Schlitz may be the beer that made Milwaukee famous, but that brew's long gone. In terms of small breweries, two that our city hangs its hat on are Sprecher and Lakefront.
To be sure, each brews a number of diverse beers, but which one is better overall? In this first installment of the OMC Milwaukee Challenge, our editorial staff (plus one to break the tie) put these two brands to the test in a blind, side-by-side taste test. By now, you know that our staff writers are experts at all things Milwaukee. And though we may not be professionals when it comes to judging beer, we are pretty good at drinking it.
Note: in order to keep it fair, we picked the two most similar brews from each company, according to the experts at Downer Wine and Spirits. For this test, we sampled Lakefront Eastside Dark and Sprecher Pub Ale.
The winner, by a count of three to two, was Sprecher Pub Ale. Of course, we hope and expect you'll chime in with your thoughts using the talkback feature below this article. But here's how we came to our difficult decision:
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Jennon Bell
Promotions Manager
Pick: Sprecher
I typically prefer a lighter beer, and I usually fill my glass with the sweetest, palest beer available. This Milwaukee challenge was no exception. The Sprecher Pub Ale was velvety and smoother going down compared to the Lakefront Eastside Dark. The Lakefront had a heady flavor, almost a choppy, masculine taste -- bitter and strong.
Rich and heavy, the Lakefront Dark won over the Sprecher's stale, grainy smell. I thought it smelled like a concrete floor, actually. Overall, however, the Sprecher Pub Ale was my pick, because of its lighter taste and wheaty, clean finish.
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Julie Lawrence
Staff Writer
Pick: Lakefront
Admittedly, I thoroughly enjoy products from both breweries individually, but with Sprecher in my right hand and Lakefront in my left, the choice was obvious. After the sweet, rich flavor of Lakefront Dark, the sip of Sprecher Pub Ale tasted flat and lifeless, and the resonating smell of the barrel reminded me too much of my dank basement party days. Now that I've grown out of my drink-all-you-can for $5 college ways, I've come to appreciate the way a beer can compliment a meal, at a restaurant or at home. Lakefront Dark is dark enough to be flavorful but not so thick that it fills me up and I can't finish my food.
I found the finish, er, aftertaste, of the Lakefront brew to be really refreshing, making me wish we were doing more than just "tasting" the beer. In comparison, the aftertaste of the Sprecher seemed bitter and dry, making me wish I had some water to wash it down. My personal winner is Lakefront Eastside Dark.
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Molly Snyder Edler
Staff Writer
Pick: Sprecher
Basically, I'm looking for a beer to wash down the fried fish, which for me always means the lighter the better. Plus, when I drink beer, I want to be refreshed, and dark beer usually just makes me thirsty. So, it's not surprising that I chose Sprecher, the lighter of the two choices.
I also like beer with little-to-no aftertaste. (What's the point? Just take another sip!) Lakefront had a lingering finish, but the Sprecher quickly cleared the palate. This was appealing to this brewski lightweight. (But wine or whiskey? I'll drink y'all under the table.)
As for aroma, Lakefront's was better -- the Sprecher didn't really have much of a smell at all -- but this wasn't enough to sway my decision.
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Bobby Tanzilo
Managing Editor
Pick: Lakefront
It's really difficult to compare these two beers, which are quite different beers. While both have pleasant qualities, in the end, the choice comes down to whether you prefer a dark beer or an ale. For me the choice is clear (or not so clear): the darker one wins almost every time.
Despite the fact that the Sprecher Pub Ale is refreshing and has a pleasantly nutty color, the dark Lakefront has a full-bodied sweetness and a smooth finish that is satisfying and tasty. That said, the Pub Ale will likely be more refreshing at a hot summer bar-b-que.
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Andy Tarnoff
Publisher
Pick: Sprecher
To take nothing away from our neighbors down on Commerce Street, I liked every aspect of the Sprecher Pub Ale better than the Lakefront Dark. Its aroma was nuttier than the Lakefront, which had a malty smell to it.
The Lakefront Dark tasted too sweet for my palate, while the Sprecher had almost a slightly salty -- but good -- flavor that almost reminded me of black coffee. I'm no beer expert, but the Pub Ale had a dry and crisp finish, while the Lakefront Dark left me with a burnt taste. They're both good beers, and you can't go wrong with either one. In fact, if I had to compare my favorite Lakefront product (Cream City Pale Ale) vs. my favorite Sprecher (Amber), I'd definitely choose Lakefront. But those two weren't in competition. For this Milwaukee Challenge, I'll take the Sprecher any day.
