5 O'clock Shadow Double Black Lager | Grand Teton Brewing Co.
Brewed by:
Grand Teton Brewing Co.
Idaho, United States
grandtetonbrewing.com
Style: Schwarzbier
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.60%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
5 O’Clock Shadow Double Black Lager is brewed in the German Schwarzbier (black beer) tradition. Schwarzbier is to lager what stout or porter is to ale. Like those dark British beers, Schwarzbier has long been considered nourishing and even curative. German doctors often recommend Schwarzbier for nursing mothers. Our Brewmaster, born in Munich, was the beneficiary of just such advice.
We have taken the traditional Schwarzbier, intended to be a “session beer” with typically moderate alcohol, and almost doubled its strength to 7.6% alcohol by volume. We brewed our version with a fine balance of crystal and roasted malts and spiced it with noble hops. We fermented 5 O’Clock Shadow at cold temperatures with a select German lager yeast and cold-conditioned it for over four months to create a velvety smooth, easy drinking springtime brew.
This German lager pours a deep brown, almost black color with ruby highlights. It has soft dark chocolate notes with hints of caramel and a light roasty finish.
38 IBU
Added by JohnGalt1 on 02-02-2012
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 120 | Reviews: 47
3.94/5 rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2012 bottle into a tulip.
dark brown pour with a nice head. very malty smell with slight hop presence. taste is very roasty...slight caramel. lots of malts. creamy. mild bodied with mild carbonation. drinkability is high, nice feel.
overall drinkable. good.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2012 bottle into a tulip.
dark brown pour with a nice head. very malty smell with slight hop presence. taste is very roasty...slight caramel. lots of malts. creamy. mild bodied with mild carbonation. drinkability is high, nice feel.
overall drinkable. good.
259 characters
3.53/5 rDev -13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
750 mL bottle poured into a snifter. 2012 bottle.
Appearance - Deep brown, nearly black. Nice khaki head. Thick collar.
Smell - Dark chocolate. Some coffee. Distinct schwartzbier aroma.
Taste - Very chocolatey. Some light coffee and dark roast. Dries out in the back. Slight nutty aftertastes and bitterness.
Mouthfeel - Nice body. A little chewy. Dry. Well carbonated.
Overall - It's a decent tasting schwartzbier. Surprisingly enjoyable.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
750 mL bottle poured into a snifter. 2012 bottle.
Appearance - Deep brown, nearly black. Nice khaki head. Thick collar.
Smell - Dark chocolate. Some coffee. Distinct schwartzbier aroma.
Taste - Very chocolatey. Some light coffee and dark roast. Dries out in the back. Slight nutty aftertastes and bitterness.
Mouthfeel - Nice body. A little chewy. Dry. Well carbonated.
Overall - It's a decent tasting schwartzbier. Surprisingly enjoyable.
445 characters
4.23/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Enjoyed out of a brown 750 mL bottle marked with a "2012" sticker. Poured into a Boulevard Smokestack edition tulip glass.
Appearance - Body is a rich, dark black with twinges of brown topped by a creamy tan one-finger head that never completely dissipates and leaves light, soapy-looking lacing as I drink it down.
Smell - Roasted malt and mild undertones of fresh-brewed espresso as well as aromas or rich cacao. Toasted bread and some hint of charred wood, but not smoky.
Taste - Echoes the notes of the smell, with the charred wood and roasty malt flavors at the forefront. Again, the coffee is hinted at, and evolves into a semisweet chocolate finish. Some bitterness as well, but it's hard to tell if it comes from hops or from the charred characteristics because of how well the flavors blend together.
Mouthfeel - In spite of the rich flavor profiles, the body is only moderate and this beer finishes dry and clean.
Overall, a wonderful beer. My first schwarzbier, so I dont have a great frame of reference, but I'm very impressed by the blend of flavors and how well the alcohol is hidden. Grand Teton would do well to open this one back up for production, as it is quite tasty.
1,192 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Enjoyed out of a brown 750 mL bottle marked with a "2012" sticker. Poured into a Boulevard Smokestack edition tulip glass.
Appearance - Body is a rich, dark black with twinges of brown topped by a creamy tan one-finger head that never completely dissipates and leaves light, soapy-looking lacing as I drink it down.
Smell - Roasted malt and mild undertones of fresh-brewed espresso as well as aromas or rich cacao. Toasted bread and some hint of charred wood, but not smoky.
Taste - Echoes the notes of the smell, with the charred wood and roasty malt flavors at the forefront. Again, the coffee is hinted at, and evolves into a semisweet chocolate finish. Some bitterness as well, but it's hard to tell if it comes from hops or from the charred characteristics because of how well the flavors blend together.
Mouthfeel - In spite of the rich flavor profiles, the body is only moderate and this beer finishes dry and clean.
Overall, a wonderful beer. My first schwarzbier, so I dont have a great frame of reference, but I'm very impressed by the blend of flavors and how well the alcohol is hidden. Grand Teton would do well to open this one back up for production, as it is quite tasty.
1,192 characters
3.83/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: black in color, 1/4 inch head, low carbonation, opaque
Smell: roasted malt and bosco--not really attractive smelling
Taste: light coffee, sweet chocolate, cream--caramel and extra char on the finish
Mouthfeel: medium-light carbonation, medium body, very sweet with nice char bitterness at the end
Overall: Was not expecting such an impressive beer after such a disappointing smell. However if you can get past the average Bosco type of smell, this beer really delivers. Taste wise it is up there with the best domestic schwarrzbiers I have had. This beer is incredibly smooth for the style. I would certainly split this one again.
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look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: black in color, 1/4 inch head, low carbonation, opaque
Smell: roasted malt and bosco--not really attractive smelling
Taste: light coffee, sweet chocolate, cream--caramel and extra char on the finish
Mouthfeel: medium-light carbonation, medium body, very sweet with nice char bitterness at the end
Overall: Was not expecting such an impressive beer after such a disappointing smell. However if you can get past the average Bosco type of smell, this beer really delivers. Taste wise it is up there with the best domestic schwarrzbiers I have had. This beer is incredibly smooth for the style. I would certainly split this one again.
646 characters
5 O'clock Shadow Double Black Lager from Grand Teton Brewing Co.
4.06
out of 5
based on 120 ratings.
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25