250 Anniversary Ale – Est. 1776

250 Anniversary Ale – Est. 1776 by Glenbrook Brewery is a spruce ale aged in apple brandy barrels and is being evaluated as a Specialty Wood-Aged Beer (category 33B from the 2021 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines).

Specialty Wood-Aged Beers should show a harmonious balance between barrel character, spirit character, and the base beer. In this case, 250 Anniversary Ale – Est. 1776 is an ale brewed with spruce tips and then aged in Laird’s apple brandy barrels. The beer draws on Revolutionary-era brewing practices and was created to honor the birth of the nation.

It pours a dark golden color with a very slight haze and a small, fluffy, off-white head. The aroma offers moderate floral and spicy spruce with a hint of apple. On the palate, the apple comes through more prominently, supported by moderate-light spruce and a light sourness. The finish brings moderate-light bitterness along with light apple and spruce character, light sourness, and a hint of tannins.

250 Anniversary Ale – Est. 1776 is a very interesting beer. The malt and hop levels are kept quite low, allowing the spruce and apple to remain the focus. The spruce is especially well judged, as too much can easily push a beer into overly resinous, Christmas tree-like territory. Here, it stays balanced. The moderate-light carbonation, light sourness, and touch of tannin provide a nice contrast to the gentle sweetness and apple character, adding both complexity and drinkability. This is well worth seeking out for its uniqueness, complexity, and historical angle.