Special Amber | Sprecher Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Sprecher Brewing Company
Wisconsin, United States
sprecherbrewery.com
Style: Vienna Lager
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.00%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by BeerAdvocate on 01-13-1998
Ratings: 355 | Reviews: 178
Reviews by BigRedN:
More User Reviews:
4.06/5 rDev +12.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Uh oh, I am the first to review this under "Serving Type - [CAN]" so I want to get in front of this before my detractors weigh in. It exists in a CAN, jagovs! A basic tenet of The CANQuest (TM) is NO lying. If it is not CANned or if I simply CANnot get one, I am not going to post a fictitious review for the sake of a Glug (because CANs don't tick, only Glug). Plus, I am VERY relieved to have another CAN. My first one was from the For Trade basket at Bella Vista and it was in a bag with four Sixpoint CANs purchased at Hawthorne's and while at a third (unnamed) establishment during PHL Beer Week, the bag disappeared. It was my fault for putting it down while grabbing a beer, but it did not make me happy, either.
From the CAN: "Milwaukee's Original Microbrewery"; "Established in [MKE] - 1985"; "Fire-Brewed".
The Crack introduced me to a VERY active beer that jumped right out at me like a little kid on the arrival of a favorite relative. I let it settle down, as I always do with little kids, taking a W. C. Fields stance towards them. The Glug resulted in a dense rocky finger of tawny head with modest retention. As to color, this was truth in advertising at its finest - a beautiful, deep amber bordering on copper with NE-quality clarity. When I see women with a natural head of hair this color, I fall instantly in lust. I turn into Lennie from "Of Mice and Men", wanting to touch their hair and jabbering on about freckles and pale skin. Sometimes, it actually works! This beer was equally beautiful. The nose had a caramel malt sweetness to it and while that may not be enticing to me, it was not off-putting, either. Mouthfeel was medium-to-full with a grassy light astringency on the tongue. Finish had a mild grassy bitterness overlaying the light sweetness underneath. I am definitely getting some of this for the cooler!
1,844 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Uh oh, I am the first to review this under "Serving Type - [CAN]" so I want to get in front of this before my detractors weigh in. It exists in a CAN, jagovs! A basic tenet of The CANQuest (TM) is NO lying. If it is not CANned or if I simply CANnot get one, I am not going to post a fictitious review for the sake of a Glug (because CANs don't tick, only Glug). Plus, I am VERY relieved to have another CAN. My first one was from the For Trade basket at Bella Vista and it was in a bag with four Sixpoint CANs purchased at Hawthorne's and while at a third (unnamed) establishment during PHL Beer Week, the bag disappeared. It was my fault for putting it down while grabbing a beer, but it did not make me happy, either.
From the CAN: "Milwaukee's Original Microbrewery"; "Established in [MKE] - 1985"; "Fire-Brewed".
The Crack introduced me to a VERY active beer that jumped right out at me like a little kid on the arrival of a favorite relative. I let it settle down, as I always do with little kids, taking a W. C. Fields stance towards them. The Glug resulted in a dense rocky finger of tawny head with modest retention. As to color, this was truth in advertising at its finest - a beautiful, deep amber bordering on copper with NE-quality clarity. When I see women with a natural head of hair this color, I fall instantly in lust. I turn into Lennie from "Of Mice and Men", wanting to touch their hair and jabbering on about freckles and pale skin. Sometimes, it actually works! This beer was equally beautiful. The nose had a caramel malt sweetness to it and while that may not be enticing to me, it was not off-putting, either. Mouthfeel was medium-to-full with a grassy light astringency on the tongue. Finish had a mild grassy bitterness overlaying the light sweetness underneath. I am definitely getting some of this for the cooler!
1,844 characters
3.72/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
I love all the sprecher products I have tried,this is just a great malty,fruity beer!Poured great! great color,nice rich tasting lager but very drinkable!
154 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
I love all the sprecher products I have tried,this is just a great malty,fruity beer!Poured great! great color,nice rich tasting lager but very drinkable!
154 characters
3.83/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Appearance: light amber/orange pour with a small-ish head but plenty of active carbonation.
Smell: light & fresh, both floral and fruity. candycane sugar sweetness and a hint of orange.
Taste & Mouthfeel: a smooth & light bodied beer with a texture throughout. the taste has sweet malty characteristics as well as some rich fruitiness. the flavours switch up a little bit and bend toward a more hop bitterness on the finish including some orange peel. the bitter finish lingers for quite some time, but pleasantly i might add.
Drinkability: fairly ligt bodied without lacking decent complexity. i found this beer to be quite good and i would definitley give it another shot.
683 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Appearance: light amber/orange pour with a small-ish head but plenty of active carbonation.
Smell: light & fresh, both floral and fruity. candycane sugar sweetness and a hint of orange.
Taste & Mouthfeel: a smooth & light bodied beer with a texture throughout. the taste has sweet malty characteristics as well as some rich fruitiness. the flavours switch up a little bit and bend toward a more hop bitterness on the finish including some orange peel. the bitter finish lingers for quite some time, but pleasantly i might add.
Drinkability: fairly ligt bodied without lacking decent complexity. i found this beer to be quite good and i would definitley give it another shot.
683 characters
3.65/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16oz bottle poured into a shaker pint glass
I pours a brilliantly clear light copper with a one finger head that quickly dies to just the most minimal cap on top of the beer.
The aroma has the typical crispness of a nice lager with just a light crystal malt smell. There isn't too much here and kind of one dimensional.
The taste is a nice balance of a light ready malt with just a touch of grassy hops. On the back end I'm picking up some fruit esters which may be a fermentation byproduct. The flavor isn't stand out string or bold but rather a traditional take on the style.
The carbonation is medium to high with medium body and the classic crispness of a well made lager. The flavor of this beer is light in most ways but that translates to a good drinkability as I had no problem drinking several in the course of an hour over dinner.
844 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16oz bottle poured into a shaker pint glass
I pours a brilliantly clear light copper with a one finger head that quickly dies to just the most minimal cap on top of the beer.
The aroma has the typical crispness of a nice lager with just a light crystal malt smell. There isn't too much here and kind of one dimensional.
The taste is a nice balance of a light ready malt with just a touch of grassy hops. On the back end I'm picking up some fruit esters which may be a fermentation byproduct. The flavor isn't stand out string or bold but rather a traditional take on the style.
The carbonation is medium to high with medium body and the classic crispness of a well made lager. The flavor of this beer is light in most ways but that translates to a good drinkability as I had no problem drinking several in the course of an hour over dinner.
844 characters
4.1/5 rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Presentation: It is so pleasing to obtain beer in pint bottles, other breweries should follow suit. Otherwise, what is the point of selling pint glasses? Unfortunately Sprecher went with twist-offs making it impossible to reuse this fine bottle for homebrewing purposes.
Appearance: Clear deep amber colour which poured into a clean white frothy head.
Smell: A nice hop aroma, with a bit of sweetness.
Taste: The head captured the hoppiness, making it very enjoyable to take the first sip. This was a very malty brew, the toasted malt flavour was the first thing that struck the palate. Sweetly diminishing, lightly carbonated with a final hop "bite" adding to the overall pleasure of drinking this fine beverage.
Notes: A very clean refreshing brew. More along the lines of a nice clean crisp pilsner. If you are ever in Wisconsin, pick us up a half barrel! This is a beer not to be missed.
903 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Presentation: It is so pleasing to obtain beer in pint bottles, other breweries should follow suit. Otherwise, what is the point of selling pint glasses? Unfortunately Sprecher went with twist-offs making it impossible to reuse this fine bottle for homebrewing purposes.
Appearance: Clear deep amber colour which poured into a clean white frothy head.
Smell: A nice hop aroma, with a bit of sweetness.
Taste: The head captured the hoppiness, making it very enjoyable to take the first sip. This was a very malty brew, the toasted malt flavour was the first thing that struck the palate. Sweetly diminishing, lightly carbonated with a final hop "bite" adding to the overall pleasure of drinking this fine beverage.
Notes: A very clean refreshing brew. More along the lines of a nice clean crisp pilsner. If you are ever in Wisconsin, pick us up a half barrel! This is a beer not to be missed.
903 characters
3.77/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Purchased from Sprecher Brewery gift shop in Glendale, WI. Poured a bright golden amber body with a thick white head. Aroma was of fruity esters. Medium bodied with a nice bready maltiness and good carbonation. It also has a nice little hop bite in the finish. A very drinkable beer.
283 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Purchased from Sprecher Brewery gift shop in Glendale, WI. Poured a bright golden amber body with a thick white head. Aroma was of fruity esters. Medium bodied with a nice bready maltiness and good carbonation. It also has a nice little hop bite in the finish. A very drinkable beer.
283 characters
3.38/5 rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A: golden amber/bronze, no head with little visible carbonation.
S: sweet malts? very difficult to distinguish particular scents.
T: sweet malts are highly evident (as with the smell), faint hops coat the tongue and dissipate as quickly as you figure out what your tastebuds are sensing. there is a slight caramel/nut aftertaste.
MF/D: pretty smooth, rise of bubbles in back of the throat makes for a little excitement in a rather bland beer.
445 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A: golden amber/bronze, no head with little visible carbonation.
S: sweet malts? very difficult to distinguish particular scents.
T: sweet malts are highly evident (as with the smell), faint hops coat the tongue and dissipate as quickly as you figure out what your tastebuds are sensing. there is a slight caramel/nut aftertaste.
MF/D: pretty smooth, rise of bubbles in back of the throat makes for a little excitement in a rather bland beer.
445 characters
3.95/5 rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
12oz brown bottle with no freshness date.
LOOK: Slightly hazed amber, awesome head
SMELL: Freshly toasted bread, hint of caramel, spicy hop, herbal, yeast, clean, lemony
TASTE: Sweet, very bready, balanced, somewhat clean, herbal, peppery hop, Portuguese sweet bread, hop oil, semi-dry finish.
Not as refined as I anticipated but that did not throw me back at all, fresh flavors and a bit of rawness really worked here for me.
430 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
12oz brown bottle with no freshness date.
LOOK: Slightly hazed amber, awesome head
SMELL: Freshly toasted bread, hint of caramel, spicy hop, herbal, yeast, clean, lemony
TASTE: Sweet, very bready, balanced, somewhat clean, herbal, peppery hop, Portuguese sweet bread, hop oil, semi-dry finish.
Not as refined as I anticipated but that did not throw me back at all, fresh flavors and a bit of rawness really worked here for me.
430 characters
3.95/5 rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a clear amber orange body with a small offwhite head that leaves some patchy lacing. Aroma is spicy hops, caramel maltiness, and some toasted walnuts. Medium to light medium body with a zesty carbonation. Nicely balanced lager, with a spicy hop bitterness and caramel malt sweetness. A touch of walnut nuttiness adds a nice dimension. Clean and crisp. Another excellent German style lager from Sprecher.
409 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a clear amber orange body with a small offwhite head that leaves some patchy lacing. Aroma is spicy hops, caramel maltiness, and some toasted walnuts. Medium to light medium body with a zesty carbonation. Nicely balanced lager, with a spicy hop bitterness and caramel malt sweetness. A touch of walnut nuttiness adds a nice dimension. Clean and crisp. Another excellent German style lager from Sprecher.
409 characters
3.5/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: minimal head, clear, orange-brown in color, high carbonation
Smell: toffee and toasted malt
Taste: toffee, toasted malt, touch of cinnamon, and some hops
Mouthfeel: medium/light bodied, high carbonation, sweet start, bitter middle--sweeter end
Drinkability: Above average for the style. I like the sweet and bitter combination. I will have this again.
367 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: minimal head, clear, orange-brown in color, high carbonation
Smell: toffee and toasted malt
Taste: toffee, toasted malt, touch of cinnamon, and some hops
Mouthfeel: medium/light bodied, high carbonation, sweet start, bitter middle--sweeter end
Drinkability: Above average for the style. I like the sweet and bitter combination. I will have this again.
367 characters
4/5 rDev +11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Mucho beer karma goes to czoch for this brew obtained in a trade full of WI goodies. Slight malt smell with a hint of sweetness to it. Pours with a bit of head that settles quickly. Amber in color. Carmel and malty in flavor. Mouthfeel and smooth in flavor. This would be a nice session beer & is perfect for a hot summer afternoon. A solid brew.
Cheers.
357 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Mucho beer karma goes to czoch for this brew obtained in a trade full of WI goodies. Slight malt smell with a hint of sweetness to it. Pours with a bit of head that settles quickly. Amber in color. Carmel and malty in flavor. Mouthfeel and smooth in flavor. This would be a nice session beer & is perfect for a hot summer afternoon. A solid brew.
Cheers.
357 characters
3.75/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Serving glass: Poured from bottle into Pint glass. Julian bottling date that starts with 11112, so depending on their system, it is either April 11 or 12, 2011.
Appearance: Clear, golden amber with only a thin head.
Smell: Caramel, bread, cherry and a strong metallic note.
Taste: Initial malt backbone of bread, toast, caramel and cherry before giving way to a moderate bitterness consisting of straw, pepper and some metallic notes.
Feel: Moderately high carbonation, light to medium body, pretty dry finish.
Overall: Surprisingly robust Vienna Lager. Great flavor profile that is slightly dampened by a hoppy finish that is a little too metallic and just misses the mark.
679 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Serving glass: Poured from bottle into Pint glass. Julian bottling date that starts with 11112, so depending on their system, it is either April 11 or 12, 2011.
Appearance: Clear, golden amber with only a thin head.
Smell: Caramel, bread, cherry and a strong metallic note.
Taste: Initial malt backbone of bread, toast, caramel and cherry before giving way to a moderate bitterness consisting of straw, pepper and some metallic notes.
Feel: Moderately high carbonation, light to medium body, pretty dry finish.
Overall: Surprisingly robust Vienna Lager. Great flavor profile that is slightly dampened by a hoppy finish that is a little too metallic and just misses the mark.
679 characters
3.95/5 rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Appearance:
Great looking beer... very lacy head. Color is coppery and slightly hazy.
Smell:
Smells like oranges and sweet spice. The smell reminds me of fall... dried leaves.
Taste:
Very smooth and creamy beer. Finish is smooth with virtually no bitterness. Slighty spicy flavor.
Mouthfeel:
Thick in the mouth... doesn't dry mouth out at all. Very nice!
Drinkability:
Easy beer to drink. Tastes great and has a nice finish.
441 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Appearance:
Great looking beer... very lacy head. Color is coppery and slightly hazy.
Smell:
Smells like oranges and sweet spice. The smell reminds me of fall... dried leaves.
Taste:
Very smooth and creamy beer. Finish is smooth with virtually no bitterness. Slighty spicy flavor.
Mouthfeel:
Thick in the mouth... doesn't dry mouth out at all. Very nice!
Drinkability:
Easy beer to drink. Tastes great and has a nice finish.
441 characters
3.6/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a translucent amber with a moderate off-white head. Little retention and minimal lacing.
Smells wonderfully bready with a bit of citrusy hops in the background.
Very well balanced. Nice caramel malts up front followed by a pause of sweetness and toffee. Moves to a nicely hopped ending that leaves a little glow in your mouth. Sweetenss kind of lingers on for a while.
Mouthfeel is dead middle of the road. Carbonation is slightly overdone.
A beer that should appeal to a wide range of tastes. Does nothing spectacular and everything decently.
561 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a translucent amber with a moderate off-white head. Little retention and minimal lacing.
Smells wonderfully bready with a bit of citrusy hops in the background.
Very well balanced. Nice caramel malts up front followed by a pause of sweetness and toffee. Moves to a nicely hopped ending that leaves a little glow in your mouth. Sweetenss kind of lingers on for a while.
Mouthfeel is dead middle of the road. Carbonation is slightly overdone.
A beer that should appeal to a wide range of tastes. Does nothing spectacular and everything decently.
561 characters
4.03/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Big full head, amber brightness in the appearance, falls quickly. Great sweet floral aroma.
Hops aren't big, but they let you know they're there, floral and spicy. Sweet malt feel that is very light on the palate. This is one of my favorite examples of this style. The warmer it is outside, the better. Enjoyable throughout, and at an amazing price, you can't beat this.
371 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Big full head, amber brightness in the appearance, falls quickly. Great sweet floral aroma.
Hops aren't big, but they let you know they're there, floral and spicy. Sweet malt feel that is very light on the palate. This is one of my favorite examples of this style. The warmer it is outside, the better. Enjoyable throughout, and at an amazing price, you can't beat this.
371 characters
3.85/5 rDev +6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Clearish medium brown with a 1/4 inch head that settles to a multi-bubbled skim. Malty aroma, a little cinnamon. Light medium-bodied, malty flavor lasts a long time. Elements of caramel, hazelnut, and a touch of spicy hop. Actually, a pretty nice Vienna, nuttier than a lot of others. Could use a little more distinction overall, but nothing is amiss here.
361 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Clearish medium brown with a 1/4 inch head that settles to a multi-bubbled skim. Malty aroma, a little cinnamon. Light medium-bodied, malty flavor lasts a long time. Elements of caramel, hazelnut, and a touch of spicy hop. Actually, a pretty nice Vienna, nuttier than a lot of others. Could use a little more distinction overall, but nothing is amiss here.
361 characters
2.5/5 rDev -30.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
2.93/5 rDev -18.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
(Served in an American pint glass)
A- This beer has a light clear amber body with a soapy off-white head that last a bit. There is a carbonation of tiny bubbles that keeps the little head going.
S- The smell of pale malt has a faint dried corn hint and a green noble hop aroma. Over all the smell is pretty faint.
T- The faint taste of malt has a light toasted note with a finish that was a lot like tonic water. There was a bitter hop flavor in the finish. As it warmed a bit the malt had a hint of dry honey, which was nice, and the hops in the finish had a faint grape fruit note.
M- This beer has a medium-full mouthfeel that was odd but it might have been from the carbonation. It was a pretty tight fizz in the finish.
D- The nice flavors of malt and hops didn't come out until after the beer had warmed a bid and even then they were very faint and hidden. The tonic flavor was a bit off and washed out the hop flavor.
941 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
(Served in an American pint glass)
A- This beer has a light clear amber body with a soapy off-white head that last a bit. There is a carbonation of tiny bubbles that keeps the little head going.
S- The smell of pale malt has a faint dried corn hint and a green noble hop aroma. Over all the smell is pretty faint.
T- The faint taste of malt has a light toasted note with a finish that was a lot like tonic water. There was a bitter hop flavor in the finish. As it warmed a bit the malt had a hint of dry honey, which was nice, and the hops in the finish had a faint grape fruit note.
M- This beer has a medium-full mouthfeel that was odd but it might have been from the carbonation. It was a pretty tight fizz in the finish.
D- The nice flavors of malt and hops didn't come out until after the beer had warmed a bid and even then they were very faint and hidden. The tonic flavor was a bit off and washed out the hop flavor.
941 characters
Special Amber from Sprecher Brewing Company
3.6
out of 5
based on 355 ratings.
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Appearance: Poured from the bigger size 16 oz bottle into a pint glass. The beer pours a light amber to orangish color. My pour produces a generous white head over an inch in height (perhaps I was a bit too vigorous in pouring). Head fades over time to a decent cover/ring around the glass.
Smell: Light aromas of malt, lightly sweet malt. A hint of caramel, toffee, nothing hoppy here.
Taste: Some slightly sweet caramel malts. Faint bitterness on the finish. If I did not know this was a Vienna Style lager I would have bet on an all malt lager.
Mouthfeel: Smooth on the tongue with a faint prickliness on the throat as it goes down. This beer is light in body, light in carbonation.
Drinkability: Got a 4 pack of this for cheap on closeout for $4. Ok, not great (a stretch to even say good). Better representatvive beers for the style are available IMO.
860 characters