Sparkling Ale
Coopers Brewery Limited

Sparkling AleSparkling Ale
Rate It
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Coopers Brewery Limited
 
Australia
Style:
Cream Ale
Ranked #140
ABV:
5.8%
Score:
81
Ranked #27,026
Avg:
3.58 | pDev: 15.08%
Reviews:
403
Ratings:
683
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 05, 2023
Added:
Mar 23, 2002
Wants:
  26
Gots:
  75
SCORE
81
Good
Sparkling AleSparkling Ale
Notes: Little has changed since Thomas Cooper brewed his first batch of Sparkling Ale in 1862. It's still naturally conditioned in the bottle with our unique strain of Coopers yeast. To enjoy the complete Sparkling experience, roll the bottle to mix in the yeast sediment before pouring. No additives. No preservatives.
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.55 by TrueMetalJake from Oregon

Feb 05, 2023
 
Rated: 3.3 by Dave1999 from North Carolina

Jan 12, 2023
Photo of Nath91
Reviewed by Nath91 from Australia

3.83/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
My introduction to beers other than Lagers was Coopers Pale Ale, which is an excellent introductory beer into the Pale Ale scene. It's still often my go-to beer. A step up from that, in the English/Australian Pale Ale scene, is it's slightly bolder, more rounded heavier brother. Red labelled, Sparkling Ale. At 5.8%, it packs a heartier punch that it's green labelled pale ale brother at 4.5%, but still maintains a highly drinkable, tasty and refreshing beer.

Appearance: Orange, very cloudy and heavily sedimented beer. Coopers are proud of their natural bottle conditioning and so they should be. Thin soapy head doesn't stick around too much.

Aroma: Lovely biscuit malt,  mixed with some citrus hops. I'm fairly sure Coopers uses Pride of Ringwood, but they don't use it in such as an offensive manner as your typical Aussie adjunct lager does. Pairing with the biscuit malt is a lovely, earthy bannana smell, which I think comes from the yeast. There's a bit of white bread mixed in with the Bananna giving an almost Bananna bread smell.

Taste:. Bitter, malty, tasty and a touch of alcohol. As previously mentioned, it's over a percent stronger than the Pale Ale, and you can taste it. The citrus is strong and that yeasty-bananna flavour is present. The bitterness is very spicy which is something I enjoy.

Feel: Like most Aussie beers it's carbonated very strongly and you'll find yourself burping after one sip. They could dial down the carbonation a bit. For 5.8% it's fairly thin bodied.

Overall: Honestly it's better on tap than bottled for mine, and it's hard to find it on tap in NSW. I love it. As mentioned at the start of the review, their Pale Ale was my introduction away from lagers and this is a step up from that. A good session beer if you don't want anything too florally. It's no IPA or American Pale Ale, Definetely more a British Ale style of beer, but very refreshing, great for barbeques.
Dec 29, 2022
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.68/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Nov. 2007: 375 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. Bottle conditioned, sediment in bottle. In the first pour the beer is crystal clear golden, hazy in the final pour. Sparkling indeed, but when the initial huge head subsides a little, the carbonation in the glass is not too bad. Fruity aroma with notes of spices. The flavour is also fruity and moderately spicy. Alcohol is noticeable but not disturbing, the beer is fairly light bodied and easy drinking.
Oct 07, 2022
 
Rated: 3.67 by travelguy from Ohio

Mar 28, 2022
 
Rated: 3.69 by scootercrabb from Illinois

Feb 13, 2022
 
Rated: 3.52 by Dentist666 from Russian Federation

Jan 19, 2022
 
Rated: 3.75 by Tenebris

Dec 09, 2021
Photo of elnachooo
Reviewed by elnachooo from Spain

3/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
De color dorado, con una fina espuma de corta retención. De cuerpo y carbonatación media. Aroma a malta y cereales. En boca es menos dulce que su aroma, y matiza con un leve amargor.
Oct 14, 2021
 
Rated: 3.8 by Oleg85 from Russian Federation

Apr 26, 2021
Photo of Bretto2011
Rated by Bretto2011 from Australia

5/5  rDev +39.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Skull it straight from the bottle preferably a long neck doesn't get any better
Feb 22, 2021
Photo of 5cottie
Reviewed by 5cottie from Canada (BC)

3.88/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
OK so it bottle fermented so has a sediment but in my humble opinion disregard the label advise that is can be drunk with or without the sediment. Unlike a Weissbier the sediment can be a bit gritty and should be avoided. Pour it slowly and AVOID the sediment in the bottom of the bottle. Then it’s a great brew. Serve cold IMO it goes down well, smells like a lager should, subtle but more beer than bubbles. Taste is good and the slight after taste is good to. Definitely enough to have you reaching for the next one or six.
Feb 15, 2021
Photo of BubbleBobble
Reviewed by BubbleBobble from New York

4.1/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
Nice lively pour from the bottle, activated head that dissipates champagne-like to a thin ring, no retention. Dark orange, light brown, moderate haziness. Nose is brown bread, roasted malts, lemon/hay, not much in the way of hops. Palate is light and pleasant, slight malt sweetness, back note of bitterness on the finish. Carbonation is stellar - sharp and crisp, everything I'd want from a sessionable beer. An extremely welcome surprise.
Nov 29, 2020
 
Rated: 2.97 by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois

Nov 24, 2020
 
Rated: 3.79 by beaulabauve from Louisiana

Sep 20, 2020
Photo of pisstank
Reviewed by pisstank from Australia

4.7/5  rDev +31.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
A really nice drop after a long days work. I won't go into any explicit details because these have been described countless times. Suffice to say it's a great beer, and outdoes all the 'trendy' beers by a mile.

Give it a shot.
Sep 15, 2020
 
Rated: 3.75 by eldoctorador from Chile

Aug 05, 2020
Photo of chitoryu12
Reviewed by chitoryu12 from Florida

3.88/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Look: Very cloudy orange. A tiny white head that immediately dissipates.

Smell: Oranges, tart apples, and a strong yeast.

Taste: Yeasty sweet malt with an orange peel back, moving into biscuity. Very low hop bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Relatively thin and extremely carbonated.

Overall: A fantastic, unique ale.
Jun 14, 2020
 
Rated: 3.25 by FrancisM12 from New Jersey

May 16, 2020
 
Rated: 2.98 by smi69 from New York

Apr 19, 2020
Photo of JonnoWillsteed
Reviewed by JonnoWillsteed from England

3.49/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Caution: It's Bottle Conditioned!
L- ... which I wasn't expecting from an Australian beer! So poured with a 3mm white head, finishing with a couple of drops of sediment on top. It now resembles a Long Island Iced Tea, but that's my oversight. The lable (I read now) states you can enjoy it poured clear or hazy, the latter akin to a German Hefeweissen.
S- Quite lively, fresh, almost notes of apple.
T- Bright, slightly piquant, into a mildly malty middle and lightly hopped finish.
F- I'm serving this chilled and it's refreshing = ^Bright+piquant+hopping. It feels lighter than 5.8% especially if well chilled. I'd have guessed about 4.8%, though as it warms a touch I'm beginning to register it more.
O- Interesting beer, and it is something a bit different. I'd suggest not chilling it too hard or you'll risk lessening the flavour. I'm glad to have reviewed it, but there is not enough of note here to warrant buying it again.
Bought from Amathus, Wardour Street, London. £2.60/375ml bottle BB: 07/02/20
Feb 12, 2020
 
Rated: 3.84 by FZR23 from Romania

Aug 13, 2019
 
Rated: 2.5 by Hayley_86 from Netherlands

Jul 03, 2019
Photo of andypeters1971
Reviewed by andypeters1971 from Georgia

5/5  rDev +39.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
one of the best beers I've ever had and that's after having dozens and dozens of different styles from different places. There's something about this style that really suits me and it's hard to describe. It's unlike anything else
May 23, 2019
Photo of monkist
Reviewed by monkist from Hungary

4.14/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Good to know that there is more in Aussland than VBs and Fosters (of course there must be loads, I just haven't had any yet...)
Now this one looks nice and smells/tastes quite interesting for an English Pale Ale like others said - has a sort of floweriness in there, maybe some slight candied fruitiness too that I can't decipher well. Unlike the American ones, this English PA is more dominated by the bitterness that in this case is well balanced the malt base.
I was looking for the spark but I found it when pouring the whole bottle along with the sediment out in the glass - that made it fizzy with carbonation even more! With this extra, it became even better than in the beginning. Recommend pouring all of it out at once!
Quite alright, made me interested in Aussie craft even more!
Feb 23, 2019
 
Rated: 3.5 by mishi_d from Romania

Dec 20, 2018
Photo of jamesroses
Reviewed by jamesroses from Argentina

3.46/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
375ml bottle

Cloudy orange, lots of sediment and particles floating. Small head dissapears quickly livig a white film on top and medium carbonation.

Smells weird for a Pale Ale. A lot lemony/lime -7up/sprite alike-, some yeast that reminds the belgian, and a sweet malty/caramel background.

Taste follows the nose, caramel is more obvious in this one than in the Original Pale Ale. Lemon/lime notes and some 'belgian' alike yeast.

Mouthfeel is somewhat odd. Crisp carbonation and a bit of a spicy finish.

Good to try it, but wouldn't choose it over other Pale Ales.
Nov 18, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by warpedrevolution from Illinois

Oct 19, 2018
Photo of RichardLeahy
Reviewed by RichardLeahy from Australia

3.83/5  rDev +7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
L. From 375 ml bottle. Appears appropriate. S. Some grassy notes. Not a lot. I have a limited sense of smell. T. Grassy and grainy. Dry finish. F. As it says, sparkling but not frothy. Reasonably full mouthfeel and very drinkable. O. A unique and distinctive beer and part of Australia's beer heritage. Hard to think of a comparison. Drink it now before it disappears.
Sep 26, 2018
Photo of Ceddd99
Rated by Ceddd99 from Michigan

4.39/5  rDev +22.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
I find this a bit over carbonated, other than that a great ale.
Aug 10, 2018
 
Rated: 3.21 by gardner254 from Ohio

Aug 05, 2018
 
Rated: 3.71 by BlueSpader from Washington

Jul 21, 2018
 
Rated: 3.54 by npfreeman from England

Jul 06, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by paulish from New York

May 08, 2018
Photo of VoxRationis
Reviewed by VoxRationis from New York

4.31/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Decanted from a 12.7 oz (376 ml) into a conical pint glass; best after July 16, 2017.
A: Pours a hazy, golden-brown color with a one half inch off white head, little retention or lacing. Of note, small yeast particles abound and an almost Brownian motion is evident due to their interaction with the strong effervescence.
S: Floral. Aromas of honeysuckle, caramel, citrus, and cocoa are most evident. Maybe a little grassy.
T: Semisweet. Flavors of caramel, sweet bread, melon, and citrus (orange) were most striking. Just enough light bitterness to give it a crisp, clean finish despite the sweetness.
M: Light bodied with a very strong effervescence. Playful on the palate like a well made sparkling wine.
O: This was an unusual and very enjoyable Pale Ale. The light body, low bitterness, and full, playful carbonation combined for a really refreshing treat. Would absolutely have this again; a great find for summer.
Apr 24, 2018
 
Rated: 3.52 by marcrech from Brazil

Mar 10, 2018
Photo of LiquidAmber
Reviewed by LiquidAmber from Washington

3.6/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Poured into a Samuel Smith pint glass. Pours a medium coppery amber with a thin white head that dissipates to tiny patches, slight lacing. Aroma of semi-sweet biscuit malt, light lemon citrus and light grassy hops. Flavor is deep biscuit malt, hints of citrus and moderate grassy hops with a slightly astringent hop bitterness in the finish, but nice residual malt. Medium bodied with sharp carbonation, despite the lack of a persistant head. Nice malt depth and appropriate grassy hops for the style, but the hops are somewhat harsh and leave an odd stale bitterness in the finish. The malt rescues this from the hops, and this would be a robust choice for a hot Australian afternoon and more interesting than bland lagers. OK, but not inspiring. After reviewing this, I glanced through the other reviews and was struck by the odd fact that reviewers alternately give the color as medium orange (close to the medium copper I gave it) or else pale yellow or straw. That's just weird. At least one "pale straw" review mentions "sparkling" which seems to indicate it's the right beer. Could there be that much color variation or an high rate of misidentification while reviewing? Strange.
Feb 04, 2018
 
Rated: 3.14 by BeerAndFilm from Oregon

Jan 25, 2018
Photo of j0ono0
Reviewed by j0ono0 from Australia

3.98/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Drunk cool from the fridge, this beer combines a good balance of bitterness and bubbles to make it an outstanding feature beer suited to South Australia's hot dry summer climate. The afore mentioned characteristics balance the full flavours making it a tempting beer for 'sessioning' but its high alcohol content can catch thirsty imbibers out easily.
Jan 18, 2018
 
Rated: 3.22 by TheCrowsEye from California

Dec 15, 2017
Sparkling Ale from Coopers Brewery Limited
Beer rating: 81 out of 100 with 683 ratings