but as an occasional curve ball, this works very well.
Dec 21, 2006I picked up a single bottle at 3 Sons in Pittsburgh. I've sampled a spruce/pine beer before, and was expecting the same kind of piney, sharp bitterness. I got something completely unique instead.
Pours a very dark red. Small head, some lacing.
A whiff from my glass was the first clue that this was different: a little sweet, bready, with just a hint of the spruce I was looking for.
The first taste was ... gingerbread. Sweeter than I expected, but it doesn't dominate. The spruce essence does a nice job of providing balance. And as I read on the completely cool blue bottle, the gingerbread comes from molasses used when it's brewed. It's weird ... but it works.
Mouthfeel was nice, almost creamy. Drinkability? More than a couple at a time could become a little cloying, but as an occasional curve ball, this works very well.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Spade from Pennsylvania
4.24/5 rDev +18.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev +18.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Reddish-copper color with moderate off-white foam. Slightly sweet molasses flavor but the spruce dominates, in a good way. Very refreshing on a cold, snowy day.
Jan 07, 2022Reviewed by RUSSRGR from Delaware
3.27/5 rDev -8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.27/5 rDev -8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Poured from a bottle it was a copper amber color with a decent head. Aroma was molasses and malty. Did not get a piney hint. Taste was the same, malty and sweet. Kind of a light medium body with some carbonation.
Feb 08, 2021Reviewed by Greatbigsoxfan from Connecticut
4.65/5 rDev +29.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
4.65/5 rDev +29.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
Very drinkable with moderately strong piney taste and aroma
Had first at the brewery in Philadelphia ordered thinking it was a one time novelty but liked it. I don’t drink this as my everyday beer but love it for a change of pace
Jun 22, 2019Had first at the brewery in Philadelphia ordered thinking it was a one time novelty but liked it. I don’t drink this as my everyday beer but love it for a change of pace
Reviewed by EMV from Pennsylvania
3.58/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.58/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Dogfish Head tulip
L: Clear dark burgundy pour. Ruby red around the edges. Thick fluffy off-white head.. solid lacing.
S: Spruce and malts. They advertised Spruce... it's here.
T/F: Malts and toasted grains... sweet up front. Strong evergreen/spruce flavors. Lighter medicinal hops. Earthy... all flavors secondary to the spruce. Medium to light bodied.
O: Not a favorite, but they hit what they were aiming for with a spruce-forward red ale. About half a pour would be ideal... not one I'd want a lot of, but fun to taste.
Apr 06, 2019L: Clear dark burgundy pour. Ruby red around the edges. Thick fluffy off-white head.. solid lacing.
S: Spruce and malts. They advertised Spruce... it's here.
T/F: Malts and toasted grains... sweet up front. Strong evergreen/spruce flavors. Lighter medicinal hops. Earthy... all flavors secondary to the spruce. Medium to light bodied.
O: Not a favorite, but they hit what they were aiming for with a spruce-forward red ale. About half a pour would be ideal... not one I'd want a lot of, but fun to taste.
Poor Richard's Tavern Spruce Ale from Yards Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
81 out of
100 with
613 ratings
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