Coopers Sparkling Ale - Coopers Brewery Limited

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.33/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

OK summer beer. Light pale Crisp Very carbonated. Apparently good only when fresh - bottle conditioned. Sweet malts and light bodied. Light lemony Apple pear melon herbal grass. Slight Lemon and Bannana aroma. Hoppy finish and dry but tangy aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2004 02:04:46 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

2.05/5  rDev -42.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Turbid, funked-up, junked-up, butterscotchy orange that looks more solid than liquid. The beer contains such a load of dark, suspended bits that I'm half afraid to ingest it. On close inspection, the particles are falling at a snail's pace and are sure to be riled up again as soon as I take a drink. The head is singularly unimpressive. It's small, dirty white and flaccid. No lace.

Sparkling Ale smells like what it is, a yeasty pale ale that uses English hops (though which ones, I have no idea). The nose isn't all that hoppy and, in fact, it's pretty pedestrian as pale ale noses go. Strangely enough, the aroma seems to have faded as fast as the head. I can't smell much at all now.

Here goes. A small, tentative sip tells me that the beer isn't bad, as in spoiled. But neither is it good, as in... good. It has weak flavor and a weaker body. In fact, I'm having a hard time appreciating it as a pale ale at all. It's lightly malted, lightly hoppy and lightly bitter. Although I've never had any, it tastes like what I imagine cold, watered down hop tea would taste like. No thanks.

I'm pretty sure I didn't notice it at the time of purchase, but the cap has a price sticker of $2.99 on it! I wouldn't pay 99 cents for another bottle of this stuff. I was going to say that I've now had an Australian beer that beats Fosters (no mean feat, I know), but now I'm not so sure. This beer from Down Under will now go down under my kitchen sink as it splashes down the drain.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2004 00:09:43 | More by BuckeyeNation

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

2.63/5  rDev -26.3%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 ounce bottle - $1.99 at Total Wine & More in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Appearance: Pours a dark, dull orange-hued body gunked up with more than a fair share of over-sized particulate matter. Thin, white head. Now I wish I hadn't taken a good look at it.

Smell: Mixed bag aroma smelling of fruit, watered down honey, and a dash of alcohol.

Taste: Lightly biscuity maltiness with a light, honeyish sweetness. A big sip of spring water (filled with particulate matter) follows. Fruity tastes of yellow apples and lemons. Spicy hop character with a medium-low bitterness. Slight souring yeastiness. Some juicy acidity on the dry, crisp finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium-high carbonation. Yes, it's even a bit sparkling.

Drinkability: After the deficient appearance, I really took my time with this brew to see if it could redeem itself. It never did. Sour and a bit watery, I just didn't care for it.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2009 22:28:31 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

3.28/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Appearance: Pours a cloudy honey color with a massive head that leaves a good bit of remembrance

Smell: Crackery malt with a yeasty element and a tea-like character

Taste: Crackery, up front, with a developing sweet and metallic bitter character that is somewhat tea-like; after the swallow, the metallic character builds into the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: I just cannot warm up to the flavors in this beer - though unusual and a style-defier, I would prefer a more traditional English Pale Ale hop bill to balance out the other flavors

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2009 01:29:08 | More by brentk56

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

2.28/5  rDev -36.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Bottle: Poured a bright clear golden color ale with a medium foamy head with good retention and minimal lacing. Aroma of dry cereal with light lingering sweetness. Taste is also dominated by some unrefined malt notes and light sweetness with a dry finish with no discernible hops. Body is about average with good carbonation. Nothing to write home about at the end of the day with a sub-standard malt bill.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2009 03:41:40 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.83/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Wasn't really all that sparkling. It had a dull, pale, copper / straw color. It wasn't all that clear or clean looking. And, it didn't have the efforvescent quality that 'sparkling' suggest. It's decent beer anyhow. Murky copper / amber because of bottle conditioning. English malts become quite sweet and heavy. Earthy hops give a must-y, grassy flavor and bittering. Fruity (ripe and over-ripe). The sweetness of the fruit flavors and malts overpower the hops for a sweet balance and a less-than-clean finish.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2006 14:28:54 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

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

It poured nice, good head nice unfiltered orange haze.I expected more in the flavor though,somewhat orangy but would have liked a more bitter tinge to it.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2002 12:12:07 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Michael Jackson actually gives this beer it's own category in his "Beer Companion" and describes it as "an early breed of British pale ale, adapted to colonial conditions..." With that thought in mind, it does seem perfectly suited for the Australian climate. Crisp and light, but also full of flavor. Great for winter or summer. I'm also amazed at the way this beer can be poured crystal clear, or entirely cloudy. Two possible beers from one bottle! Poured carefully, the beer is crystal clear with a golden appearance and the clearly visible carbonation of tiny, rising bubbles. With the yeast, it's a murky orange-ish but tends to give a better head and has much more character. The aroma is fruity with notes of apple and banana. The flavor follows in much the same manner, but with much more intensity. Although there's not much malt in the aroma, there is some in the flavor. The hops seem to be used only for bitterness and give a dryness to the flavor and finish at @ 25 bitterness units. A really unique ale.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2002 09:41:35 | More by NeroFiddled

TMoney2591

Illinois

2.91/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

Coopers: Australian for prosecco? Anyway, this stuff pours a clear amber-brass topped by a finger of glowing off-cream foam. The nose comprises light grapefruit peel, mild toffee, buttery biscuit, and a vague whiff of pine needle. The taste continues the grapefruit-pine alliance, but it's old due to negligence, and when it gets called to action, things look their age on the battlefield. Everything is old, musty, and graham cracker-y. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a dry finish. Overall, a weak little pale ale with nothing memorable about it.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 19:53:15 | More by TMoney2591

WesWes

New York

3.05/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

The beer pours a cloudy gold color with a ton of floaties and a half inch white head that quickly fades to lacing. The aroma is average as well. It has a weak malt scent that boasts of pale and light crystal malts. It has a light hop and slightly fruity yeast aroma. The taste is average. It has a dry, yet mildly sweet pale malt flavor with a bit of yeast fruitiness in the finish. The mouthfeel is decent. It is a low/medium bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This beer was a let down. I really was expecting something better.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2005 00:53:00 | More by WesWes

metter98

New York

3.53/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is hazy dark golden yellow in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation along with lots of small particles floating in suspension. It poured with a quarter-finger high off white head that has good retention properties and consistently left a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface.
S: There are light aromas of pale malts and yeast in the nose.
T: Similar to the smell, the taste has flavors of pale malts and yeast. Only some hints of bitterness are noticeable.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is very sessionable—it’s not particularly flavorful but it sure goes down very easily.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 21:20:46 | More by metter98

zeff80

Missouri

3.68/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured out a semi-cloudy, orange/amber color with a foamy, white, one-finger head. It left small traces of lace.

S - It smelled grassy and of caramel malt.

T - It tasted of mild bitterness. Nice sweet caramel malt flavor. Nice balance.

M - It was fairly crisp and sharp. A light to medium-bodied beer.

D - This is a nice pale ale. It seemed more American than English, but it was still good.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2008 00:40:16 | More by zeff80

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.45/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep gold color, with a short white head that fades slowly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of light caramelized malts, honey, some citrus and a touch of hops.

T: The taste starts out sweet with flavors of honey and citrus. Then a hearty malt character comes in along with a mild hops presence that provides a decent balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Smooth and crisp, light-to-medium body, medium carbonation, finish is clean.

D: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, mild kick, good representation of style, this is a decent beer to drink for a while but there are other beers in the style that I would choose first.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2010 02:43:43 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +22.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Really enjoy this beer when ever I'm at Outback. This is my goto beer when eating there. The Sparkling Ale is rolled in the bartenders hands before pouring to shake up the yeast at the bottom of the bottle. As the beer is poured it had a really nice golden color to it with a strong looking white head. The yeast is visible has the carbonation tosses it around. The smell of the beer is mostly grainy, nothing overly special there but it is pleasant. The taste of the beer is slightly sweet and has a nice malt character to it. The mouthfeel is about medium, It can fill you up with a good meal for sure. Overall I love the preperation of the beer and the the look of it. It's one of my favorites from Australia for sure.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2011 22:31:40 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.08/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Carefully poored to produce a golden/honey color (clear) with a 1/4" white head & loads of effervescence.

S: Huge fruitty smell & hints of breadyness

T: Big fruittyness & citric (orange peel) hops. A little biscuittyness follows as it warms. Some appleskin notes & juicyfruit comes through as it warms. Finishes with citrussy hops & quenching juicyness!

MF: Medium bodied & efferevescent, very well balanced

Very drinkable, was slightlty better when I had it downunder, but still pretty tasty & quaffable, epsecially for the abv. Reminds me a lot of worthington whiteshield from back in the day (88-93 UK). Pour this very carefully! Easily one of the best beers I have had from Australia

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2006 03:40:07 | More by russpowell

Halcyondays

California

3.6/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12.7 oz. bottle,

A: Cloudy yellow-orange with lots of yeast floaties in it, high in carbonation with a good thick off-white head.

S: Noble hopping, and plenty of acidity, along with some bready malts.

T: Banana and bubblegum esters abound, almost like a hefe, but more reserved. There is also a bit of metallic noble hopping, possibly Pride of Ringwood? Not sure on that.

M: Very dry with lots of carbonation - "scrubbing bubbles."

D: Very refreshing, smooth, and easy to drink. Not exactly an English Pale Ale, but a good tasty ale to drink. Would be a good palate cleanser.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2007 22:45:48 | More by Halcyondays

jwc215

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Wasatch for including in a trade -
Had on 02/29/08, reviewed from notes:

Pours golden with a thin head.

The smell is of sweet grain, some light fruitiness, some grassy notes.

The taste is of sweet grain and light fruits.

Light, effervescent and pretty crisp.

Might be okay as a heat-beater. It has something to it, but nothing particularly special, IMO. A classic that was probably better years ago relative to what was out there then compared to now.

A classic brew that I'm glad to have a chance to have - Thanks again, John.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2008 15:59:15 | More by jwc215

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.4/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This beer pours a slightly hazy medium golden colour, with two fingers of puffy white head, which leaves chunky strips of lace around the glass as it fades away. It smells of barley grain, a bit of yeast, and weedy hops. The taste is sweet white grain, some soft fruitiness, and light grassy, earthy hops. The carbonation is crackly, coarse, but still moderate, the body settles to smooth after the initial spritz, and it finishes off-dry, with some mild graininess and floral hoppiness.

The lees at the bottom of the bottle lend credence to the bottle-conditioning claim, however, this is still just a barely better than average ale.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2010 20:58:13 | More by biboergosum

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This is just a really plain beer that's easy to drink and can be refreshing. There's no real malt to it, but some sweetness and fruit. It's a bit like apple, but bland. The guy at the Party Source apparently really likes this beer, I found it to be an easy drinking beer. Save this for a hot day in Australia.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2007 01:34:41 | More by tempest

WVbeergeek

Ohio

2.63/5  rDev -26.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: Cloudy golden with chunks of sediment floating in a suspension like appearance, white head bubbly not much lacing going on here. Aroma: Bready malt sweetness with an air of grassiness in the background very mild hop aroma that's about it simple. Taste: Crisp sweetness bready finish with a decent bitterness to it, this beer just doesn't have anything that really set's it apart from anything else. Mouthfeel: A bit watery no texture no hoppy oils left on the palate high carbonatinon, light bodied ale. Drinkability: Mediocre just couldn't picture craving for another one of these brews, glad I sampled that's about it.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2003 16:36:05 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a hazed gold. No head off a gentle pour. Nose is grainy and earthy - almost dirty. Flavor is fruity and smooth. Biting bitter tone. Feel has a biting carbonation. Liquid is typical. This is an okay at best beer. There's nothing that stands out about it. Best served damn cold.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2008 01:33:23 | More by RblWthACoz

Wasatch

Utah

3.9/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a cloudy yellow gold, nice carbonation, with a small head. Lots of lacing afterwards. Could smell some hops, malt, and some sweetness. Very nice tasting beer, with a medium body. This brew would make a very nice session drink, would recommend.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2005 02:54:10 | More by Wasatch

Jason

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12.7 oz brown stubby with a best before date on the neck.

Appearance: Thin layer of sediment on the bottom of the bottle, I decanted the ale so no sediment would pour into the glass. Tight one finger of white bubbly lace, lots of streaming bubbles rising to the top. Mild haze in the bright golden hue.

Smell: Faint lemon zest and earthy yeast up front, mild hop oil and light biscuity malt in the back of the aroma.

Taste & Mouthfeel: Almost as smooth as it is crisp, moderate body. Clean fruitiness of plum and apple with a through grain and hop mix. Noticeable alcohol. Grainy with a mild toasted husk, hops are just bitter enough with a quick pucker in the tail end. Finishes with a slight herbal hop and semi-sweet malt.

Notes: Quite delicious, very balanced and very, very drinkable. Yet light enough to be approachable to most beer drinkers.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2005 21:21:10 | More by Jason

Zorro

California

3.7/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy orange brew.

Smell is lightly fruity and grainy. Smell is tutee fruity and lemon and faint bubble gum.

Taste is mild and fruity with lots of wheat flavor. Not what I would have expected from a pale ale, this beer seems to blend elements of several different styles. Fruity and bitter note to the hops, tastes much like English ale.

Mouthfeel is average.

Very drinkable brew, Cloudy like a wheat beer, fruity like an English ale, bottle fermented like a Belgian. A unique and tasty brew.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2004 01:11:26 | More by Zorro

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

3.08/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a hazy gold, some particles floating around, small white head forms but goes fast, no lace. Smell is caramel, some honey, citrus, maybe some peach. Taste is sweet, some skunkiness, citrus, slightly fruity in the finish. Mouthfeel is light bodied with medium to high carbonation. Kind of weak, I thought the carbonation was overdone, although I'd try it again.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2006 21:39:15 | More by Viggo