Entries tagged with “Black” from Malt & Barley Chronicles

I enjoy schwarzbiers (literally, "black beers") -- the malty, slightly sweet cousins to standard pilseners. And though I didn't notice it on my previous visit, Berlin seems to be awash in this particular style. Eibauer (literally and nominatively) hails from Eibau, near the Czech and Polish borders.

Characteristics: Brownish-red color; medium carbonation and head that dissipates fairly quickly; light-to-medium body; consistent flavors of biscuit, malt, yeast, and a little sugar throughout with a little hoppy bite in the finish.

Minor Gripes: Lagers are steady but unexciting (unless hopped within an inch of their lives). In particular, the black lagers follow enough of a formula that distinguishing among them is a challenge.

Bottom Line: Schwarzbiers are a saving grace for those who generally shun yellow lagers and pilseners but find themselves in Germany. Though Kostritzer is my standard reference point, I would certainly choose Eibauer without hesitation.

Rating: 6 / 10

Lakefront seems to get the majority of the press (and love) when it comes to Milwaukee-area craft beers. Sprecher is rightfully known for its sodas, especially its root beer and the most biting (and tasty) ginger ale I've ever had. But Sprecher also makes some fine, complex beers, with its Black Bavarian at the head of the class.

Characteristics: Dark black-brown color that is completely opaque; heavy body with low to medium carbonation; opens smooth with a slight bubbly bite before moving into dense roasted chocolate malts with an espresso finish. There's also a hit-and-miss sugar element through the middle.

Minor Gripes: Black Bavarian doesn't have enough balance once it warms up a little -- I'm guessing it was engineered to be rich and flavorful when consumed ice-cold. And the 6% ABV sneaks up a little.

Bottom Line: Although Black Bavarian is a lager, it's closest in spirit and flavor to a deep porter as opposed to a schwarzbier. It's not a session beer, but it's a good change of pace and one that's not often available where I live these days.

Rating: 6 / 10

Boom.  My first imperial in quite a while... and while it masks the 10.6% (ABV) alcohol content well, the kick is still there -- kinda like garlic buried in a tomato sauce. Which, speaking of garlic and tomatoes, this beer can overpower even the strongest food flavors.

Characteristics: Burnt motor oil brown, minimal carbonation, thin but persistent head, medium to heavy body, slow start gives way to dark chocolate roasted malt dominance, with the alcohol sugar/burn emerging only when the beer warms. 

Minor Gripes: It's twice as strong as the average beer -- that's a major kick in the pants after a long day at work.  Rationing isn't just encouraged, it's required.

Bottom Line: As seasonal beers go, the Black Chocolate Stout is definitely a winner.  It's not for everyone, but those who can handle a heavier, darker beer should definitely give it a whirl.

Rating: 7 / 10

The Weeping Radish is a German restaurant in the town of Manteo on Roanoke Island, NC.  It's also a reference to a garnish / snack served in Bavaria, where a radish is sliced and salted, and the water wicking out of the radish looks like tears.

Of the various styles brewed by Weeping Radish, my favorite is the Black Radish -- a Munich-style dunkel lager.  More depth than a schwarzbier, but lighter than many brown ales, and well worth the effort to track it down (see below).

Characteristics: Dark reddish brown color, light-to-medium body, light carbonation, roasted malt dominance with caramel throughout and a slightly hoppy finish that gets chocolatey as the beer comes closer to room temperature.

Minor Gripes: Somewhat inconsistent from beer to beer -- though that may have more to do with the state of contract brewing than the recipe behind this beer.

Bottom Line: A tasty brew well-suited for crisp fall days. 

Sadly, distribution for Weeping Radish beers is currently non-existent.  The owners got tired of the contract brewing (in locations like Baltimore) and decided to expand their own brewery...with the side effect of losing access to easy bottling and the hallowed "three-tier" distribution system.  They're planning to do some mail-order and the standard in-house growlers, but that's just not the same as access in the local package store.

Rating: 6.5 / 10