Sprecher Brewing Company - Winter Brew

Winter Brew is a Munich-Style Bock beer that pours a very dark chestnut brown color beneath a pale tan head that fades somewhat quickly to a collared covering. Expect first impressions on the nose to suggest that this is going to be a rich and malty brew. Look for notes of stone fruits (cherries, plums) along with a hefty caramel presence, some maple syrup notes balanced by a mild roastiness and spicy Tettnanger hops blended with that hallmark ‘German-lager mustiness.’ We found it had a fantastically full mouthfeel that nicely coats the palate with notes of biscuits & grains rolled in caramel, faint orange, some plum and additional roasty characteristics. The flavor profile fully blossoms just ahead of the finish, with the beer opening up some and letting doughy, bread-like notes emerge, with the finish ushering in some mildly bitter hoppiness, sharpened by an almost stinging, biting carbonation. Great bock beer, and not too heavy, yet showcasing all the great features of traditional German bockbier. Overall, it’s got tons of flavor yet manages to retain a lagered cleanliness. Sprecher really knows their stuff, and brews some amazing German-style beers. This winner of the 2004 Bronze and 2002 Gold Medals at the World Beer Cup will pair nicely with Carne Asada, black beans and rice.

We've been fans of the Sprecher Brewing Company for some time. With over 20 beers in their cumulative brewing portfolio, we’ve enjoyed everything we’ve gotten our hands on. This month, we’ve focused on limited release beers in their collection, and they are some fine brews! The first thing you'll likely notice is that their bottle labels give the impression of being an import; notice the griffin-like emblem and Euro-style-typeface (and the name Sprecher, meaning "speaker" in German, implying a German brewery). But closer examination reveals the banner line "Established in Milwaukee – 1985"—it's almost jarring to discover this beer isn't brewed by a 200+ year old brewery from Bavaria (and that's before even tasting the stuff—you'll really question it after you try them!). Sprecher Brewing Co. was founded in 1985 by Randal Sprecher, a former brewing supervisor at Pabst Brewing Company, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Within 10 years the company had outgrown their first location and in 1994 they moved to their current location in Glendale, Wisconsin. The new, larger brewery enabled the company to continue growing; today they remain proud contributors to Milwaukee's great brewing tradition—and by Milwaukee's great brewing tradition we don't mean the current macro-behemoth based there—this city was, in the late 1800s, home to more than 80 breweries—but prohibition changed all of that in 1919. Still, it can be spoken of historically as a craft brewing haven, and the Sprecher beers certainly speak to us; they tell us these guys know what's up. If you're ever in the Milwaukee area, drop in to Glendale, Winconsin for a visit and buy whatever Sprecher beers you can get home with you (helpful hint: bring an extra suitcase!). For more information about the brewery and scheduled tours, visit their website at www.sprecherbrewery.com or call them at call (414) 964-2739.