Brew reviews
Brooklyn Brewery
Special Effects Hoppy Amber NA Beer
The History
“Our namesake borough runs on the creative energy of the many communities it contains. We brew to support these vibrant people, in our neighborhood and around the world.” – BrooklynBrewery.com
Brooklyn Brewery began in 1988 with a passion to bring brewing back to Brooklyn, which in the past had been a central part of American beer culture. Fast forward to today, and beer enthusiasts can find their wide variety of beers in more than half of the United States and more than thirty countries. They have an award winning team of brewers that “brew everything from classic styles to bold experiments and collaborate with brewers, innovators and artists from around the globe.”
Branching into the NA market, you can expect nothing but the best from Brooklyn Brewery. Their amber lager (with alcohol) even won gold at the Beer World Cup!
The Details
From Brooklyn Brewery:
- Type: NA (non-alcoholic)
- ABV: Less than 0.5%
- IBU: N/A
- Hops: N/A
- Location: Brooklyn, New York
- Tasting Notes: Peeled grapefruit and zesty hop aromas with a clean bitter edge
- Less than 100 calories
- Available: Year round
The Label
The labeling on this can was rather trippy. I hadn’t started drinking yet, but looking at the cans on a sunny day had me feeling like it was a moving kaleidoscope, pretty cool! Great colors of blue and yellow helped make the can artwork pop, but the label was still easy to read and included solid information about the type of beer. I like how I’ve seen Brooklyn Brewery change their logo color to match the beer artwork they have on the many style of beer they offer!
The Pour
This amber lager poured just like any alcoholic beer. After trying another NA beer earlier I was happily surprised to see a normal amount of carbonation and foam! The color was just what you would expect from any amber – put them side by side and I’d never know the difference.
The Taste Test
Tastes ALMOST identical to a usual, alcoholic beer. Carbonation is there, aroma is there taste is almost there. It doesn’t have that bite one may be used to with alcohol, but I thoroughly enjoyed the flavor of this after enjoying it for what it was, not what I expected (a beer with bite due to ABV). I had work to do later that day, so this beer was enjoyed in full without worries of after effects!
The Overall
A great amber ale and you cant get in trouble with having too many!
As I branch out into the world of NA beers, I have a feeling this will be a staple. While I do enjoy a buzz with my beers, there’s plenty of times I don’t want one, or need more of one for that matter! This would be a solid choice for parties and gatherings, or even if you enjoy the taste of a beer but don’t want the buzz that comes with it. Absolutely worth giving it a go!
Check out their website here: Brooklyn Brewery