Blog Tracker
09-12-2021, 21:45
Visit the Fuggled site (http://www.fuggled.net/2021/12/come-to-schwarz-side.html)
One of the reasons I had all the necessary dark lagers to do the dunkel-tmavé-schwarzbier (http://www.fuggled.net/2021/11/all-consuming-darkness.html) triumvirate tasting in the last post was because I have been stashing schwarzbiers since the end of October to do a distinctly schwarzbier tasting. My planned set of examples was complete when Mrs V and I headed back from South Carolina after Thanksgiving, picking up a couple of six packs of Olde Mecklenburg's Solar Eclipse that her cousin had put aside for me after one of his trips to Charlotte.My collection of German style black lagers then was:
Köstritzer Schwarzbier (https://www.bitburger-international.com/en/our-brands/koestritzer/our-products/koestritzer-schwarzbier)
Schilling Brewing Feldberg (https://schillingbeer.com/brewery/our-liquids/#German-Inspired-Lagers)
Port City Brewing Schwarzbier (https://www.portcitybrewing.com/schwarzbier)
Olde Mecklenburg Solar Eclipse (https://untappd.com/b/the-olde-mecklenburg-brewery-solar-eclipse/4519866)
Devils Backbone Schwartz Bier (https://www.dbbrewingcompany.com/beverage/schwartz-bier/)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFvZTGWZznDvfOtAPppvyEGYtOHY7f_j4tygLsASnr6v p84QetsZGABdmCfTH-4ebbzSDNG4CQOAcpnQavBjxh8rFWqQbqS0VG_c91XPvnIUc8FK mkY0Q1m6UrPq2ecx4qJMv2Ot0srkQK6ZVM8i854U6RBIKNZ2PR eTqlWwJ8L0HPSz3oESN8TAVd=s320 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFvZTGWZznDvfOtAPppvyEGYtOHY7f_j4tygLsASnr6v p84QetsZGABdmCfTH-4ebbzSDNG4CQOAcpnQavBjxh8rFWqQbqS0VG_c91XPvnIUc8FK mkY0Q1m6UrPq2ecx4qJMv2Ot0srkQK6ZVM8i854U6RBIKNZ2PR eTqlWwJ8L0HPSz3oESN8TAVd=s2048)
For those of you playing along at home, you may recall that I did a small schwarzbier tasting with three of these beers back in May, Devils Backbone, Köstritzer, and Schilling (http://www.fuggled.net/2021/05/feel-schwarz.html), but given examples from another couple of my go-to breweries, a do over seemed appropriate. Let's dive on in...
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4dECkSO4trtYEG7sIAwVCPdxATOo8d22ko27ltCRhYE dsFf896S8I7X8Z4STqrAi5OM6qGuaFBESauA5MWNFDAitRmcWQ rqSUYC7HqVS_fW5sPapgWEO2zTMp2fCbUT_0hviBqb1ADA-dZLLa_Ra92wZAfH86lPGhO8_iIGkWWI9wkneMLQZvMEY1=s320 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4dECkSO4trtYEG7sIAwVCPdxATOo8d22ko27ltCRhYE dsFf896S8I7X8Z4STqrAi5OM6qGuaFBESauA5MWNFDAitRmcWQ rqSUYC7HqVS_fW5sPapgWEO2zTMp2fCbUT_0hviBqb1ADA-dZLLa_Ra92wZAfH86lPGhO8_iIGkWWI9wkneMLQZvMEY1=s204 8)
Köstritzer Schwarzbier
Sight - pitch black, dark brown edges, firm ivory foam, nice lacing
Smell - roasty, caramelised sugar, dark toast, some spicy hops
Taste - cold espresso, light cocoa, clean hop bite
Sweet - 2/5
Bitter - 2/5
There is a reason this is a classic, perhaps even the ur-typ of the style. It is freaking delicious, smooth, balanced, really easy to drink, and just reliable in the way that all the best archetypes are. It is perhaps a tad thin in the finish, but I quibble.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFWfVe4rxgAoPSbNR75g7fsv0Kk7He49HmYo3hWYjA8z cYGDIWmHYEqJ8QqGSaZzws9CoeK-vG_ftDvr55e1JgoaLm_dLgbYiSD5pB8RymZORz1dBZcW1IJVI9 8KPcBX2J7XIAMiUshDmit_7MyxywFRlj8NjzXmb06U1_BEMJFb yuzE6s1t4u-W4L=s320 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFWfVe4rxgAoPSbNR75g7fsv0Kk7He49HmYo3hWYjA8z cYGDIWmHYEqJ8QqGSaZzws9CoeK-vG_ftDvr55e1JgoaLm_dLgbYiSD5pB8RymZORz1dBZcW1IJVI9 8KPcBX2J7XIAMiUshDmit_7MyxywFRlj8NjzXmb06U1_BEMJFb yuzE6s1t4u-W4L=s2048)
Devils Backbone Schwartz Bier
Sight - black, garnet highlights, solid ivory head
Smell - rich coffee, toasty, generally roasty
Taste - French roast coffee, sachertorte, clean hop bitterness
Sweet - 2.5/5
Bitter - 3/5
This beer has won multiple awards and for good reason. Sure it is a touch heavier than the Köstritzer, but it is just as smooth and drinkable. I have to admit that I go through times when this is a very regular part of my drinking, it just hits every note on the nail. Fun fact, my notes on this one are very close to when I took notes in May. Also, it makes an excellent řezané with Devils Backbone Gold Leaf.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3MmTjf3DletESODjbM7AkgpyITs_P3SmmaJSK6_ZEXf oD5wr-PWdRacclyLP-a4OODPxa6VyM7GTxpe49rSlVvLRg4npLiy3YPUz_ROZONLPY24 n1uooDioKHS52MbKKU2ggVvqImKbH5NBAjgzRaT8SIkBqW8qqc aYA8wMRlQYOrqubJZOpfoilY=s320 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3MmTjf3DletESODjbM7AkgpyITs_P3SmmaJSK6_ZEXf oD5wr-PWdRacclyLP-a4OODPxa6VyM7GTxpe49rSlVvLRg4npLiy3YPUz_ROZONLPY24 n1uooDioKHS52MbKKU2ggVvqImKbH5NBAjgzRaT8SIkBqW8qqc aYA8wMRlQYOrqubJZOpfoilY=s2048)
Schilling Feldberg
Sight - black, red highlights, tall ivory foam
Smell - molasses, subtle coconut, toasty
Taste - medium roast coffee, light molasses, dates
Sweet - 2.5/5
Bitter - 2.5/5
Another smooth bodied, tasty black lager. Schilling really have become something of a go-to brewery for this lager boy, when their beers actually make it to the central Virginia area. If there was one downer with Feldberg, and this may be a product of age, the finish felt slightly muddled, lacking a crisp snap that I usually associate with lager.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCFtHIMnvl99kbRelRXaucsMysMYjM32AQc-_s01dxtgLxRoQepg7BaS7N1JApbAbHcdvX3frLxi9WO1O9okr_ 4_U2Pdy0nQF5PgjmyXBmKC8TpL7VNlZieDM4NDB31EAETl_h2H LIUCYnumOklQksRMNGuMI2GIHHsfLm12_uRasncbzTAX0-nWxw=s320 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCFtHIMnvl99kbRelRXaucsMysMYjM32AQc-_s01dxtgLxRoQepg7BaS7N1JApbAbHcdvX3frLxi9WO1O9okr_ 4_U2Pdy0nQF5PgjmyXBmKC8TpL7VNlZieDM4NDB31EAETl_h2H LIUCYnumOklQksRMNGuMI2GIHHsfLm12_uRasncbzTAX0-nWxw=s2048)
Port City Schwarzbier
Sight - inky black, dark brown edges, thinnish off white foam
Smell - well toasted bread, not burnt but well toasted, coffee hints, some treacle
Taste - espresso, light molasses, spicy hops
Sweet - 2/5
Bitter - 2/5
Port City make some of my favourite lagers, and their schwarzbier is definitely a good example of the style, if just a tad bit astringent in the finish. Speaking from pretty recent experience, it does make a fine beer round the firepit of an evening.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5dtwV4t1VCKHLVo03YTAxGZeShvjbUWLv-CnBqybLnaaZ4oPMVvuj1wDwrwL6LOBkzk8VD1eyr-UXWZyzIb2PGIcJnLpAz42FH_eXizZMgR4e-iHrq4-b_rCQAjKBFaawSpavJ6jX4LxpxsahdW57IGec45m-cpxUMRtIKgwpSP0aCr0moV0Uw0Mv=s320 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5dtwV4t1VCKHLVo03YTAxGZeShvjbUWLv-CnBqybLnaaZ4oPMVvuj1wDwrwL6LOBkzk8VD1eyr-UXWZyzIb2PGIcJnLpAz42FH_eXizZMgR4e-iHrq4-b_rCQAjKBFaawSpavJ6jX4LxpxsahdW57IGec45m-cpxUMRtIKgwpSP0aCr0moV0Uw0Mv=s2048)
Olde Mecklenburg Solar Eclipse
Sight - dark brown, garnet at edges, thin off white head
Smell - light coffee, dark toast, spicy hops
Taste - toasty, think märzen but with extra deep sweetness and toast, lots of Munich malt?
Sweet - 3/5
Bitter - 2/5
I have to be honest, this one confused me from the get go as is poured so much paler than the others, I am not sure I would call it schwarz in any meaningful sense of the word. So confused was I that I checked out the BJCP style guidelines, which read:
Medium to very dark brown in color, often with deep ruby to garnet highlights, yet almost never truly black. Very clear. Large, persistent, tan-colored head.Seemingly the colour is fine then, though every black lager I have had up until that point had been distinctly schwarz, as the GABF guidelines would expect, "dark brown to black". Even so, another cracking beer from the folks in Charlotte.
There we have it then, 5 excellent examples of one of Germany's most ancient beer styles. While I wasn't intending this tasting to rank the beers, there were two that stood out, Köstritzer and Devils Backbone. The others were all very good beers, but those two just had a little something more that appealed to me, and thankfully both are regularly available in this neck of the woods.
If I see more breweries making this style I will likely repeat this tasting and see if anything can match up to the original and the local hero.
More... (http://www.fuggled.net/2021/12/come-to-schwarz-side.html)
One of the reasons I had all the necessary dark lagers to do the dunkel-tmavé-schwarzbier (http://www.fuggled.net/2021/11/all-consuming-darkness.html) triumvirate tasting in the last post was because I have been stashing schwarzbiers since the end of October to do a distinctly schwarzbier tasting. My planned set of examples was complete when Mrs V and I headed back from South Carolina after Thanksgiving, picking up a couple of six packs of Olde Mecklenburg's Solar Eclipse that her cousin had put aside for me after one of his trips to Charlotte.My collection of German style black lagers then was:
Köstritzer Schwarzbier (https://www.bitburger-international.com/en/our-brands/koestritzer/our-products/koestritzer-schwarzbier)
Schilling Brewing Feldberg (https://schillingbeer.com/brewery/our-liquids/#German-Inspired-Lagers)
Port City Brewing Schwarzbier (https://www.portcitybrewing.com/schwarzbier)
Olde Mecklenburg Solar Eclipse (https://untappd.com/b/the-olde-mecklenburg-brewery-solar-eclipse/4519866)
Devils Backbone Schwartz Bier (https://www.dbbrewingcompany.com/beverage/schwartz-bier/)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFvZTGWZznDvfOtAPppvyEGYtOHY7f_j4tygLsASnr6v p84QetsZGABdmCfTH-4ebbzSDNG4CQOAcpnQavBjxh8rFWqQbqS0VG_c91XPvnIUc8FK mkY0Q1m6UrPq2ecx4qJMv2Ot0srkQK6ZVM8i854U6RBIKNZ2PR eTqlWwJ8L0HPSz3oESN8TAVd=s320 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFvZTGWZznDvfOtAPppvyEGYtOHY7f_j4tygLsASnr6v p84QetsZGABdmCfTH-4ebbzSDNG4CQOAcpnQavBjxh8rFWqQbqS0VG_c91XPvnIUc8FK mkY0Q1m6UrPq2ecx4qJMv2Ot0srkQK6ZVM8i854U6RBIKNZ2PR eTqlWwJ8L0HPSz3oESN8TAVd=s2048)
For those of you playing along at home, you may recall that I did a small schwarzbier tasting with three of these beers back in May, Devils Backbone, Köstritzer, and Schilling (http://www.fuggled.net/2021/05/feel-schwarz.html), but given examples from another couple of my go-to breweries, a do over seemed appropriate. Let's dive on in...
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4dECkSO4trtYEG7sIAwVCPdxATOo8d22ko27ltCRhYE dsFf896S8I7X8Z4STqrAi5OM6qGuaFBESauA5MWNFDAitRmcWQ rqSUYC7HqVS_fW5sPapgWEO2zTMp2fCbUT_0hviBqb1ADA-dZLLa_Ra92wZAfH86lPGhO8_iIGkWWI9wkneMLQZvMEY1=s320 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4dECkSO4trtYEG7sIAwVCPdxATOo8d22ko27ltCRhYE dsFf896S8I7X8Z4STqrAi5OM6qGuaFBESauA5MWNFDAitRmcWQ rqSUYC7HqVS_fW5sPapgWEO2zTMp2fCbUT_0hviBqb1ADA-dZLLa_Ra92wZAfH86lPGhO8_iIGkWWI9wkneMLQZvMEY1=s204 8)
Köstritzer Schwarzbier
Sight - pitch black, dark brown edges, firm ivory foam, nice lacing
Smell - roasty, caramelised sugar, dark toast, some spicy hops
Taste - cold espresso, light cocoa, clean hop bite
Sweet - 2/5
Bitter - 2/5
There is a reason this is a classic, perhaps even the ur-typ of the style. It is freaking delicious, smooth, balanced, really easy to drink, and just reliable in the way that all the best archetypes are. It is perhaps a tad thin in the finish, but I quibble.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFWfVe4rxgAoPSbNR75g7fsv0Kk7He49HmYo3hWYjA8z cYGDIWmHYEqJ8QqGSaZzws9CoeK-vG_ftDvr55e1JgoaLm_dLgbYiSD5pB8RymZORz1dBZcW1IJVI9 8KPcBX2J7XIAMiUshDmit_7MyxywFRlj8NjzXmb06U1_BEMJFb yuzE6s1t4u-W4L=s320 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFWfVe4rxgAoPSbNR75g7fsv0Kk7He49HmYo3hWYjA8z cYGDIWmHYEqJ8QqGSaZzws9CoeK-vG_ftDvr55e1JgoaLm_dLgbYiSD5pB8RymZORz1dBZcW1IJVI9 8KPcBX2J7XIAMiUshDmit_7MyxywFRlj8NjzXmb06U1_BEMJFb yuzE6s1t4u-W4L=s2048)
Devils Backbone Schwartz Bier
Sight - black, garnet highlights, solid ivory head
Smell - rich coffee, toasty, generally roasty
Taste - French roast coffee, sachertorte, clean hop bitterness
Sweet - 2.5/5
Bitter - 3/5
This beer has won multiple awards and for good reason. Sure it is a touch heavier than the Köstritzer, but it is just as smooth and drinkable. I have to admit that I go through times when this is a very regular part of my drinking, it just hits every note on the nail. Fun fact, my notes on this one are very close to when I took notes in May. Also, it makes an excellent řezané with Devils Backbone Gold Leaf.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3MmTjf3DletESODjbM7AkgpyITs_P3SmmaJSK6_ZEXf oD5wr-PWdRacclyLP-a4OODPxa6VyM7GTxpe49rSlVvLRg4npLiy3YPUz_ROZONLPY24 n1uooDioKHS52MbKKU2ggVvqImKbH5NBAjgzRaT8SIkBqW8qqc aYA8wMRlQYOrqubJZOpfoilY=s320 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3MmTjf3DletESODjbM7AkgpyITs_P3SmmaJSK6_ZEXf oD5wr-PWdRacclyLP-a4OODPxa6VyM7GTxpe49rSlVvLRg4npLiy3YPUz_ROZONLPY24 n1uooDioKHS52MbKKU2ggVvqImKbH5NBAjgzRaT8SIkBqW8qqc aYA8wMRlQYOrqubJZOpfoilY=s2048)
Schilling Feldberg
Sight - black, red highlights, tall ivory foam
Smell - molasses, subtle coconut, toasty
Taste - medium roast coffee, light molasses, dates
Sweet - 2.5/5
Bitter - 2.5/5
Another smooth bodied, tasty black lager. Schilling really have become something of a go-to brewery for this lager boy, when their beers actually make it to the central Virginia area. If there was one downer with Feldberg, and this may be a product of age, the finish felt slightly muddled, lacking a crisp snap that I usually associate with lager.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCFtHIMnvl99kbRelRXaucsMysMYjM32AQc-_s01dxtgLxRoQepg7BaS7N1JApbAbHcdvX3frLxi9WO1O9okr_ 4_U2Pdy0nQF5PgjmyXBmKC8TpL7VNlZieDM4NDB31EAETl_h2H LIUCYnumOklQksRMNGuMI2GIHHsfLm12_uRasncbzTAX0-nWxw=s320 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCFtHIMnvl99kbRelRXaucsMysMYjM32AQc-_s01dxtgLxRoQepg7BaS7N1JApbAbHcdvX3frLxi9WO1O9okr_ 4_U2Pdy0nQF5PgjmyXBmKC8TpL7VNlZieDM4NDB31EAETl_h2H LIUCYnumOklQksRMNGuMI2GIHHsfLm12_uRasncbzTAX0-nWxw=s2048)
Port City Schwarzbier
Sight - inky black, dark brown edges, thinnish off white foam
Smell - well toasted bread, not burnt but well toasted, coffee hints, some treacle
Taste - espresso, light molasses, spicy hops
Sweet - 2/5
Bitter - 2/5
Port City make some of my favourite lagers, and their schwarzbier is definitely a good example of the style, if just a tad bit astringent in the finish. Speaking from pretty recent experience, it does make a fine beer round the firepit of an evening.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5dtwV4t1VCKHLVo03YTAxGZeShvjbUWLv-CnBqybLnaaZ4oPMVvuj1wDwrwL6LOBkzk8VD1eyr-UXWZyzIb2PGIcJnLpAz42FH_eXizZMgR4e-iHrq4-b_rCQAjKBFaawSpavJ6jX4LxpxsahdW57IGec45m-cpxUMRtIKgwpSP0aCr0moV0Uw0Mv=s320 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5dtwV4t1VCKHLVo03YTAxGZeShvjbUWLv-CnBqybLnaaZ4oPMVvuj1wDwrwL6LOBkzk8VD1eyr-UXWZyzIb2PGIcJnLpAz42FH_eXizZMgR4e-iHrq4-b_rCQAjKBFaawSpavJ6jX4LxpxsahdW57IGec45m-cpxUMRtIKgwpSP0aCr0moV0Uw0Mv=s2048)
Olde Mecklenburg Solar Eclipse
Sight - dark brown, garnet at edges, thin off white head
Smell - light coffee, dark toast, spicy hops
Taste - toasty, think märzen but with extra deep sweetness and toast, lots of Munich malt?
Sweet - 3/5
Bitter - 2/5
I have to be honest, this one confused me from the get go as is poured so much paler than the others, I am not sure I would call it schwarz in any meaningful sense of the word. So confused was I that I checked out the BJCP style guidelines, which read:
Medium to very dark brown in color, often with deep ruby to garnet highlights, yet almost never truly black. Very clear. Large, persistent, tan-colored head.Seemingly the colour is fine then, though every black lager I have had up until that point had been distinctly schwarz, as the GABF guidelines would expect, "dark brown to black". Even so, another cracking beer from the folks in Charlotte.
There we have it then, 5 excellent examples of one of Germany's most ancient beer styles. While I wasn't intending this tasting to rank the beers, there were two that stood out, Köstritzer and Devils Backbone. The others were all very good beers, but those two just had a little something more that appealed to me, and thankfully both are regularly available in this neck of the woods.
If I see more breweries making this style I will likely repeat this tasting and see if anything can match up to the original and the local hero.
More... (http://www.fuggled.net/2021/12/come-to-schwarz-side.html)