Magnetron
Metropolitan Brewing

MagnetronMagnetron
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From:
Metropolitan Brewing
 
Illinois, United States
Style:
Schwarzbier
ABV:
5.5%
Score:
90
Avg:
4.01 | pDev: 8.48%
Reviews:
24
Ratings:
130
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 16, 2021
Added:
Nov 23, 2013
Wants:
  13
Gots:
  27
If you grew up in the US, there's a solid chance you once thought lagers were pale-yellow, flavorless, over-carbonated, marketing-driven, adjunct-riddled shame poured into icy-frosted glassware. We've all been there. But now we're here.
Behold: Schwarzbier, the blackest of lagers. This is the one you pull out when you have a fucking point to make about the diversity of lagers. Magnetron is malty, medium-bodied, and gently hopped. The magic of lagering makes this brew rich, but mild and well-balanced. Expect flavors of bittersweet chocolate and coffee, and a crisp, dry finish.
Darker than Satan's soul. As metal as Dave Lombardo's double-kick. None more black.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by haveaduff2:
Photo of haveaduff2
Reviewed by haveaduff2 from Illinois

5/5  rDev +24.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Upfront, let me say that I'm a /big/ fan of Metropolitan, so maybe I'm biased. I'm also a big fan of schwarz's. I think this may be the best I've had in the states. My old favorite, Black Bavarian by Sprecher, is now in second place. I drank Kostritzer in Germany and have tried various incarnations throughout the world, but this tops them all. Sweet balanced by roast with a dry, clean finish. Perfect.
Jan 09, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.84 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Dec 16, 2021
 
Rated: 3.5 by PhineasMcClintock from Massachusetts

Apr 17, 2021
 
Rated: 4.06 by TwilightBeerCareer from Illinois

Feb 14, 2021
 
Rated: 4.19 by runlikeakenyan from Indiana

Jul 07, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by trek7000 from Illinois

May 11, 2020
Photo of Captain69
Rated by Captain69 from Illinois

3.98/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
pours nice amber lager color good head- a lot of lager character- slight hoppy and tastes of malt
Apr 30, 2020
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

4/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Unknown vintage; drank 3/5/20 @ the Yarchives.

Black/brown appearance.

An even pour yielded a nice khaki head; frothy, tree-rung lace.

Root beer, fresh earth, mild black licorice & faint clove notes in the nose.

Medium thin mouthfeel.

Root beer & fresh earth flavors up front; mild chocolate & faint clove notes on the finish.

A nice Schwarzbier!
Mar 06, 2020
 
Rated: 3.86 by bschmidt_37 from Illinois

Oct 31, 2019
 
Rated: 4.12 by Rollmeaway2loadout from Illinois

Oct 20, 2019
Photo of JohnnyHopps
Reviewed by JohnnyHopps from Indiana

3.9/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance - The beer was black in color with an off-white head crowning the top of the glass.

Smell - There was a smooth maltiness with hints of hop bitterness to come.

Taste - My first thought was this was more bitter than the style generally is. The hop profile was a little high for the style with the malts were a hair too burnt. The smooth creaminess I would expect was there but did not quite cover the other flaws.

Mouthfeel - The feel was just about right, quite smooth.

Overall - Overall, this is not a bad beer. It just seems to miss the mark by a bit.
Aug 31, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by ssimpson89 from Illinois

Sep 22, 2018
 
Rated: 4.04 by EdFed from Illinois

Aug 15, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by GreenBayBA from Wisconsin

May 15, 2018
Photo of FBarber
Reviewed by FBarber from Illinois

3.55/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5
Pours a reddish tinged dark brown color. Opaque due to the hue, but then when held to the light you can see the beer is clear. Thin tan head dissipates steadily.

Aroma is quite bready - more akin to a doppelbock than a schwarzbier. Lacks much in the way of the roasted maltiness you'd expect. Aroma is bready with dark fruit notes. Light cocoa comes through with some earthy hops on the back end.

Taste follows the nose - dark bread, dark fruits, some light bakers chocolate, a hint of toasted malts, but nothing like you'd want from a schwarzbier. Earthy hops on the finish provide some light bitterness.

Feel is medium bodied. Mild carbonation. Semi-dry finish.

Overall this is really lacking the nice roasted maltiness of the best examples of a schwarzbier. It come across much more like a doppelbock. I appreciate what Metropolitan is doing, but I'd love to see this one with a much more roasty character.
Apr 22, 2018
 
Rated: 3.92 by Half-full from Illinois

Apr 14, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by krome from Illinois

Mar 05, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by jgunther71 from Illinois

Mar 05, 2018
 
Rated: 3.94 by Jonoesh5 from Illinois

Mar 02, 2018
 
Rated: 4.5 by Finleyandhayden from Illinois

Aug 13, 2017
Magnetron from Metropolitan Brewing
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 130 ratings