Spruce Goose
Steamworks Brewing Co.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This brew poured out as an orange hazy color with a white head on top. The smell of spruce came through on the nose right away for me, kind of an interesting aroma for sure since you don't see this in beer too much. The taste of the spruce comes through on the tongue as well, really subtle flavor but really interesting too though. The mouthfeel of the beer is a little on the thicker side. Overall this was a pretty good wintery brew.

Best by 3/17/09. It is 4/13/11. More than two years old but it is 7.3% so we'll see how it held up...err aged...

Pours a deep burnt orange....sweeter candied aroma...hard candies...cane sugar...sweet caramel...light floral hop impression but nothing piney. I like the aroma though...very sweet..

T-Much like the aroma but not as sweet as expected....hard candy...some caramel...and a floral hoppiness...a little earthy/musty impression too, perhaps from the aging.

Not much booziness...for as sweet as this seems it sure drinks nice...it held up pretty well and is enjoyable. Not sure how it would drink fresh but this is decent.

2009 bottle, corked. I've had this before, I went back to the same store I got this at, and they had the same number still collecting dust as when I went earlier in the year. Pours a wonderful looking amber color, fairly opaque, two finger head that fades away, monster lacing though. Aroma is of candied fruits and spruce needles. Taste is unusual, I really wouldn't classify this as an American Strong Ale, it seems like more of a Gruit to me. The spruce is fairly pronounced, especially in the finish, with what I'd imagine tree sap would taste like as well. The candied fruit again makes an appearance, and the taste is very sweet. Mouthfeel is sticky, chewy and dry, but the sweetness and dry mouthfeel ruin the drinkability for me.

Not bad, and I wouldn't mind picking this up periodically if it were more widely available.

22oz bottle.

Pours a hazy amber with a small beige head that recedes quickly to a collar with very little lacing.

The aroma is very, very sweet with caramel malts, candied fruits and, finally, tons of spruce and other evergreen scents.

The taste starts with a very green floral kick, like spruce needles in a glass with a healthy dose of sugar and vanilla. Maybe a bit of spiciness in the finish.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with low carbonation and very sweet on the palate, sticky almost. Very little bitterness.

Compared to some other spruce beers I've had this one is fairly tame and on the sweeter side. Not bad but nothing memorable.

Malty ale with spicy overtones.

Attractive dark amber with nice head that leaves enough sparkle in the mouth. Strong flavor or something pleasant yet odd is the first impression. What is that flavor? Spruce is not what comes to mind, at least after drinking Alaskan Winter Ale for a few years. But it has a tartness that goes really well with the malt and modest sweetness. Hops are very much in the background but it seems just right for a holiday style.

For the 2010 batch label claims abv is 7.9%. New label as well.

Reviewed from notes. Bottle picked up at Rick's in Alexandria.

Pours a medium amber copper color with a light off white head. The nose really just lays the spruce on. Really nice fresh spruce and pine notes. The taste cuts it back a bit as the spruce is not overly dominant. A bit of bready malt and caramel underneath. The feel is very nice, with good spice and bitterness. A bit much for too big of a pour, but quite tasty and unique.

2009 Vintage 750ml bottle purchased at Capone's in Norristown PA.

Appearance: Pours a clear caramel amber with a 1.5 finger slightly off white crown that shows moderate retention and good lace.

Smell: Good amount of spruce over mild Scottish malt with buttered toffee.

Taste: Same as nose but less malt presence and much more spruce bitterness.

Mouthfeel: A bit watery.

Drinkability: Would be higher if it weren't for the mouthfeel.

Thanks to jjfoodie for sharing this bottle.

The beer pours an amber color with a white head. The aroma is caramel malt with some spruce mixed in. The flavor is a little more complex with some notes of caramel, toffee, sugar and some grapes. The spruce comes through int he aftertaste. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Served in a Dogfish Head shaped pint glass.

This was randomly found at a nearby beer store, and the price wasn't prohibitive. I smell a new brew! It pours a clear reddish amber with a finger of off-white, foamy head, which dies rather quickly without a trace of lace. The nose comprises nuts, light maple syrup, and a heapin' helpin' o' spruce tips. The name is well-earned. The taste holds notes of spruce (damn, what a shock!), pine sap, a mixture of light molasses and vanilla, ginger, and, in the back, some red apples. Though this actually sounds tasty, the whole melange comes off kinda crappily. It's hard to explain...just take my word that I didn't enjoy the taste all that much. The body is a light medium, with low carbonation and a light syrupy feel. I'm sure I'm never gonna have this again, but I'm pleased to have had the opportunity.

This is a unique beer...to me anyway. As an American Strong, this is a bit weak, but I don't know what else you could call it. Probably an Herb Beer or A-Pale. It pours a soft ruby/golden color with a good little head on it. Lacing is above average. Looks a bit oily.
an odd aroma. Must be the spruce and malt interacting. Not sure how to describe it. not quite pine, but not floral. Hmmm..
a quick biscuity backbone in the taste. Then the spruce hits and it's not what i expected. It's not a biting spruce, like pine. It's green spruce. A bit coating. If you've eaten spruce leaves, you'll know it. But not many people have done that, I'm sure. Gives a summery feel, but a good winter warming. It's a unique beer to me.

Interesting beer brought in for us to taste by friend Paul Beck. Poured with a nice head and good lace. Slightly hazy medium dark amber in color. Nose is very subtly spicy. Flavor on the other hand is WAY sprucey. and other spices and malt. Some bitterness. And sweetness. Funny flavor in the background. Ok beer. Not great. Not a session beer.

Clear red ale with a small tan colored head.

Spicy and faintly sour smelling beer. Clear scent of spruce with a gin after scent. A bit of vanilla and juniper berry scent appear after you let this warm a bit.

The taste starts out malty with a strong flavor of spruce and vanilla with a bit of a bitter bite in the aftertaste. Little bit of a mildew aftertaste that to me tastes a little like dirt. Faint sour taste to this, possibly vitamin C.

Mouthfeel is light.

Something of a novelty beer here, can't see me buying this again. Really think this is more of a Sahti than a strong ale.