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Spotlight Series: Spröcketbier
Stone Brewing
- From:
- Stone Brewing
- California, United States
- Style:
- Kölsch
- ABV:
- 5.4%
- Score:
- 85
- Avg:
- 3.77 | pDev: 11.14%
- Reviews:
- 127
- Ratings:
- 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.
Ratings by fuzzbalz:
More User Ratings:
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
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, 2018But 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.
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
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, 2017Appearance: 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.
Reviewed by sejorules from Sweden
4.26/5 rDev +13%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
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, 2016S: 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.
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
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, 2016cellared 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.
Reviewed by Andrewharemza from Australia
4/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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, 2016Reviewed by Wasatch from Colorado
3.87/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
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, 2015Pours 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.
Spotlight Series: Spröcketbier from Stone Brewing
Beer rating:
85 out of
100 with
684 ratings
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