Black Opal
Muddy York Brewing Co.

355 mL can from the Toronto Brewing 2021 advent calendar; dated Oct 2021 and served barely chilled.

Pours mahogany brown with crimson red highlights; its body is deep in hue, but not opaque. Gathered atop is an inch of foamy, light tan-coloured head that fades within ninety seconds or so, quickly reduced to a creamy collar and filmy cap; no sign of lace, but it looks alright otherwise. Malty and a little roasty on the nose - I'm getting bready, toasted malts and toffee, with lesser hints of coffee, cocoa powder and just a touch of earthiness. It's right on the money for this style.

This is a fine schwarz - flavours of toasted bread and biscuit at the forefront, with chocolate, cocoa and toffee sweetness not far behind. Very mild hints of coffee and earthy hops at the finish, with a little bit of nuttiness and roastiness dissipating into a moderately dry aftertaste. Light in body, with low carbonation that weakly agitates the surface of the tongue; feels smooth and satisfying going down the gullet. Very drinkable, and a pleasure to do so.

Final Grade: 4.02, an impressive A-. For a traditional take on a German-style black lager, Black Opal is a damn good effort. Understated in most regards, but still surprisingly flavourful for a mere 4.6% - this is one instance where 355 mL of beer is not even close to being sufficient. We don't get all that many Muddy York beers around here, but this is one that I'd definitely pick up again and again if presented with the opportunity.

December 10 beer from Nita’s 2021 Beer Advent Calendar
Pours very dark brown with a tinge of red showing through. Small short lasting head. Sweet and malty on the nose. The taste has hints of coffee, perhaps a bit of chocolate and no smokiness. I get a very dry aftertaste.
Dec 10 2021

 

Poured from a can at fridge temp. Pours a nice black with a substantial amount of tan head. Nose is dark roasted malts, bread, dark chocolate, fresh coffee, and a nice layer of burnt toffee. Taste follows the nose. Fairly sweet and malty. A good amount of chocolate, toffee, slightly burnt wood, leather, and a hint of coffee. Some black licorice comes through as it warms a bit. Smooth and light mouthfeel. Overall, a really nice dark German-style beer.

Dark brown with hints of ruby, like Coke, with an similarly frothy and sizzling sand coloured head, sparkling away in a minute.
Mild aroma, of roasted malts and faintest hint of caramel syrup.
Flavour is medium-light, roasted malts notes of lightly burnt coffee, grainy, charcoal, and a sense of cola. Carbonation is bubbly like a soda, with a crisp and clean feel, leading to a dry finish. Hop flavour is low, and indistinct, there to provide some balance. Medium body.

Suited to style, easy drinking and balanced, a nice choice for a Winter lager.

Thanks to JLindros for hooking me up with a can of this. Canned on October 15, 2019.

A - Poured into my Duvel tulip a nice dark brown almost black clearish hue with a fat two finger mocha head that fades slowly to leave not much lacing but a nice dense blanket.

S - Aromas of roasted malts, darker malts, light chocolate, decent biscuit, and maybe a little bit of coffee.

T - Taste is similar to the nose with roasted malts and flashes of chocolate. I do get decent smoke levels, though it almost borders on tasting artificial. Flashes of coffee cream and toffee as well as biscuits. Finish is just slightly hoppy and a little dry.

M - Mouthfeel is nicely carbonated, crisp, clean, little fluffy. Nice for the style.

O - Overall this was a solid Schwazbier though I think the smoke here is a bit on the intrusive side, almost to the point of being fake tasting. Odd, but still solid.

Serving Type: Can

Draft at the brewery

Medium creamy foamy off white head, medium retention and good lacing, carb but clear chestnut brown to molasses color

Nose rich roasty malts, a little smokey roast, cocoa notes and coffee, little biscuity toffee and brown malts

Taste rich dark malts, cocoa, roasty coffee with hint of smokey roast, a little creamy like coffee and cream, rich of biscuity toffee again, and toasty brown malts, light bitterness mostly from the roasted malt, then light spicy hops kicking in late, drier finish, soft lager

Mouth is med to a bit lighter bod but soft lager and a touch creamy, medium carb

Overall another solid beer, well lagered and to style