First Sparrow
White Birch Brewing

First SparrowFirst Sparrow
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From:
White Birch Brewing
 
New Hampshire, United States
Style:
Grodziskie
ABV:
3.8%
Score:
84
Avg:
3.68 | pDev: 15.22%
Reviews:
12
Ratings:
44
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jun 05, 2017
Added:
Feb 23, 2013
Wants:
  7
Gots:
  3
A contemporary take on the near forgotten Grodziskie style, First Sparrow flies from the netherworld of antiquated beer and straight into your heart. Smoked and heavily hopped, our little bird chirps her three note song, and spring is here. Brewed with wheat and Rauchmalts, a neutral German ale strain, and lovely German hops.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by XmnwildX12:
Photo of XmnwildX12
Rated by XmnwildX12 from Minnesota

3/5  rDev -18.5%

Nov 05, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of Lone_Freighter
Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont

3.43/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This was poured into a mug. The appearance was a nice looking hazy dark brown with ruddy amber hues along the sides of the glass. A thin layer of white to off white foamy head dissipated within less than thirty seconds leaving some light stringy lacing sliding down the glass. The smell starts off with a light smokey to semi-sweet to semi-rustic grainy maltiness. Light roasty coffee and cocoa blends into the mix of things. The taste was moderately sweet to roasty and carrying a nice smokey flavor wrapping around the coffee and cocoa. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a fairly decent sessionability about it. Carbonation felt right for a (Polish) gose. Overall, yeah, I used that word. Pretty sure White Birch was going for the Polish version of a gose which is the dark side which means that the "saltiness" should be barely there and more "smoked" to "meaty" like flavors are supposed to be there. With this one, eh, not bad. They did a good job taking away the "saltiness" of the "gose" and adding the qualities of the Polish styled gose of the dark side. Probably could have again.
Jun 05, 2017
Photo of NickSMpls
Reviewed by NickSMpls from Washington

3.36/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
A regular geyser of foam when uncapped...a cascade of foam over the top and onto the counter. Pale straw, foamy head and chunky pour. Smell is being down wind of a smoke house out in the country. Mild taste, again the smoked grain dominates and a trace of bitterness, but not a hop bitterness but the bitterness of over-smoked meat. An interesting style, but a bit heavy handed.
Feb 11, 2016
 
Rated: 3.38 by hop_junkie from New Hampshire

Dec 13, 2015
 
Rated: 4.45 by freshcarl from Connecticut

Sep 01, 2015
Photo of pat61
Reviewed by pat61 from Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L: It pours cloudy light gold under a thin fizzy rapidly dissipating foam collar. S: The smoky tart wheat aromas rising from the glass evoke a wurst. T: The brewer uses a light hand on the smoke and does not overpower the wheat or tartness. There is also a light dose of salt and a light lemon character. F: Very sparkly and light. O: this is a Grodziskie and it is very nice to see brewers bring back this style. This is very well done, refreshing and much appreciated.
Aug 18, 2015
 
Rated: 4.1 by Molson2000 from Canada (ON)

Jun 28, 2015
 
Rated: 3.58 by tpauer from New Hampshire

May 16, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by scinnh from New Hampshire

Oct 31, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by bostonryan from Massachusetts

Sep 27, 2014
Photo of Brutaltruth
Reviewed by Brutaltruth from Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%
Ale pours a light cloudy amber tinged yellow with light white bubbles on the head that
pool to thin white ponds and light lacing. VERY light smoke on the nose, light citrus notes
of lemon zest and white pepper. Taste is rather unique. This quaffable ale has lightly slick
mildly sweet malts up front and on the back that fade to a smoky profile that mingles nicely
with lemon and bitter orange flavors in the background. The more it warms the better the
flavor profile becomes. Smooth mouthfeel with decent carbonation. This is not what I
expected at all. Very nice session brew.
Aug 17, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by billab914 from Virginia

Jul 31, 2014
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

3.68/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
how delightful, this smoked wheat brew from white birch. leaps and bounds better than their berliner, but just as creative, i love this. its a pale orange color, not a ton of head or carbonation, but such a light body it really doesnt miss it. sessionable flavorful beer is in, and this is one of a kind, also superior to other examples of the style I've had. a medium smoke on the nose, cherrywood malt, maybe some more heavy rauch type stuff, but in small doses. the wheat is fresh and well modified, the beer is dry, refreshing. i liked this as a companion to spicy grilled sausage. the lightness cut the spice, while the two smoke profiles played off one another very well, improving the overall experience of both. light enough to drink a ton of, flavorful enough not to get bored, and very nicely reserved on the smoke, it isn't over done at all. one of those beers i wish was available, not that i would drink it everyday, but the colorado market really has no substitute for something like this, and with our penchant as a state for grilling and drinking, we need a beer like this. stoked for claystation to have shared his only bottle with me.
Jun 30, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Amalak from New York

May 25, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by nmann08 from Virginia

May 17, 2014
Photo of melitameister
Reviewed by melitameister from New York

3.92/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
I am giving this beer some advantage because I think it is outstanding to find a beer with so much going on, with such lovely and unique characteristics, and a very low 3.8% ABV.

Appearance - dark golden/tan with fine carbonation, a slight haze and a cream colored head with nice lacing.

Smell - gentle sweet cheesy smoke, meyer lemon and maybe a hint of berry.

Taste - a lovely creamy smoky gouda-ish intro with some tangerine and butter. Nice balance of meyer lemonyness and bitter in the middle. Then comes a nice long trail of mild malty sweet and complex tasty hops bitterness.

Mouthfeel - medium body with a nice resinous light density.

Overall - this has been sitting in the cellar for a while because a smoked wheat 3.8% beer without crackling reviews just seemed a long shot. Very happy with this beer and I will have it again. With rich live goodies in the bottle bottom, unique, delicious and fun.
May 01, 2014
 
Rated: 2.75 by atrocity from Virginia

Apr 30, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by JuliusCaesar from New Hampshire

Apr 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by morebeergood from Massachusetts

Apr 27, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by jaymo18 from Virginia

Apr 18, 2014
First Sparrow from White Birch Brewing
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 44 ratings