Special Effects Hoppy Amber
Brooklyn Brewery

 

i love that the non alcoholic space is popping off, and brooklyn seems like a perfect candidate to become a leader in it. this is solid, more flavorful and also more refined than a lot of others ive had, and it kind of plays in two style areas at once, the amber and red as well as the pale ale area, and with the extra malt and hops it kind of hits like an old 90s pale ale or something, and this was almost nostalgic to me, even as a first timer. nice when youve had too much in recent days, but i could also see this hitting real authentic for someone who has taken meaningful time away from craft beer. like all of them, this isnt going to stand up in a side by side with a proper hoppy amber ale, but in isolation i think its excellent, the color is brassy to rust with immaculate clarity and importantly, a tall and lasting airy white head and lots of carbonation, this is inviting, and it sure looks like a well made normal beer. the nose and taste are the same, some immediate pine and herbal bitterness from a fairly bold hop add, could be simcoe, but its northwestern anyway, and it gives some oily texture too, immediately more crafty than many, and i love the balance of the toasted grain, toffee and honey note but not sweet for an amber, and there is some body to it, although i would still classify this as light. there are some slight oxidation and even metallic elements to the finish, especially at temperature, but its hard to knock this, as its well ahead of the field at this point. great carbonation, a smoothness, minerals and light pennies at the end, but overall very good, a nice food beer, and something for those taking a break that actually drinks like a good beer. well done by brooklyn on this one, hope to get to taste the other non alcoholic ones they make under this special effects name. very cool!

 

 

Can. Off white head with a lot of lace. Amber copper color. Clear.

This surprisingly reminds me of an NA version of furious. One of my new favorite NA offerings. Malty with bready, caramel, and biscuit notes. Some toasted malts as well. Grapefruit citrus and resin with floral hops. Even some dank, sticky notes. This is a winner in my book. Drinks way too easily. Full of flavor, especially for an NA.

L: Pours an amber orange with a very small fizzy head and no lacing on the glass.

S: Very strong caramel is first, followed by a little bit of apple juice, seems very one note.

T: A very strong almost off-putting caramel taste covers most everything else.

F: Carb seems a little lower than expected.

O: This one doesn't really do it for me.

355 ml bottle, from Rema 1000, Tau. ABV is 0.4%. Clear reddish amber colour, moderate coarse white head. Aroma of grain and dust. The flavour is medium dry, slightly citrussy with hints of wort and caramel. Some slightly metallic hop bitterness in the finish.

 

12 oz can poured into a tulip pint glass. It looks like beer, it smells like beer, it even tastes almost exactly like beer. Easily the best NA beer I've had. My only complaint is that it isn't dark enough to be an amber, and the flavor also trends in the direction of a pils. But the main point is, it's a pleasure to drink which is more than I can say about the limited number of other NA beers I've had.

 

 

12 oz can poured into a pint glass

A- A clear golden amber with a small white head.

S- Wheat, honey, tea, earth, touch of citrus.

T- Wheat, toasted sweet bread, earth, some citrus, herbal tea.

M- Smooth, light to medium body, high carbonation.

O- Honestly this is a tasty amber and easy to drink. Flavors a slightly on the lighter side but still well done.

 

 

Had this on 2021-10-30 near Pittsburgh, PA from a 12oz can

A - Clear gold with a 1-finger white head that drops quickly leaving light lace

S - Apple cider, light malt,

T - Lightly toasted bread, mild pine, lemon, tea, earthy spice.

M - Light body and medium carbonation.

O - It's pleasant enough tasting but isn't as close to seeming like alcohol-laden craft beer as the couple NAs I've had from Athletic Brewing this week. I'd get this again though.

 

 

A: Pours a clear medium amber in color with moderate amounts of active visible carbonation rising quickly from the bottom of the glass and moderate medium golden yellow + honey + peach colored highlights. The beer has a two finger tall sudsy foamy beige head that reduces to a medium to large sized patch of medium thick film covering a little less than 50% of the surface of the beer and a ,medium thick ring at the edges of the glass. Light amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Slightly stronger than moderate aromas of worty toasted + bready + caramel malts with a moderate amount of caramel sweetness and light to moderate aromas of floral + citrus/grapefruit + pine hops. Light aromas of minerality + lager yeast.

T: Upfront there are slightly stronger than moderate flavors of worty toasted + bready + caramel malts with a moderate amount of caramel sweetness. That is followed by light flavors of minerality + lager yeast. Finally there are light flavors of floral + citrus/grapefruit + pine hops which impart a light amount of lingering bitterness.

M: Light to medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Slightly crisp upfront and slightly thin/watery in the finish.

O: Easy to drink with a pleasant crispness to the mouthfeel. Enjoyable and flavorful (for an NA beer) with a decent hoppiness though there is still that worty presence.

A genuinely good na beer!

I think it says Best By 05/2020, if so I need to re-review this if it's bad
Pours a large frothy 2 finger head with moderate retention, very clear pale tan honey orange color

Nose is decent, some sweet malt and fresh wort aroma, little grainy and toasty, plenty of hops as well, fruity, citrusy, a little herbal tea,

Taste more fresh wort, light grainy toasty sweet malts, copper/amber malt character, more herbal tea hops, with some general fruity notes, note quite citrusy this time I think due to age, light pine late, light bitterness, drier finish

Mouth is med to a little lighter bod, med foamy carb

Overall I want to try it again fresh, but otherwise a pretty good N/A beer