Winter Nacht
Ipswich Ale Brewery

Canned 2021/11/18
Pours a large frothy semi dense brownish head with great retention, sticky lacing, very dark basically black color

Nose big roast but not burnt, a bit of char, carafa like roasted nougat and coffee, some baking spices with a bit of anise, mild fudgey dark chocolate and cocoa,

Taste more dark roasted malts, very roasty again but not burnt, but some char and smokey notes, anise and baking spices again, very dark bitter chocolate, baker's cocoa, a bit more nougat and roasted coffee, hint of vanilla spice, dry finish with big spicy hops and med-high bitterness, more smokey cocoa and anise

Mouth is med bod but a bit creamy, carb is quite high and frothy

Overall a decent Schwarz, a bit too high on roasty character and spicy hop finish but that prob plays to the American palate more, but in general still nice.

 

Dark brown with no light passing. The small beige head does leave plentiful spots and streaks.

Slightly metallic nose. Otherwise it's a darker malt aroma. Subtle.

This land like a Porter with plenty of darker chocolate malts and some burnt black patent malt. The body is thin but the carbonation is high. Not quite a stout. Not much sweetness, the brewer notes German noble hops as cutting the sweetness but I noted neither. Still, the beer is flavorful and refreshing without any of the cloy flavors of most winter warmers.

 

 

 

Drove 40 miles to the Ipswich Ale Brewery today to get some Super Bowl beer, also because they've been rarer to see on the local shelves lately, and when I do see them they've been a tad long in the tooth. Winter Nacht was a great surprise. Schwarzbier is a style I always loved and very well done here.

Later that Evening: Gotta say the 'fresh from the brewery' beers were not that fresh. The IPA from the brewery is dated 9/29/20, the Ale was 12/4/20, and the excellent Winter Nacht schwarzbier 12/1/20. Fill growlers is my advice! They all taste great though, even the IPA which is 4 months in bottle.

Delicious, roasty, drinkable goodness in a 5% ABV package. Deep black coffee and maybe a hint of char and licorice. Medium bodied mouthfeel with a super clean finish.