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.
7.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 6.5
Bottle. A hazy, orange colored beer with a dense, off-white head leaving curtains. The aroma is peachy and piney, canned peaches mostly, with a resiny touch and some malty, sugary notes. It’s very bitter on the palate, sure enough bitterness to deal with the residual sugars. Full body and a smooth carbonation. Orange zest, pine cones and grapefruit flavor with some white bread malts in the back. Lasting finish which feels sort of dry at first, due to the bitterness, but in the very end the sweetness shows up. Still it feels rather dry, and the piney, resiny bitterness stays for a long while. Rather unbalanced this one, but I liked it anyway. After a few sips it drinks easily too. 160703
Tried
from Bottle
on 03 Jul 2016
at 14:08
7/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 8
Bottle from Geers. Dark red/brown colour. Spicy aroma, sweet, caramel and spicy notes. Interesting but too sweet and spicy.
Tried
from Bottle
on 30 Jun 2016
at 13:34
7/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
330ml bottle from Cornelius. Pours hazy amber with a thick white head. Aromas of spice, bread, rising dough. Taste is light sweet, bready, some raisins. Spicy finish.
Tried
from Bottle
on 30 Jun 2016
at 11:51
7.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Draft pour at The Sovereign in DC. Poured a hazy yellow color with a small but fluffy, fizzy head. Aroma was light sweet grassy notes, grain. Light sweet grain character. Very light, but very refreshing. Quite tasty.
Tried
from Draft
on 28 Jun 2016
at 22:23
6.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 7
Draft at The Sovereign in DC. Poured a slightly murky amber-orange color with a small white head. Aroma was light floral notes, touch of spice. Flavor was earthy, floral hop notes. More malt forward. Very reminiscent of an English IPA.
Tried
from Draft
on 28 Jun 2016
at 22:15
6.8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Bottle, 7.2%. Unclear golden with small white head. Aroma is malt, fruit, earthy, peach and old hop. Flavour is malt, caramel, hop, medium sweet, earthy, old hop, little peach and a little grapefruit.
Tried
from Bottle
on 25 Jun 2016
at 04:36
7/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
330ml bottle. Pours a hazy orange-gold with lots of sediment floating around and a large, frothy, long lasting, off-white head that laces. Sweet aroma of floral fruit, citrus, Belgian yeast and caramel. Sweet flavour of citrus, Belgian yeast, caramel, bready malt and grass with a dry, bitter finish. Medium body with an oily texture and average carbonation.
Tried
from Bottle
on 25 Jun 2016
at 00:10
7.3/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
How: Bottle.
Where: Systembolaget.
Appearance: Hazy amber colour with an off-white head.
Aroma: Malt, caramel, sugar, yeast, fruit.
Body: Medium body and carbonation.
Flavour: Fruit, caramel, some spices, a bit floral,
Where: Systembolaget.
Appearance: Hazy amber colour with an off-white head.
Aroma: Malt, caramel, sugar, yeast, fruit.
Body: Medium body and carbonation.
Flavour: Fruit, caramel, some spices, a bit floral,
Tried
from Bottle
on 17 Jun 2016
at 08:41
5.2/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 7
Flavor 2
Texture 6
Overall 4
Poured into a wine glass showing a finger of clean white foam on top of well filtered neon yellow. The nose shows a lot of caramel sweet malts. The palate shows a moderate carbonation and medium bodied. Flavors of malt with a slight sweetness but a very distinct hoppy IPA bitterness on the finish. Starts off malty like a pale ale but ends on a distinct clean IPA bitterness without any fruit or other dimensions. I personally think it takes the worst of a British IPA and mixes it with those of an American one.
Tried
from Can
on 14 Jun 2016
at 07:22
7.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Some roast and caramel with hints of smoke and chocolate. Hint of anise. Black pour with good head and lacing. Bitter finish with touch of sweet caramel. Velvety consistency. Tap at The Sovereign.
Tried
from Draft
on 13 Jun 2016
at 17:31