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Schell's Chimney Sweep
August Schell Brewing Company
- From:
- August Schell Brewing Company
- Minnesota, United States
- Style:
- Schwarzbier
- ABV:
- 5.2%
- Score:
- 84
- Avg:
- 3.73 | pDev: 13.14%
- Reviews:
- 55
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Oct 17, 2021
- Added:
- Nov 16, 2012
- Wants:
- 2
- Gots:
- 33
Dark and mysterious, with an intriguing wisp of smoke, a chimney sweep has long been considered a source of good luck. Schell’s Chimney Sweep draws its inspiration from these lucky individuals and the rich dark lagers of Upper Franconia in Germany. Expect a black lager with a roasty maltiness, sturdy hop bitterness and an underlying subtle smokiness.
31 IBU
31 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Taybeh:
Reviewed by Taybeh from Minnesota
3.87/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.87/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
From a single into an imperial pint glass
A: dark mahogany with ruby at the edges when held to the light; 1 finger khaki head
S: toasted grain, lager yeast, a hint of smokey meats
T: Like the nose, though there's also an edge of grassy hops toward the end, and there's a bit of dark fruit and caramel malt in the middle; the smokiness isn't too strong, but it is present from the middle of the mouthful all the way through the end. The grain notes that I get from most of Schell's beers is here throughout, but it isn't working to pull everything together quite as well (for me) with the other flavors as it does in other beers.
M: medium to low carbonation, a little flat despite the faint hoppy zest that gives the mouthful an edge. About right, for style, in terms of chewiness.
overall: this has all the elements, some of which are emphasized just right, but... the way it all adds up leaves me wanting something to be a little different. I did it side by side with the Bauhaus Schwarz, which doesn't have as much smokiness and has more mellow chocolate, which I preferred a bit. In the right mood, this is a solid choice and I don't turn it down.
Jan 16, 2015A: dark mahogany with ruby at the edges when held to the light; 1 finger khaki head
S: toasted grain, lager yeast, a hint of smokey meats
T: Like the nose, though there's also an edge of grassy hops toward the end, and there's a bit of dark fruit and caramel malt in the middle; the smokiness isn't too strong, but it is present from the middle of the mouthful all the way through the end. The grain notes that I get from most of Schell's beers is here throughout, but it isn't working to pull everything together quite as well (for me) with the other flavors as it does in other beers.
M: medium to low carbonation, a little flat despite the faint hoppy zest that gives the mouthful an edge. About right, for style, in terms of chewiness.
overall: this has all the elements, some of which are emphasized just right, but... the way it all adds up leaves me wanting something to be a little different. I did it side by side with the Bauhaus Schwarz, which doesn't have as much smokiness and has more mellow chocolate, which I preferred a bit. In the right mood, this is a solid choice and I don't turn it down.
More User Ratings:
Rated by JohnnyLaw from Wisconsin
3.88/5 rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.88/5 rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Nice dark lager. Balanced taste.
Jan 24, 2016Reviewed by Schimms from Minnesota
4.38/5 rDev +17.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.38/5 rDev +17.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
L: Pours dark reddish brown with white head.
S: Mostly roast
T: Slightly sweet with more of the roasted smell coming to fruition. Carmel in the middle. More predominant sweet at the end - almost like prunes. Some hops
F: Medium body with dry finish.
O: Very good dark lager. Schell's is always a very solid choice. Chimney Sweep is no exception. Very well balanced - the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Dec 31, 2015S: Mostly roast
T: Slightly sweet with more of the roasted smell coming to fruition. Carmel in the middle. More predominant sweet at the end - almost like prunes. Some hops
F: Medium body with dry finish.
O: Very good dark lager. Schell's is always a very solid choice. Chimney Sweep is no exception. Very well balanced - the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Reviewed by maedhros09 from Minnesota
3.72/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.72/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Look: dark transparent brown with big 2-3 finger tan head and a bit of lacing Smell: Roasty
Taste: rich roasty flavors, much like a porter, with a definite acidic tang in the finish. Not much hops to speak of.
Feel: Medium body, average mouthfeel. I feel like schells beers tend not to be quite as smooth in the mouthfeel as others from the same style.
Overall: If I had blind tasted this I would have thought I it was a porter. perhaps the malt flavors were a touch cleaner than with an ale but it's hard to tell the difference. Only the acidity in the finish gave me some pause. - it "sours" an otherwise great experience.
Dec 03, 2015Taste: rich roasty flavors, much like a porter, with a definite acidic tang in the finish. Not much hops to speak of.
Feel: Medium body, average mouthfeel. I feel like schells beers tend not to be quite as smooth in the mouthfeel as others from the same style.
Overall: If I had blind tasted this I would have thought I it was a porter. perhaps the malt flavors were a touch cleaner than with an ale but it's hard to tell the difference. Only the acidity in the finish gave me some pause. - it "sours" an otherwise great experience.
Schell's Chimney Sweep from August Schell Brewing Company
Beer rating:
84 out of
100 with
200 ratings
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