Spotlight Series: Spröcketbier
Stone Brewing

Spotlight Series: SpröcketbierSpotlight Series: Spröcketbier
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Stone Brewing
 
California, United States
Style:
Kölsch
ABV:
5.4%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.77 | pDev: 11.14%
Reviews:
127
Ratings:
684
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Apr 06, 2020
Added:
Apr 18, 2014
Wants:
  8
Gots:
  35
A black rye Kölsch-style ale, brewed by Stone Quality Assurance Supervisor Rick Blankemeier and Production Warehouse Lead Robbie Chandler.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3 by RiceOwls27 from Texas

Apr 06, 2020
Photo of monkist
Reviewed by monkist from Hungary

4.47/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Although I love Stone and everything they brew, I must admit that buying this beer was partially made by a mistake: when reading the label I only paid attention to it being a (rye) kölsch - I just forgot to notice that it was black so when I poured it in the glass I was surprised to see its pitch black color!
But Stone never fails, this one is a masterpiece as well. Though I have not much experience with this style of beer so I could not tell how kölsch-y it was, I only remember that type being more fruity, more like an apple than regular lagers. Here I did not find that fruity overtome, rather the roasted rye that made it feel like coffee overall, although it was again different from a black lager or an ale or a porter or a stout. Perhaps that is why it was a kölsch? It is all okay, nothing to complain about, it is great as a black beer. I am rather interested in the hoppy side though but still I was 100% satisfied with what this beer can do.
Jan 13, 2018
 
Rated: 3.81 by Taphouse_Traveler from Florida

Oct 15, 2017
 
Rated: 3.9 by Jcarriglio from Florida

Apr 27, 2017
Photo of chinchill
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina

3.81/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
22 oz bottle.
Appearance: Deep brown body, opaque in the glass, with a medium size khaki head that lingers for a good while. Partial sheets of lacing are left on the glass. lacing.

Aroma: rye, toasted multi-grain bread, yeast and chocolate.

Flavor: rich but modestly complex with lots of dark roasted grain flavor, some spicy rye, light hops and hints of bitter chocolate, toffee, roasted nuts and dark coffee. Mildly bitter.

Feel: Has a nice creaminess that suggests a full body but has a light bodied finish. Carbonation is near medium.

Overall: a really nice mixed-style beer. Tastes almost like a light rye porter.
Apr 11, 2017
Photo of sejorules
Reviewed by sejorules from Sweden

4.26/5  rDev +13%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L: pours dark brown black color, half a finger of dirty snow.
S: caramel, sweet coffee. Mix between brown ale and stout
T: First, sweet malt, raisins, spicy sort of like brown ale. Then there is a hint of bitterness. Finally, there is coffee, cocoa.
F: full of flavors and interesting details
O: really interesting I really liked the transitions.
Oct 01, 2016
 
Rated: 3.96 by PhillyStyle from Georgia

Sep 23, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by calcnerd from Pennsylvania

Jun 03, 2016
Photo of imnodoctorbut
Reviewed by imnodoctorbut from Texas

4.41/5  rDev +17%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
served chilled from bomber to a stange german glass (yeehaw)
cellared for 2 years, y'all.

A: pours a beautiful opaque near-black with a decent lightly burnt tan head with excellent retention and some lovely sticky lacing.
S: chocolate toffee roasted maltiness, rye and smoke start things off, then it's an earthy bittersweet with a hint of booze.
T: follows the aroma with the pleasant addition of dark fruit and a bit of light hop earthy bitterness. rye is in fine form here.
F: medium body, fairly low carbonation. coats the tongue

bottomline (aka personal opinion time):
sublime. complete deviation from the style, and may not be for everyone (obviously, what brew is?) but if you like weird, then here's a great example of how to get weird and still have an incredibly balanced brew. just like my rough looking biker uncle, this brew looks a lot harsher than it actually is, and is definitely one you should get to know if you aren't usually one for darker brews..you just might find a new best friend.
Apr 22, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by Gkruszewski from New York

Apr 14, 2016
Photo of Andrewharemza
Reviewed by Andrewharemza from Australia

4/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From bottle, pours black brown with a decent finger of tan coloured head. Aroma chocolate, dark malts, toffee, cocoa. Taste follows the nose very nice.
Mar 01, 2016
 
Rated: 3.52 by aratcliffe from Kansas

Jan 24, 2016
 
Rated: 4.14 by NatSmith from South Carolina

Dec 15, 2015
 
Rated: 3.49 by Juice-O from Connecticut

Dec 09, 2015
 
Rated: 3.58 by fisherbray from Florida

Dec 03, 2015
Photo of Wasatch
Reviewed by Wasatch from Colorado

3.87/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
22oz. Bomber

Pours a very nice black color, with some nice carbonation, with a nice creamy one-finger tan head, which leaves some nice sticky lacing behind. The nose is malty, with some nice slight chocolate notes. The taste is pretty tasty, malty, chocolate. Medium body. Overall a pretty tasty brew, wish it were fresher. Totally different take on the style.
Nov 02, 2015
 
Rated: 4.47 by Rwalford74 from Australia

Oct 30, 2015
 
Rated: 4.34 by jpjpjp from Texas

Oct 14, 2015
 
Rated: 4.35 by stephenlee from England

Sep 26, 2015
Photo of Cannibalgasm
Reviewed by Cannibalgasm from Minnesota

3.53/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 22oz. bottle.

A: Pours completely opaque black that allows not light to pierce through it. Head is an inch and a half of mocha color that retains very well. Leaves behind a fair amount of lacing.

S: Aromas of dark roasted malts, cocoa, and rye initially. Then toffee, dark fruits, and a subtle burnt mahogany aroma. Finishes with earthy smells, smoke, and a slight alcohol note.

T: Dark roasted malts, dark roast coffee, cocoa, and a distinct smokiness up front, in the middle, subtle flavors of dark fruit, toffee, and smoked wood. Finishes with flavors of rye, and earthy hops, with a slight black pepper spice and cocoa aftertaste.

M: Light to medium in body, with a moderate level of carbonation. Smooth with a slick finish.

O: A enjoyable brew that I wish I had a fresher bottle of. I enjoyed it but can't help but feel like it was lacking something. It's sad I found this in our discount section and didn't see it when it was fresh. But all that aside I did like what they did with this one a nice easy drinking black Kolsch that I would recommend if they decide to brew it again.
Aug 14, 2015
Spotlight Series: Spröcketbier from Stone Brewing
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 684 ratings