Sprecher India Pale Ale

Brewed by Sprecher Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Glendale, Wisconsin USA

Substantial malt character to the aroma, toasty and light caramels with a bit of toffee, herbal hops and a touch of phenols. This is not a hop monster and seems tame by west coast standards. Interesting in that it tastes like an double English IPA (not PNW hops).

A vigorous pour produces an almost two-finger thick, tan colored head. The beer is a clear amber color that shows a slight haze and a mix of orange, red and copper hues when held up to the light. The aroma is hop focused (though quite low for a double IPA), with notes of orange zest, grapefruit, lychee and tangelo. There is quite a bit of malt noticeable as well, in fact it seems quite heavy handed with the crystal malt. It seems to almost have a stale, caramelized malt character to it, though it might just be the particular mix of malt used here. As the beer sits in my glass for a bit, the hop character seems to get a bit wan and flabby. This really is missing a ton of hop character for a double IPA.

The beer has a surprising perceived sweetness to it; In a double IPA I would have expected much of this sweetness to have been drowned out by a hop onslaught (hell even for an IPA). Along with the sweetness is a fairly full body. The malt character is quite evident, and is in fact distracting in this beer. The finish has some astringent hop bitterness to it, but also has a ton of toasty, caramelized grain notes to it that really linger on in the mouth. The malt, in combination with some light hop influence makes this have a bit of flavor akin to brown sugar soaked berries. This is hoppy as well, I just wish there was more; flavors of grapefruit, pine and menthol (in the finish) are all noticed. This is certainly not a bad beer, the flavors are all quite nice and this is even nicely drinkable. This is much more of an IPA, or perhaps a supped up Pale Ale.

Except for the lack of hop character this has all the makings of a great IPA; ample malt base & body to carry a ton of hop character. It would be nice if they double or tripled the hop bill on this one.

One of the better sprecher beers I’ve had, but that’s not saying too much. Light piney hops, with some banana in the aroma. Medium brown body with a light head. Medium palate. The bitterness in this one won’t take your breath away at all, but is present throughout and the hops are tastey. A tinge of burnt malt follows that up to provide some backbone. Drinkable for sure.

Bottle: Pours a clear copper with a light tan head. Aroma, citrus, caramel, some smoky and earthy notes. Flavor, earthy, herbal, some harshness to the hop flavors, caramel malts, some grassy hints. This was an IPA2 bottle.

Overall this beer was not great, but drinkable. I expected a huge in your face hop nose and bite, but received more of a five foot stare.

16 oz bottle. Cloudy yellow brown with a beige head. Nose is odd; orange Juicy Fruit? Medium light, a bit watery, faint carb. A touch of muddy caramel grapefruit to start then raw potato, plastic and aluminum. Not nasty to the point of undrinkability but unpleasant nonetheless.

16 oz bottle. Poured a clear medium orange color. Head was two fingers high and off white with good retention and lacing. Aroma was of husky grain, sawdust, and a hint of apple. Dry on the tongue with a metallic note. Tasted of husky grain and vodka with moderate hop bitterness of about 4 out of 10.

16 oz. bottle. Pours a clear amber color with a small off white head that disappears quickly. The aroma has some citrus and grassy hops with an abundance of sweet caramel malt. The flavor seems to be missing much of the hops and instead is heavily influenced by the caramel malts. Medium mouthfeel. This just doesn’t present itself as a double IPA and as I was redirected, apparently many others realize this as well.