Stinging Nettle
Machine House Brewery in Seattle, Washington, United States 🇺🇸
Spiced / Herbed / Vegetable / Honey - Herbal Rotating|
Score
6.91
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Amber Ale brewed with fresh Stinging Nettles hand-picked by our brewers on Vashon Island. Malty, spicy and uniquely herbal.
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8.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Undated can drunk 8/6/26.
Soft, fruity, mineral-laden yeast with notes of apple, raspberry, strawberry. Much more yeast and base malt-driven than specialty malt, so that's awesome. Unsurprisingly, no explicit stinging nettle in the nose.
Ok....I think I'm actually getting the nettle in the flavor. It's not at the front of the sip; that's fruity yeast and rich base malt, but it comes following that, lending an earthy, peppery, minty character and leaving a mintiness lingering alongside the malt on the finish. Nice and richly-malted, but still properly attenuated. Instantly big fan of this brewery and will try my damnedest to get there during my very limited time in Seattle this October.
Really like the beer they paired the nettles with. It complements the fruity yeast and rich malts. No hops to distract and yet there's a bit more interest than just, say, a golden ale.
Soft, fruity, mineral-laden yeast with notes of apple, raspberry, strawberry. Much more yeast and base malt-driven than specialty malt, so that's awesome. Unsurprisingly, no explicit stinging nettle in the nose.
Ok....I think I'm actually getting the nettle in the flavor. It's not at the front of the sip; that's fruity yeast and rich base malt, but it comes following that, lending an earthy, peppery, minty character and leaving a mintiness lingering alongside the malt on the finish. Nice and richly-malted, but still properly attenuated. Instantly big fan of this brewery and will try my damnedest to get there during my very limited time in Seattle this October.
Really like the beer they paired the nettles with. It complements the fruity yeast and rich malts. No hops to distract and yet there's a bit more interest than just, say, a golden ale.
Tried
from Can
from Tavour
on 06 Aug 2026
at 22:31
4.6/10
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Appearance 7
Aroma 5
Flavor 4
Texture 4
Overall 4
Can.
A- Amber color, hazy liquid, beige head.
A- Earthy, herbal, mild bell peppers, subtle malt.
F- Mild jalapenos, earthy, herbal, caramel, bready.
T- Medium body, average texture, average carbonation, earthy finish.
O- Tasted like a chili beer minus the heat. Very earthy and peppery. Really not a fan of this beer at all. Didn't even want to finish the pint but out of personal preference as much as the quality of brew.
A- Amber color, hazy liquid, beige head.
A- Earthy, herbal, mild bell peppers, subtle malt.
F- Mild jalapenos, earthy, herbal, caramel, bready.
T- Medium body, average texture, average carbonation, earthy finish.
O- Tasted like a chili beer minus the heat. Very earthy and peppery. Really not a fan of this beer at all. Didn't even want to finish the pint but out of personal preference as much as the quality of brew.
Tried
from Can
on 12 Jul 2026
at 21:49
7.9/10
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Appearance 10
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
I always wanted to try this brew based in curiosity more so than anything else. Coupled with the results of ky enjoyment that these guys seem to struggle to make a bad beer. Everything seems to stand out in their own way, and this is no exception. Thicker copper pour from the cask at Machine House, and presents itself with a nitro like appearance, swirling haze, thick cream foam head that lasts. Aroma holds earthy malts and caramel, and the flavor takes notes. Rich caramel malts. Almost has a cocoa note hidden in the background. Smooth and flavorful, and rests beyond what I could have expected from an ale like this. A touch of garden flavor here. Herbal, and just the right amount. Impressed by this unique, tasty brew.
Tried
from Cask
on 26 Apr 2019
at 23:15
6.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
On cask at Washington Brewers Cask Festival, pours a cloudy orange with a small white head. Nose is quite herbal, with earthy notes and pine cone. Flavour is even more herbal, with earthy notes, light spice, and tea-like notes. Strange stuff, but it works pretty well. Not bad.
Tried
from Cask
on 29 Mar 2015
at 20:50