Fireside Chat
21st Amendment Brewery in San Leandro, California, United States 🇺🇸
Spiced / Herbed / Vegetable / Honey - Spiced Regular|
Score
6.63
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Like FDR’s Depression-Era Radio Addresses, which were like a kick in the butt and a hug at the same time, our Fireside Chat is a subtle twist on the traditional seasonal brew. We begin with a rich, dark, English-style ale and then we improvise with spices until we know we have a beer worth sharing with the nation. Celebrating the right to be original.
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6.4/10
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Appearance 9
Aroma 6
Flavor 5.5
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Review based on the BJCP2021 guidelines (style 30C: with spices and cocoa nibs). Can 35.5 cl - Batch 2175SD 17 (BB: undeclared). AROMA: medium spice aroma (cinnamon, slight ginger, cardamom) with medium-low toasty malt (with slight toasted bread crust). low pine hops background. APPEARANCE: dark amber color and clear. medium-low beige to light brown head, creamy, with good retention. lace formation. TASTE: medium-low to low spices (cinnamon, slight ginger) with low hops (pine). medium-low malt flavor (toasty, slight bread crust). medium-high bitterness with a semi-dry to dry and bitter finish that persists. MOUTHFEEL: medium-low body with medium carbonation. OVERALL: a winter ale-type beer with soft notes and with a bit too much bitterness.
Tried
from Can
on 14 Jan 2026
at 16:12
7.5/10
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Appearance 9
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7
Can purchased at Key Market in Redwood City. Have not visited this beer in over a decade. Remember loving it when it came out. This pours dark and clear. Color is deep garnet brown with dense, light brown head that lingers throughout the pour. Aroma of spice and chestnut. Flavor is brown roasted malt, overt caramel, and a slight burnt finish. Bumping the score up some points for how I remember it and how I remember the brewery. I will pick some 21-As up when I see them over the next weeks or month. This was my local for a number of years in SF from 2006-2010, and I miss and loved the good times there. Sad to see them go, and what a great run for Nico, Sean and the whole crew.
Tried
on 09 Jan 2026
at 05:22
5.4/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
Gewürziger Geruch. Etwas Anis im Antrunk, moderat malzig, dunkel, wenig herb. Trocken, wenig würzig, Nuancen von Schokolade, mittellanger Abgang, Kakao. 9/7/7/9//8
Tried
from Can
on 29 Dec 2025
at 21:19
6.9/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7.5
Texture 6
Overall 7
18 December 2025. Christmas Beer Evening (at Stoumont) with the lovely Anke! Can from Beer Republic Advent Calendar.
A: hazy brown, thin, tan head.
A: clove, cinnamon, fondant, burnt cookie, plum jam.
T: sweetish plum & raisin, cookie spices, bitter fondant.
F: herbal hops, spices, dried fruits.
P: medium body, watery texture, soft carbonation.
Pleasant enough.
A: hazy brown, thin, tan head.
A: clove, cinnamon, fondant, burnt cookie, plum jam.
T: sweetish plum & raisin, cookie spices, bitter fondant.
F: herbal hops, spices, dried fruits.
P: medium body, watery texture, soft carbonation.
Pleasant enough.
Tried
on 18 Dec 2025
at 15:42
6.6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
355ml. can. @"home", Compostela. 08/12/2025
[#8.776 Global - #1.906 United States of America - #2 21st Amendment Brewery]
Pours hazy brown with a small tan head. Aroma: full spiced malts, cinnamon, coriander and anise. Taste: pleasantly spiced leading to a dry mouthfeel.
Next one, please!
[#8.776 Global - #1.906 United States of America - #2 21st Amendment Brewery]
Pours hazy brown with a small tan head. Aroma: full spiced malts, cinnamon, coriander and anise. Taste: pleasantly spiced leading to a dry mouthfeel.
Next one, please!
Tried
from Can
on 08 Dec 2025
at 08:11
6.3/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 7
Overall 5.5
Beer Republic Advent Calendar 2025, Red Edition. Door 7. A dark brown beer, a head is medium and beige. Aroma is strongly spiced, cinnamon, nutmeg, light fruitness, banana. Taste has the same elements, spicyness, light riped fruitness, quite dry end. Medium bodied. Too much of spicyness.
Tried
from Can
from Beer Republic
on 07 Dec 2025
at 10:38
7.1/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 6.5
Draught from waterfront. Poured darkish brown, some cinnamon and vanilla and such. Pretty light despite its appearance. Alco is well hidden.
Tried
on 20 May 2025
at 01:03
8.6/10
Sweet, spices and malty
Tried
from Draft
on 20 Dec 2024
at 16:28
6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Who know what kind of junk is in here. Cardamom? Pours dark brown and clear with pretty good head and lacing. Cocoa nibs. Some caramel sweetness on the end. Can.
Tried
from Can
on 24 Feb 2024
at 22:43