Special Amber
Sprecher Brewing Company
- From:
- Sprecher Brewing Company
- Wisconsin, United States
- Style:
- Vienna Lager
Ranked #116 - ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- 82
Ranked #34,998 - Avg:
- 3.61 | pDev: 12.74%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 195
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 03, 2026
- Added:
- Jan 13, 1998
- Wants:
- 21
- Gots:
- 35
SCORE
82
Good
82
Good
A delicate balance of toasted malt and fresh hops give this medium-bodied German-style lager an intriguing, complex malt flavor. A creamy head, deep golden color and an impressive hop bouquet make this a very special beer.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by harrypowers from Massachusetts
3.77/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.77/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a hazy amber color with a 2F head and light lacing.
Smells and tastes of toasted malt and hops with a bit of apple and a slightly spicy bitter finish.
Medium light body with light carbonation. Lightly syrupy and dry finish.
This is a nice easy drinking brew.
Feb 02, 2026Smells and tastes of toasted malt and hops with a bit of apple and a slightly spicy bitter finish.
Medium light body with light carbonation. Lightly syrupy and dry finish.
This is a nice easy drinking brew.
Rated by ttoadee from Texas
3.33/5 rDev -7.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.33/5 rDev -7.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
RB transfer
Jun 27, 2025
Reviewed by defunksta from Wisconsin
3.6/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.6/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: Pours a completely clear, medium golden color with a masssive white head that lingers. SRM of 11. (4.25)
Aroma: Mild aromas of smooth bread malts, amber notes, light earthy qualities. (3.50)
Flavor: Flavors follow the nose with somoth bread malts, lightly toasted, smooth brown bread and bread crumbs. Mild caramel. Dry finish. 3.50)
Feel: Medium-bodied, appropriate carbonation. Shows the booze a bit even at 5%. Dry finish. (3.50)
Overall: A flagship beer from them since 1985 which is impressive. Smooth bread, amber notes. Somewhat earthy. It seems to show the booze a bit even at 5%. I like and respect this beer for the history. The pour was fantastic. I'm sure in 1985 it was mild blowing. But in 2024 I don't think it beats out many other craft beers. I'd for sure pick Boston Lager over this and no beer battle needed. Glad to have tried it and give it it's historical respect. (Rating: 3.60)
Apr 22, 2024Aroma: Mild aromas of smooth bread malts, amber notes, light earthy qualities. (3.50)
Flavor: Flavors follow the nose with somoth bread malts, lightly toasted, smooth brown bread and bread crumbs. Mild caramel. Dry finish. 3.50)
Feel: Medium-bodied, appropriate carbonation. Shows the booze a bit even at 5%. Dry finish. (3.50)
Overall: A flagship beer from them since 1985 which is impressive. Smooth bread, amber notes. Somewhat earthy. It seems to show the booze a bit even at 5%. I like and respect this beer for the history. The pour was fantastic. I'm sure in 1985 it was mild blowing. But in 2024 I don't think it beats out many other craft beers. I'd for sure pick Boston Lager over this and no beer battle needed. Glad to have tried it and give it it's historical respect. (Rating: 3.60)
Reviewed by mcm180 from Ohio
3.42/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.42/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Gusher from the can. Generous head indeed.
Pours just a little cloudy, otherwise basic beer gold.
Smells biscuity and a tiny bit lager-skunky.
Tastes quite hoppy. Not bad; and not bitter, but more like what I think of as a marzen. Bold. Strong. Nice.
Decent mouthfeel. Just right carbonation.
Overall, better in total than each component individually. Me rikey more as me drinky.
Nov 21, 2023Pours just a little cloudy, otherwise basic beer gold.
Smells biscuity and a tiny bit lager-skunky.
Tastes quite hoppy. Not bad; and not bitter, but more like what I think of as a marzen. Bold. Strong. Nice.
Decent mouthfeel. Just right carbonation.
Overall, better in total than each component individually. Me rikey more as me drinky.
Reviewed by Skywave from Oklahoma
4.02/5 rDev +11.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev +11.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Appearance:
Golden-amber, clear, generous white head that falls to a 3mm layer, moderate lacing
Aroma:
Nutty, toasty decoction-mashed smelling German malts, medium floral/spicy noble hops
Flavor:
semi-sweet and toasty/nutty malts up front, moderate bitterness and earthy-spicy noble hop flavor in the middle, pleasantly acidic bitterness balancing out the malts in the finish
Mouthfeel:
Light to medium, nominal CO2 and mouthfeel. There is a very slight touch of astringency that is within tolerance
Overall:
Old-world, old-school Vienna lager flavor. Tastes the way the best microbrews and imports did 25-30 years ago. Love it.
Jun 22, 2023Golden-amber, clear, generous white head that falls to a 3mm layer, moderate lacing
Aroma:
Nutty, toasty decoction-mashed smelling German malts, medium floral/spicy noble hops
Flavor:
semi-sweet and toasty/nutty malts up front, moderate bitterness and earthy-spicy noble hop flavor in the middle, pleasantly acidic bitterness balancing out the malts in the finish
Mouthfeel:
Light to medium, nominal CO2 and mouthfeel. There is a very slight touch of astringency that is within tolerance
Overall:
Old-world, old-school Vienna lager flavor. Tastes the way the best microbrews and imports did 25-30 years ago. Love it.
Reviewed by Papercut4 from Wisconsin
3.35/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.35/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Pours out of the can an ever so slightly opaque amber gold with a good head and good lacing. Smells like roasted malts and maybe carmel. Taste follows that initially but after a second it's like a hop forward brew. Bitterness flies into action at the end. Not quite a hit for me but not bad.
Jan 20, 2023
Rated by magikbagel from Wisconsin
3.75/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A well balanced amber. It leans towards a hoppier character rather than malt and definitely not in a bad way. This is an underrated beer.
May 18, 2022
Reviewed by BrendanStoehr96 from Wisconsin
3.93/5 rDev +8.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev +8.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A very nice Vienna lager. Far too many I have from American craft brewers are too sweet. This one has a nice noble hop presence that brings a nice balance to the beer.
Jun 04, 2021
Reviewed by hopsputin from New Jersey
3.62/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.62/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
a: dark golden amber color with a bit of chill haze. some light brown in here along with some copper
s: caramel malts, sweet honey. grass and sweet grains. a bit of sweet berries as well. a bit of lager crispness at the back end. not a lot going on, but smells pretty on-point for the style. the malts have a nice depth
t: sweet caramel malts and grain, with a touch of astringency..almost medicinal. berries and a bit of sweet grass and light honey. a touch more grass at the end with some of that astringency
m: solid medium mouthfeel with medium carbonation
o: overall, the nose on this is quite a bit better than the taste IMO. the little bit of medicinal in the flavor hurts it a bit for me. not undrinkable, but there are better options out there for the style
Apr 30, 2021s: caramel malts, sweet honey. grass and sweet grains. a bit of sweet berries as well. a bit of lager crispness at the back end. not a lot going on, but smells pretty on-point for the style. the malts have a nice depth
t: sweet caramel malts and grain, with a touch of astringency..almost medicinal. berries and a bit of sweet grass and light honey. a touch more grass at the end with some of that astringency
m: solid medium mouthfeel with medium carbonation
o: overall, the nose on this is quite a bit better than the taste IMO. the little bit of medicinal in the flavor hurts it a bit for me. not undrinkable, but there are better options out there for the style
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