Brewery: Sprecher Brewing Co., Glendale, Wisconsin
Beer: Hooligan
Serving: 22 oz bottle
Glassware: Sprecher nonic
Information: 4.9% ABV, 12132[...] on shoulder in yellow (Bottled May 12th, 2012)
Style: English Pale Ale
Price: $4.99 / single
Availability: Spring Seasonal
Cellaring: Not recommended for extended aging.
Pairings: Greasy Bosco sticks with marinara sauce, hot chicken wings, and cayenne pepper-sprinkled vanilla ice cream with crushed almonds.
Appearance
Crystal clear, Hooligan vibrantly shines it’s golden clover honey color astoundingly! Sparkly loose bubbles resemble a fresh snowfall as the tall rocky head falls slowly. Thick gobs of off-white foam clutch the pint’s inner walls.
Smell
Strong aromatic hops erupt into the air from a tall pour. Incredibly complex, the varieties of hops involved offer sticky, resiny pine similar to crushing fresh hops in one’s hands, strong, assertive floral attributes, and a followup of lemongrass citrus. It’s hard to see past the earthy, boldly dry-hopped nose, but some bready caramel malt falls behind.
Taste
Don’t let the heavily dry-hopped aroma fool you, Hooligan is nicely balanced in flavor. With biscuity malt undertones and faint caramel sweetness, the bold, fresh hop flavor of lemongrass, citrus zest, and near-extreme floral presence is kept form being too strong.
Mouthfeel
At cask temperature, Hooligan has a very smooth, medium-light body with delicate but spritzy carbonation and a bone dry hop bitterness on the finish. Controlled with some degree of balance, the bitter finish is right on par with style; dominant but not overpowering the hop flavor.
Overall
By far one of Sprecher’s best offerings, Hooligan displays the versatility and prowess of the brewmaster as hoppy beers certainly aren’t one of their usual offerings. This English Pale Ale packs a hoppy wallop from bold aromatic nose to full-flavored and deliciously bitter finish. Hooligan is the perfect beer to session at a pub or on a warm summer day, and one that would work extremely well in a cask or firkin with fresh hops. Grab Hooligan while it lasts cause it won’t be around forever!
Score: 97 / 100 - World-Class
Cheers,
-Andy
