Suspiciously packaged like Rogue ales with its etched lettering and crisp organic seasoning. Lively barleymalts and cocoa notes softened by crisp Northwest water for delicately nutty grain-induced finish. Brewery defunct: 2003.
STAR BREWING HOP GOLD ALE
Tamped down herbal hop resonation tenderly caresses sour lemon rind, orange peel, and apricot nose. Tea leaf tinge nearly escapes senses until soothing malted rye finish durably increases. Brewery defunct: 2003.
STAR BREWING DARK STAR NUT BROWN ALE
Sweet chocolate-wafted ale with thick mocha resonation, pleasant nut influence, and moderate hop bitterness coating softly textured hazelnut finish. While experienced brown ale drinkers will reach for stronger, more refined Samuel Smith’s Nut Brown Ale, lighter ale lovers may be more inclined to enjoy these. Brewery defunct: 2003.
STAR BREWING BLACK CHERRY STOUT
Dark chocolate-dominated black cherry-fermented stout with full-bodied chocolate bon-bon essence juxtaposing refreshingly hop-fizzed overripe fruiting. Ultimately, chocolate cluster lingers longer than cherry residue, finishing closer to Cordial Grand Marnier than Hennessey as a superb after dinner treat. Brewery defunct: 2003.
STAR BREWING ALT BIER ALE
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.
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.