Spencer Brewery

Microbrewery in Spencer, Massachusetts, United States 🇺🇸

Established in 2013

Closed in 2022

Contact
167 N Spencer Rd, Spencer, MA, 01562, United States
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.

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7.6/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
Bottle. Pours dark brown with a creamy tan head. Roasted malt, chocolate, ash, hint of dark fruit. Nice.
Tried from Bottle on 23 Nov 2020 at 03:46

6.9/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 6 Texture 8 Overall 6.5
Certainly nailed the Belgian vibe; fruity yeast esters offset unsweetened chocolate and coffee, with some caramel, raisin, and cascara beneath. Finishes super-dry and roasty. Somewhat metallic, and the esters really start to take over as it warms. Not bad, but not my thing, either.
Tried on 23 Nov 2020 at 00:58

7/10 Appearance 10 Aroma 7 Flavor 6 Texture 8 Overall 6
Fairly standard IPA, notes of grapefruit, berry, pineapple, earth, and a little pine/mineral bitterness, but the yeasty spiciness is a nice addition. Nothing amazing; still a nice pint.
Tried on 15 Nov 2020 at 01:17

8/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8
Bottle. Dark amber-brown, creamy light beige head. Malt, dark fruits, Belgian yeast, clove notes, spice. Good stuff.
Tried from Bottle on 09 Nov 2020 at 05:59

7/10
Tried on 06 Nov 2020 at 15:14

7.3/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 7.5 Texture 7 Overall 8
Strong herbal & spicy nose. Clear deep ruby brown, small fizzy off-white head, vanishes within no time, almost no lacing. Aroma roasted malt, caramel, mix of spices (coriander seed, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, anise, licorice root), some wood, brown sugar. Taste light heavy sweet, light bitter, roasted malt, caramel, spices, alcohol. Medium body, oily to sticky texture, average carbonation, sweet and sticky sweetbitter aftertaste, sugary, spices, some orange peel, alcohol notes, complex, tasty, in fact easy to drink – or better to sip because of the pronunciated spiciness, very nice.
Tried from Bottle on 03 Nov 2020 at 19:57

5.6/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 3 Flavor 6.5 Texture 6 Overall 6
Small off-white head over fully hazy pale ochre-amber beer. Sharpish sour-salty nose from the outset; acetic acid and fatty acids. Mineral hints throughout. Light acidity remains in the mouth; finally fruit notes appear. Bit meaty esters, taking over - not completely - the mineral component in the nose. Sweet and lightly sourish main taste, fruity - which might well be peach. Bit of solvent, and yeasty, as from white bread. Good carbonation; faintly tart, quite (fruit)slick; light to medium bodied. Nose is a disaster, rest not thàt much better. Such things ought never have been allowed the Trappist logo.
Tried from Bottle at Beerlovers Bar on 19 Oct 2020 at 12:49

7.6/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 8.5
Bottle. Dark mahogany beer with a tan head. Yeast and dark fruit aroma with light spice. Yeast and spice flavor with dark fruit, light roast, and rich malt. Medium bodied. Yeast and roast linger with rich malt, dark fruit, and dried fruit.
Tried from Bottle on 12 Oct 2020 at 23:14

6.8/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7
33cl bottle from Sip, Tallinn. Pours dark mahogany coloured with a beige head. Malty and fruity with notes of dark dried fruits, Belgian yeast and caramel. Medium sweet with medium flavour intensity and a balanced bitterness. Carbonation more lively than expected, but still not disturbing. Quite smooth, desserts and enjoyable.
Tried from Bottle on 29 Sep 2020 at 16:15

7.5/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8
Hazy amber colour, white foam. Strange nose of peach, bread, yoghurt. Taste is tart, lots of peach, a bit cheesy and grainy also. Not bad, In like it.
Tried on 24 Sep 2020 at 21:01