M Special Brewing Overview
M Special Brewing is a craft brewer located in Southern California. The brewery was founded in 2014 and has taprooms in Goleta and Santa Barbara. They brew and pour a selection of lagers, IPAs, brown ale, pale ale and more. I have been to the Goleta location a few times, which is not too far from Draughtsmen Aleworks. Like Draughtsmen, M Special has a nice outdoor patio and a bar filled with knick knacks, memorabilia and other decorations. It is located in an industrial park, but is a pleasant place to stop by and have a beer or two. I was recently there for a group beer tasting after our tasting at Draughtsmen.
M Special Brewing Beers
This is the board showing beers that they were pouring the day of the tasting. Unlike Draughtsmen, they chose four for us and served them one by one. The four I tasted in order (with descriptions) were the following:
The Greatland Special India Pale Ale: 7.2% ABV 9 IBU “Do your nose a favor and enjoy the aroma of this beer before you drink it. It has been mashed low and slow to ensure a crisp clean dry finish that profiles the one and only thing that matters about this beer, the hops.”
Sabado Tarde Special Tangerine Ale: 4.7% ABV 20 IBU “Sabado Tarde Tangerine Ale is a light and refreshing flavorful ale coming in at a drinkable 4.7% ABV, which means you can go the distance with this winner. It has a balanced body of malts and hops, and a slight aroma and flavor of tangerine.”
G-Town Grapefruit IPA: 7.2% ABV (IBU NA)”A collaboration with the Goodland Hotel in Goleta, this beer is bursting with the aroma and flavor of fresh grapefruit. Pairs well with a pool and friends.”
El Mero Mero Mexican Lager: 5% ABV (IBU NA) ““El Mero Mero” (“the one and only”) is crisp, subtle, and mildly earthy. This mellow lager is delicately balanced using saaz hops and flaked corn. Dedicated to Mexican American heritage; “¡PURO PARTY!”
Update from Second Tasting
I attended a second tasting a few weeks later. Two of the four beers were different from the first tasting:
The M. Special American Lager: 4.7% ABV (IBU NA) “The classic American Craft Lager dedicated to those that work hard and play hard. This beer is made with only the finest combination of malted barley, fresh hops and yeast creating sparkle and flavor. Lagered to perfection to provide a balanced, unbeatable flavor.”
Dozer Special American Brown Ale: 7.5% ABV (IBU NA) “This is truly a special beer that you don’t see everyday. We feel the Dozer Special provides the best of both worlds. Flavors and aromas
of malt, brown sugar, toffee and caramel balanced with a hoppy citrus and pine profile.”
The IBU information is not from M Special. It is from ipourit.com and may not be reliable.
There are some reviews of M Special beers on Beer Advocate. The only one with enough reviews for a rating is The Greatland Special which rates as “good.”
Our Review of Beers We Tasted
I had been to M Special a few times and my reaction was always that it was fine, but nothing special. I jokingly referred to the brewery as “M Not So Special” to the other participants in the tasting. Draughtsmen Aleworks previously was much better. But this time it was different. I was underwhelmed by Draughtsmen before our group headed over to M Special for the second set of tastings.
As I mentioned in the Draughtsmen review, I am very much against mixing fruit and beer. But I had to eat my words at M Special. The Tangerine Ale and Grapefruit IPA were both great and very drinkable and smooth on a hot day sitting outside on the patio. Same with the Greatland IPA.
As for the El Mero Mero Mexican Lager, I have now had so many “Mexican style” lagers, it is hard to distinguish them from each other. The Mero Mero tasted like a lager beer. It was definitely better than El Sully Lager Beer, but the Dos Topas Lager from Topa Topa Brewing was much better.
Overall, the tastings at M Special far exceeded my expectations. I hope to go there again the next time I am in the Santa Barbara area.
UPDATE FROM SECOND TASTING 4 WEEKS LATER:
The American Lager was very good for my taste, which is lagers and pilsners. I don’t think there was anything special about it, but it was very drinkable for sitting outside on a warm day.
The Dozer Special Brown Ale was way too malty and rich and I did not like it. I much preferred the Figueroa Mountain Davy Brown Ale.
This time I found The Greatland Special India Pale Ale to be too much too hoppy for my preference; but it you like hoppy beers, it is a good choice.
For beer nutritional information of all beers we have reviewed see Beer Nutritional Information.
