Dark Helmet Imperial Schwarzbier
The Brew Kettle Taproom & Smokehouse / Production Works

Dark Helmet Imperial SchwarzbierDark Helmet Imperial Schwarzbier
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From:
The Brew Kettle Taproom & Smokehouse / Production Works
 
Ohio, United States
Style:
Schwarzbier
Ranked #87
ABV:
8%
Score:
85
Ranked #20,546
Avg:
3.78 | pDev: 10.58%
Reviews:
62
Ratings:
157
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 27, 2022
Added:
Dec 30, 2007
Wants:
  14
Gots:
  24
A true TBK original, we kick this German-style black lager up a couple notches. Big clean malty flavor with just a hint of roasted malt.
"May the Schwartz be with you!"
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
 
Rated: 4.02 by RichRubes610 from Pennsylvania

Sep 24, 2021
Photo of WoodBrew
Reviewed by WoodBrew from Ohio

3.99/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I'm trying this at the Daily Growler in Powell, Ohio. It poured a nearly opaque dark with thin white head that is not leaving much lace. The scent had faint chocolate malt notes. the taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with roast and chocolate presence. The mouthfeel was medium in body with good carbonation. Overall its a good beer.
Apr 26, 2019
 
Rated: 4.08 by thedifferencemaker from Ohio

May 05, 2018
Photo of Squire
Reviewed by Squire from Mississippi

3.89/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Dark brownish black color with tan cap and good lacing.

Aroma of dark caramel and toffee with a brightness in the background that I ascribe to hops.

Flavor is rich, almost meaty, roasted malt that smells sweet but drinks dry. Some layers here with elements of ripe dark stone fruit and figs, a touch of cocoa and coffee, yet hops are present from the start and balance the malt nicely. There's almost a lightness, a lifting up so to speak, from the hop influence (35 IBU) that prevents the whole from becoming heavy yet the overall flavor is full. Complex yet the gears mesh together and the result is refreshing. Don't taste or scent alcohol (8%) but do notice it's effect.

Full texture with balancing carbonation.

Outstanding Imperial Schwartz beer that sings with a full voice.
Mar 31, 2018
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Reviewed by PittBeerGirl from Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
This is a great malt imperial black lager. It adds a little bit of extra sweetness to the schwarzbeir flavor profile. Alcohol is almost completely hidden.
Dec 11, 2017
Photo of SomethingClever
Reviewed by SomethingClever from Ohio

3.35/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
12 oz bottle poured into nonic pint

A: small off white brownish soapy head that settles to a film. Body is a rich brown color with some lighter caramel colors on the edges.

S: Smells like sweet doughy bread, a little alcohol, some clove, a little of a maple syrup hint, and a lot of rich malts and grains.

T: Lots of grainy malty richness and some lingering bitterness on the finish surprising amount of lingering bitterness on the finish like the end of a grapefruit

M: medium to lighter carbonation with a solid medium body

O: Lots if nice layered sweet bread grain and malt flavors interspersed with some caramel and toffee but the almost metallic bitter finish is unpleasant at best.
Mar 29, 2017
 
Rated: 3.62 by nrbw23 from Ohio

Mar 29, 2017
 
Rated: 3.68 by xcdarrel17 from Maryland

Sep 24, 2016
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Reviewed by do_ob from Kentucky

3.79/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Dark brown in appearance, 1 finger of mocha-colored foam on top. Nose is roasted malt, chocolalte, light baking spice, coffee, caramel, and bit of smokey tobacco. The taste follows pretty closely. Feel is on the thinner side. Moderate carbonation. Overall, this was okay but not overly impressive.
Jun 28, 2016
Photo of superspak
Reviewed by superspak from North Carolina

3.9/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
12 ounce bottle into tulip glass, no bottle dating. Pours clear nearly opaque dark brown color, with a 2 finger dense and fluffy tan head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of chocolate, cocoa, caramel, brown sugar, toasted dark bread, and nuttiness; with light coffee, raisin, plum, herbal, pepper, and roast/toasted earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of dark/roast/bready malt and light earthy hop/fruity yeast notes; with good strength. Taste of big chocolate, cocoa, caramel, brown sugar, toasted dark bread, biscuit, and nuttiness; with light coffee, raisin, plum, herbal, pepper, and roast/toasted earthiness. Light-moderate herbal hop and roasted bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of chocolate, cocoa, caramel, brown sugar, toasted dark bread, biscuit, nuttiness, herbal, and roast/toasted earthiness on the finish for a while. Very nice complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/roast/bready malt and light earthy hop/fruity yeast flavors; with a great roasted bitter/sweet balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Light dryness from roast/bitterness as well. Nicely clean on lager flavors with minimal yeast notes present. Medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a very smooth, creamy/bready/silky, and lightly sticky/chalky balanced mouthfeel that is great. Alcohol is very well hidden with minimal warming present after the finish. Overall this is a very nice imperial schwarzbier style. All around nice complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/roast/bready malt and light earthy hop/fruity yeast flavors; very smooth and easy to drink for the ABV. Very rich and well rounded in malt complexity. A very enjoyable offering.
Jun 24, 2016
Photo of damndirtyape
Reviewed by damndirtyape from Ohio

3.93/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
12oz bottle (no date) with a different label than the picture here - just the words "Dark Helmet". Served in a snifter glass.

Appearance: Black (more like a stout), letting no light through until near the bottom of the glass where a very dark clear cola brown was noted. Thin tan head with some strands of fine lacing noted.

Smell: Clean malt, a bit like a Schwarzbier, but with underlying booziness and an occasional metallic note.

Taste: Roasted malt, just a hint of noble hops, some underlying sweetness and warming alcohol.

Mouthfeel: Nicely thick - as you would expect from something made "Imperial" and not very lager-like. Good carbonation though, but more like a stout than a Schwarzbier.

Overall / Drinkability: An interesting take on a Schwarzbier. Dangerously drinkable - very balanced and simply tasty like a Schwarzbier can be. I could easily have another, although I would probably regret it later.
Jun 12, 2016
 
Rated: 3.71 by ItsBeer4Me from Pennsylvania

May 30, 2016
Photo of Sabtos
Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio

3.53/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Dark but clear reddish brown with practically no head.

Pretty exclusive nutty and chocolate aromas.

Dark Helmet is actually quite stout-like, with chocolatey roasty flavors, supported by dry walnut, and faint bitter coffee. Some vanilla creeps in, assisting in the fact that overall this is a sweet beer.

Frothy with a little spicy tang and some boozy heat coming in here and there.
May 25, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by jeremy3311 from Ohio

May 23, 2016
 
Rated: 4.19 by Gaddabble from Ohio

May 05, 2016
 
Rated: 3.68 by C_Adams from Ohio

Apr 30, 2016
 
Rated: 3.56 by travelguy from Ohio

Apr 25, 2016
 
Rated: 3.85 by PhineasMcClintock from Massachusetts

Apr 16, 2016
 
Rated: 4.06 by Nunya from Ohio

Mar 26, 2016
Dark Helmet Imperial Schwarzbier from The Brew Kettle Taproom & Smokehouse / Production Works
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 157 ratings