Monteith's Black
Monteith's Brewing Co.

Monteith's BlackMonteith's Black
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From:
Monteith's Brewing Co.
 
New Zealand
Style:
Schwarzbier
Ranked #127
ABV:
5.2%
Score:
82
Ranked #25,279
Avg:
3.58 | pDev: 13.41%
Reviews:
70
Ratings:
125
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 14, 2024
Added:
Jun 21, 2002
Wants:
  6
Gots:
  15
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by doktorhops:
Photo of doktorhops
Reviewed by doktorhops from Australia

3.49/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
And just like that I'm off to Aotearoa... not literally of course (been there, done some of that), but taste-figuratively, and Monteith's is to me the James Squire's of NZ - not awesome, but they do a decent enough job to keep me buzzing with beer-warmth in those dark winter days of choosing from the local pub tap. Speaking of "dark winter days" dark beer is certainly the type of beer for that time of year and with winter thrust upon us antipodeans again I am once again reminded of the taste of a decent Stout. Rich and rewarding, like a treasure chest full of stolen pirate doubloons, AARRR!

Poured from a 330ml bottle into a nonic pirate... wait, pint.

A: Deep, deep ruby red body (like a Guinness), with a dusting of tan. Looks like a Stout, aye.

S: Toasted wheat grains upfront with a sweet honey/vanilla musk, and some liquorice characters as well... intriguing, not average Stout aromas, however I am reminded it is a Schwarzbier (German for "darker than all those lagers and wheat beers we drink, jawohl!").

T: Fairly flat and dry tasting. Bit of that honey and vanilla resonates and the undertone of classic Stout flavours (think chocolate, chicory and espresso coffee), but with a hint of pale ale; caramel malts and light floral hops. Not fantastic, but not bad either. Preferred it to the 4 Pines Stout I just tried.

M: Flat carbonation with a medium body. Found the carbonation too flat - needs a little bit more here.

D: Yeah it's not bad. Not bad but not great either. It's just a shoulder shrug beer - someone asks you if you like it and you shrug your shoulders in reply. I'm not convinced Monteith's, I need something more exciting. That being said it is Monteith's, the James Squire's of NZ, and I guess it's about as much excitement I will get from them. I'm moving on to American Stouts (if I can get my hands on some) now.

Food match: [Copy and paste from the 4 Pines Stout] rack of roasted meat (any dark meat), side of roasted vegetables and heavy gravy, or a nice warm stew. Dessert: dark chocolate. Follow with a glass of port.
Jun 20, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.56 by jroof1 from Massachusetts

Feb 14, 2024
 
Rated: 3 by BrisLoganite from Australia

Sep 18, 2023
Photo of zeledonia
Rated by zeledonia from Washington

3.78/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Having this again after 23 years, still really dig it.
Aug 03, 2023
Photo of JacintoCupboard
Reviewed by JacintoCupboard from Australia

2.81/5  rDev -21.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 1 | overall: 2.75
One of the few beers I've actually asked for my money back. Extremely poor carbonation. Yes it produced a head but this disappeared almost immediately and what was left was flat and insipid.

I know from my home brewing days that such a result can really only occur if there are insufficient proteins and oils in the beer (from the grain and the hops respectively). Given that it doesn't call itself a porter or even a dark ale, one has to wonder whether this descriptive coyness is necessitated by the possibility that the colour is achieved not by the addition of a proper measure of patent malt, but by colourings. I can't discounted that this an adjunct beer heavily influenced by simple sugars rather than grain and malt, nor that the end result is produced with the assistance of artificial flavours and colourings. It really IS that dodgy.

Amazingly, this sells at a premium price point in Australia (typically $1 a stubby above local corporate brews). Who knows why. Homesick Kiwis maybe, or young kids thinking it is a craft brew.
Aug 01, 2021
 
Rated: 4.63 by Daneve76 from Australia

Jun 22, 2021
 
Rated: 3.25 by EOC from Mexico

Aug 08, 2020
 
Rated: 2.48 by emptyglassagain from Massachusetts

Feb 27, 2020
 
Rated: 3.73 by Mikexw from New York

Dec 12, 2017
Photo of MikeJkiweed96
Reviewed by MikeJkiweed96 from Italy

4.21/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A great black beer you can drink year round. Not at all heavy with a nice combination of coffee/caramel/chocolate. Heavily recommended. As a main stream beer it's up there with many craft beers.
Oct 23, 2017
 
Rated: 4.31 by KyleQB from Australia

Jul 20, 2017
Photo of BradMacMullin
Reviewed by BradMacMullin from Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Had on tap at Ellis May in Franz Joseph in NZ. Wow...people are hard on this beer. I enjoyed it. Lot of these chain restaurants have some bad beer (Speiths....:( )....but this I liked. Not a huge chocolate fan, but the combination of this and the juiciness of it left me happy. Wouldn't seek it out but for now a good beer. On another note, some damn good beer here in New Zealand
Apr 16, 2017
 
Rated: 3.56 by BAsbill from California

Mar 28, 2017
 
Rated: 4.66 by Manzanarescarrillo from Nebraska

Feb 01, 2017
Photo of Radcpa
Reviewed by Radcpa from Washington

3.35/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Dark thin brown appearance with a sign I ant head and too much carbination. Mild fruity aroma that is a little lacking. Taste is very smooth fruity taste but nothing that is too memorable.
Oct 23, 2016
 
Rated: 3.02 by EdgarGerik from Venezuela

Apr 17, 2016
 
Rated: 3.82 by AaronNQ from Australia

Mar 26, 2016
 
Rated: 3.33 by jeschaefer from Texas

Jan 19, 2016
Photo of howardrh10
Reviewed by howardrh10 from Australia

3.42/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
It has an interesting aroma, and its colour was interesting. However, its head was disappointingly weak, with no creaminess to and the main body of the beer was perversely watery. I couldn't believe how flat the beer was. I drank several of these bottles and the experience was the same. The scores of other reviewers are ridiculous. This is a second-rate beer. Don't waste your time on it.
Jan 18, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by BucBasil from Rwanda

Jan 09, 2016
Monteith's Black from Monteith's Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 125 ratings