Spencer Brewery
Microbrewery in Spencer, Massachusetts, United States 🇺🇸
Established in 2013
Closed in 2022
Contact
Description
St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts, is home to a community of Trappist monks and the first American Trappist brewery. Following the Benedictine tradition of ora et labora (prayer and work), the monks pursue a simple life of contemplative prayer, manual labor and hospitality. The brewery helps support the monks and their charitable outreach. The brewery, being far into the abbey's land, is not open to the public for tours or tastings.
8.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8.5
Flavor 8.5
Texture 9
Overall 9
Reviewed from notes.
Bottle to tulip.
Appearance: dark brown color close to black color with a one and a half fingers of eggshell white foamy head which dissipated nicely to leave light lace.
Aroma: big roasted dark malts, some coffee and smoke, some dark fruits and a good dose of milk chocolate
Flavor: blends the prior noted aromas - roasty and sweet, light aftertaste of coffee, roasty tones, and chocolate
Texture: medium bodied, good sipper, some smoothness on the tongue, finishes dark fruity and milk chocolatey smooth
Overall: a very nicely done imperial stout I wish I could get again.
Bottle to tulip.
Appearance: dark brown color close to black color with a one and a half fingers of eggshell white foamy head which dissipated nicely to leave light lace.
Aroma: big roasted dark malts, some coffee and smoke, some dark fruits and a good dose of milk chocolate
Flavor: blends the prior noted aromas - roasty and sweet, light aftertaste of coffee, roasty tones, and chocolate
Texture: medium bodied, good sipper, some smoothness on the tongue, finishes dark fruity and milk chocolatey smooth
Overall: a very nicely done imperial stout I wish I could get again.
Tried
from Bottle
on 04 Feb 2026
at 12:24
9/10
—
Appearance 9
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 9
Overall 9
Reviewed from notes.
Bottle to chalice.
Appearance: very dark brown color with a two and half fingers of puffy off white foamy head which dissipated mildly to leave some light lace.
Aroma: Belgian sweet notes from the yeast, Belgian spicy notes from the yeast, rich sweet dark fruits, tones of Belgian chocolate, milk chocolate, strong sweet earthiness, light pecans then other toasted nuts, light scents of coffee and some caramel to tofffe hints
Flavor: balances very nicely between the spicy and the sweet of the prior noted aromas; semi-spicy to sweet aftertaste of dark fruits to yeasty vibes
Texture: medium bodied, good as a sipper, some smoothness along the tongue but also some roasty grind, som of that "back-of-the-throat" Belgiany grip, finishes Belgian malty, dark fruity and Belgian yeasty
Overall: a very nicely done Belgian quad I wish I could get again.
Bottle to chalice.
Appearance: very dark brown color with a two and half fingers of puffy off white foamy head which dissipated mildly to leave some light lace.
Aroma: Belgian sweet notes from the yeast, Belgian spicy notes from the yeast, rich sweet dark fruits, tones of Belgian chocolate, milk chocolate, strong sweet earthiness, light pecans then other toasted nuts, light scents of coffee and some caramel to tofffe hints
Flavor: balances very nicely between the spicy and the sweet of the prior noted aromas; semi-spicy to sweet aftertaste of dark fruits to yeasty vibes
Texture: medium bodied, good as a sipper, some smoothness along the tongue but also some roasty grind, som of that "back-of-the-throat" Belgiany grip, finishes Belgian malty, dark fruity and Belgian yeasty
Overall: a very nicely done Belgian quad I wish I could get again.
Tried
from Bottle
on 04 Feb 2026
at 11:38
6.5/10
Bitter AF. Strong roasty notes, perhaps a little Smokey also. This one is just a little too extreme for me.
Tried
from Bottle
on 21 Jan 2026
at 01:46
6/10
Malty body, but finishes a little bitter, and just tastes muted and stale. Well past its prime.
Tried
from Bottle
on 15 Sep 2025
at 19:54
8.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 9
Overall 8.5
From Amstein, drinking this powerful quad, at home, in Epalinges. This ale is rich of aromas, spicy, cynamon, cloves, plum, apricot, goooood.It is the kind of beer perfect during the autumn/winter.27.12.2018, during our second month in this flat.
Tried
from Bottle
from
Amstein
on 28 Mar 2025
at 17:44
7.5/10
RB score 3.55
Tried
from Bottle
on 15 Mar 2025
at 03:33
6/10
Tried
on 01 Mar 2025
at 12:06
6/10
Tried
on 01 Mar 2025
at 12:05
7.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 6.5
Lcbo Xmas gift pack. Jet black pour, large beige head. Sweet roasty aroma, light fruit, slightly fruity soy notes, hints of coffee, and smoke. Full mouth feel, soft, yet full carb. Finish is medium bitter with some more fruity roast, finishes hoppy, nice resinous notes.
Tried
on 28 Feb 2025
at 06:20
7.2/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Bottle. Mahogany pour, small off white head. Dark malty fruit, sweet malty breads, sweet Cereals. Creamy, full bodied, soft carb. Mineral finish, sweet dark fruit.
Tried
from Bottle
on 28 Feb 2025
at 06:19