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Schell's Firebrick

August Schell Brewing Company
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🌍 United States · Amber Lager · One of 12 Amber Lagers in hopIQ

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
See all Amber Lager alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Crisp mouthfeel.

A sharp texture drives the beer — a clean, direct pour with room for the palate to fill in.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Amber Lager.
Hop character
noble hop
hoppy
Malt character
caramel
malty
honey
toasty
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Distinctive notes
spicy
Compare with another beer →

FEATURED IN

Featured inThe Best American Lagers

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
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Schell's Firebrick

Serve at 4–7°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

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

Stein
Recommended for this style

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

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Schell's Firebrick

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.

Other Amber Lagers in hopIQ

Explore all Amber Lager beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →

WHERE TO BUY

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