Confusing beer-ale reference notwithstanding, prune-hued dank-fruited German-styled alt retains clove-spiked orange peel essence. Sour yeast penetrates soft hop bittering to moderate citric-spiced finish. Brewery defunct: 2003.
Monthly Archives: January 2009
SPRECHER SPECIAL AMBER LAGER
Clear pale amber German-styled moderate body with weak toasted caramel malt profile and phenol Cascade hop whimper begs comparison to tepid Vienna lager. Wispy orange skulk barely seeps into bland vegetal finish.
SPRECHER SHAKPARO AFRICAN-STYLE ALE
Bland fire-brewed African-styled pale-bodied amber ale lacks stylistic resolve. Cloy sorghum-millet malting confronts acidic yellow-fruited hop tingle. Floral-spiced lemon bittering tucks in green grape tartness, unripe banana stint, and earthy gypsum spell.
SPRECHER IMPERIAL STOUT
Phenomenal jet black dry stout layers coffee-roasted mocha malting over black cherry, dried raisin, and earthen peat. Muddy oats-smoked dark chocolate bitterness undercoats cocoa-buttered molasses extract to irresistible port finish.
SPRECHER PALE LAGER
Subtle wheat-grained cereal opening integrates sweet caramel corn, toasted barley and baguette illusions with muted fruiting of bohemian-styled lager. Lemony orange souring overrides tidy apple spicing, minor coarse astringency and backend acidity. Honeyed Scotch malting creates sinewy mouthfeel. Basic ingredients connect the dots well.
SPRECHER MICRO LIGHT ALE
Pedestrian clear-toned light-bodied blonde places bland toasted malts and evaporative dry hops next to dainty lemon candied wisp. Mild sourdough, stale white bread, and musty cardboard illusions will appease lo-cal enthusiasts but disturb the rest.
SPRECHER GENERATION PORTER
Confusingly indistinct ink black porter closer to banal Schwarzbier. At opening, Russell Stovers chocolate-covered raspberry cream candy essence loses footing to chalky powdered cocoa bittering and musty grape-dried oaken cherry souring. Protruding raspberry puree tartness pervades coarse dry-hopped finish, but funky mildewed vegetal waft and vinous acidity ruin confounding digestif.
SPRECHER DOPPLE BOCK LAGER
Inviting dark lager lets roasted caramel malting bring black chocolate-toffee-cocoa convergence to sweet vanilla-hazelnut finish. Raisin and prune spotted beneath woody Chinook-Saaz-hopped char.
SPRECHER BLACK BAVARIAN STYLE LAGER
Admirable chestnut-hued Kulmbacher-styled German knockoff offers sour yeast sinew, husked corn sweetness, and hop-dried roasted nuttiness to counter smoked chocolate bitterness. Caramelized mocha malting and veiled molasses creaminess lend latent full-bodied milk stout-like splendor.
SPEAKEASY UNTOUCHABLE PALE ALE
Floral citric hop nose and soured blueberry setting admit lively lemony orange-grapefruit juiciness to embitter spicy herbal comeuppance. Spruce finish gathers grassy green tea nuance for refreshing lightweight mood.
SPEAKEASY PROHIBITION ALE
Well-defined ‘boldly hopped’ orange sunset West Coast ale receives juicy citrus permeation above heavy yeast sinew, spicy clove tendency, and hazelnut illusion, building to pleasant bitter hop finish enveloped by roasted barley and honeyed caramel. On tap, lingering piney aftertaste further increases assertiveness.
SPEAKEASY OLD GODFATHER BARLEYWINE
Luxurious brandy-sherry opening spreads across medicinal Courvoisier spell, cherry jubilee swell, and candied apple quell. Spruce-sapped tangerine-pear-pineapple-watermelon fruiting and floral bouquet settle above honeyed wheat base. May lack some warmth, strength, and endurance of more tempting barleywines, but not far removed from Unibroue’s excellent Quelque.