Schwarzbier
Goose Island Beer Co.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance: Excellent black color. A bit of brownish red light seeps through. Foam and carbonation is nice too.

Smell: Pretty faint malt. Chocolate and coffe, but some nice peppery notes as well. Subtle, and definitely above average.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Good combination of chocolate malts with some spicy notes. Nice hop bitterness as well, kind of peppery and lemony. Mouthfeel is definitely nice and clean. Tastes like bacon too...

Drinkability: Enjoyable due to the variation between smell, taste, and feel.

Overall: Well balanced with a good combination that pleases the senses.

ABV listed as 5.5 % on menu
(Served in a glass mug)
A- The dense black body has a thick beige head that fades to a thin film but last for a good bit. This beer is a bit too dense to see any carbonation.
S- The clean lagered aroma has some dry coffee malt smells and a softer graham malt note underneath.
T- The cold coffee malt flavor is softer than the aroma with a clean finish with only a soft roasted note lingering as the beer warms a bit.
M- This beer has a medium-light mouthfeel with a soft fizz that grown as the beer warms.
D- This beer is nice and clean but lots of coffee malt with no other flavors to support it. The aroma had more character than the taste but it got a bit dull after a while.

On tap at the Clybourn location.

Pours a very dark brown color, bordering on black. Pretty good tan head that recedes somewhat quickly and leaves a bit of a cap. The nose brings quite a bit of roasted character as well as some slight smoke and peaty characteristics. Light chocolate there as well. The taste is slightly roasted with a bit of smoke. Well done, but a bit plain and doesn't stand out among its peers. Good body with a nice amount of roast. Drank quite well in the end and was nice on a cool December afternoon.

Blackish charred brown with dark cherry and dark coffee highlights and a small, parchment-colored head. Aroma is all charred campfire, burnt marshmallows and woody smoke, grilled corn and baked apples with a coating of caramel. Brownie-ish chocolate notes emerge as it warms. Rather malty on the palate, but it has that nice, crisp Schwarz carbonation, neatly fencing in rich flavors of mocha and peanut butter. Well integrated herbal hops express fall leaves and licorice. Lovely. This is a sharp but stouthearted Schwarz that I daresay could be called exemplary of the style.

on tap, goose island - wrigleyville

cell-phone notes, consumed pre cubs-mets

appearance: served in a nice stein - dark mahogany body, creamy tan cap

smell: roasty, chocolatey, charred grain, some light noble hops

taste: nice schwarz - big roasty flavors, cocoa powder, espresso bean, char. there are some light noble hops but this one is all about the big charred malts.

mouthfeel: creamy, roasty

drinkability: good

Draught @ BTAH.

Pours super dark brown treading on black, off white head.

Nose is big and roasty, lots of espresso.

Taste follows suit - roasty, espresso notes coming through, a bit of acidity with a dry finish. Seems to lack some of the subtlety that some of the best black lagers tend to have.

Mouthfeel is medium-light, with moderate carbonation.

On draft at The Blind Tiger.

Poured a deep brown hue with a half finger foamy white head. There was decent retention and lacing.

The smell featured a subtle burnt grain with a touch of noble hop.

The taste consisted of some burnt grain, smoke and a touch of dark chocolate. Some sweetness detected as well.

The mouthfeel was toward the fuller side of the style.

Overall a decent rendition of the style. Lacks real authenticity however.

Had this on-tap at the Goose Island Clybourn Brewpub tonight. It poured a very rich, dark color, appropriately black. Came in a mug, and there was very little in the way of head or lacing.

The smell was of chocolate, malts, and a bit of hops. The malts were the most noticeable to me, although the chocolate was in there quite nicely as well. The hops finished it with a nice balance.

The taste was very malty, along with some chocolate. There is a lot of flavor in the taste, I find myself coming back for more sips more frequently than I would like.

Mouthfeel is not too heavy, and has a bit of creaminess to it. There is also a very small amount of carbonation. Overall, a very drinkable beer. I wish Goose Island would make this beer available for public purchase as it was one I would love to get a six pack of.

Smell - chocolate, caramel, and malt.

Taste - Chocolate, caramel, and malt. Very nice, not too heavy.

Mouthfeel - Very full flavors and nice coating in the mouth

Drinkability - I could definitely drink a lot of these, this is not a one at a time beer, this I could buy by the case.

on tap into a mug at the Clybourn Brewpub in Chicago. pours a deep chocolate brown color with a single finger of light tan head that remains for a couple minutes and leaves no lacings.

aroma is grainy and malty, with subtle roasted and chocolate notes, and a lightly carmelized base. nicely composed.

taste is of lightly roasted malts and subtle chocolate notes, along with a bit of caramel and a very smooth finish of residual roasted malts and a bit of grain. nicely proportioned with a solid profile.

mouthfeel is medium bodied with a lightly creamy texture and a smooth finish that is mildly crisp. true to a good schwarzbier.

drinkability is great. this is a solid example of the style, with a lighter body and a pleasantly roasted character. smooth drinking from this one. cheers!

Serving in a stein and poured from tap. Leaves less than one finger of espresso foam colored head, there is not much retention, and not much lacing. Body is the deepest brown, almost black. Looks really good.

Smell - chocolate, caramel, and malt bread. Simple, straightforward, and mouthwatering.

Taste - exactly as the nose promises. Chocolate, caramel, and malt bread. Very hearty and delicious.

Mouthfeel - very full, and smooth.

Drinkability - this is excellent, and entirely sessionable.

This version is 4.5%, served in a big stein at the brewpub. Opaque black, some red edges, very thick tan head, long lasting, nice lacing. Smell is sweet, roasty, some chocolate and floral, little bit of toffee, very nice. Taste is coffee and chocolate, nice roast, toffee, little floral and a roasty rich finish, excellent. Mouthfeel is light bodied with low to medium carbonation, very smooth and drinkable, best example of the style I've had.