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Schell's Firebrick

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Schell's flagship amber lager — a Minnesota classic since 1984. Toasted caramel malt, a touch of honey sweetness and noble hop spice in a crisp, clean German-American lager frame. The beer that put New Ulm on the craft map before craft was a word.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
amber9
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
caramelmaltyclean
caramel
malty
clean
honey
noble hop
toasty
Aroma
The nose leads with toasted caramel malt and light grain sweetness, followed by subtle noble hop spice and a whisper of honey.
also:hoppy,spicy
not found:juicy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Schell's Firebrick

◎ Appearance

Firebrick pours a brilliant amber-copper hue with excellent clarity and a modest white head that settles to a thin, persistent collar. The carbonation is crisp and lively, with a steady stream of fine bubbles rising through the glass. This is a visually appealing, classically proportioned amber lager.

amber-copperbrilliant claritywhite headwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with toasted caramel malt and light grain sweetness, followed by subtle noble hop spice and a whisper of honey. Clean lager yeast character dominates, with no off-notes or harsh phenolics. The overall aromatic profile is approachable and inviting, without aggressive hop or adjunct character.

toasted caramelnoble hopsclean lagerhoney sweetness

◐ Taste

The palate opens with a light, smooth malt foundation featuring bread and grain notes complemented by caramel sweetness. Mid-palate brings a pleasant balance of dry maltiness and subtle hop spice, with low bitterness (16 IBUs) allowing the malt to shine. The beer finishes crisp and clean, with a refreshing quality that invites another sip.

light maltcaramel sweetnesscrispbalanced

◑ Finish

A dry, clean finish with lingering bread and grain notes that fade gracefully without astringency. The aftertaste is refreshingly straightforward, exemplifying the understated elegance of a well-crafted American amber lager.

drycleanrefreshing
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
82
Appearance
84
Finish
80
Serve at 4–7°C

Serve at 4–7°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Stein

The sturdy German stein maintains temperature and keeps carbonation intact. Built for long, convivial drinking.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Schell's Firebrick

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About Amber Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Amber Lager?

Amber Lager is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Amber Lager

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same caramel, malty, clean character as Schell's Firebrick will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Amber Lager beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →