Spezial Ungespundet

Brewed by Brauerei Spezial
Style: Zwickel/Keller/Landbier
Bamberg, Germany

Serve in Lager glass, Stein

On draft at the Spezial pub on the hill (by the beer garden) Nov 2011. Head is initially average sized, frothy, white, mostly lasting. Body is hazy medium yellow. Aroma is lightly to moderately malty (cereal, toasted grain), moderately hoppy (resin, herbs), lightly yeasty (dough), with notes of kumquat and honey. Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly acidic, lightly to moderately bitter. Finish is lightly sweet, lightly acidic, moderately bitter. Medium body, velvety texture, lively carbonation. I have mixed feelings. It’s got a vibrant, fresh nose, but the resinous/green hops and sour fruit aspects aren’t to my tastes. I couldn’t get as excited about this as Jeff, but it’s a nice brew to be sure.

Draught at the brauhaus
Cloudy blond color. The aroma is a bit stale, sourish. The flavor is boring; it’s just more bitter than the average. Maybe not fresh, but for sure I didn’t enjoy it much.

Herb-süffiger Antrunk mit nebensächlichem Hopfen. Die Herbe ist dabei extrem trocken und breitet sich im Mittelteil aus. Recht herb bleibend, nie aber bitter. Sehr süffig, stark getreidig und blumig. 10/11/11/10//11

Draught at both keller and pub. Pleasant, very drinkable helles with a slight indefinable perfume that I hadn’t encountered before. Fairly heavy palate and comparatively kind hoppiness. Almost impossible to pronounce after a few glasses.

Draught at the brewpub in Bamberg. Barrel gravity pour. Hazy blond color with a creamy white head. A little piney on the nose with creamy malt. Somewhat hoppy flavor (noble) and a nice smooth maltiness. Spritzy carbonation; almost distractingly so. Finished with some light, lingering sweet malt and bitterness. The mouthfeel just seemed oddly abrasive for some reason, which is odd considering the gravity pour. Boggles the mind.

On tap at Brauerei Spezial, Bamberg. Poured goldenyellow with an off-white head. Aroma is a bit fruity and grassy. Flavour is somewhat bitter and a bit fruity.

Draft at Spezial. Hazy yellow body and a large creamy diminishing off-white head. Aroma of fresh hops, yeast and white bread. Nice, tasty and refreshing.

Smells fresh, quite yellow. Flavor is somewhat pale lagerish at the start, but with a very dry pils finish. A nit of fruit perhaps, but certainly no smoke like the other two. Light and excellent, just like this brewery.