Cave-Aged Barrel-Aged Black Lager, Fall 2023 #10
August Schell Brewing Company

From a 12oz bottle. I think it's best by 04/18/25, not sure.

Nice bit of smoke and a good hiss upon opening the bottle. This is a very dark pouring beer. When I hold it to light, I get faint amber hues showing through the glass. I can see a lot of carbonation bubbles rising in the glass and it produces a 3 finger tan colored head. This head is very long lasting with tiny bubbles. There's some damn great lacing on the glass as the head dissipates.
The aroma is somewhat light. I do get some roasted malt notes off it. There's some caramel and licorice notes as well on the nose.
Taste - This is a malty beer. I get a good smooth flavor here. I get a good caramel hit with some chocolate notes. I do get the licorice notes in this beer. Some bread and biscuit notes also show up. I do get hints of roasted malts and a faint hint of smoke.
Very smooth feeling. There's no burn here. Full bodied. Very easy drinking, even though it's 10%
Wow. This beer is downright tasty. The only knock is it is lacing in the aroma department.

 

12 oz. glass bottle, into a Bell's snifter. 2 finger puffy foamy khaki head, good retention and lacing, sitting on top of a dense mahogany, that, when you hold it up to the light, has edges that become more chestnut brown. Looks awesome. Nose: some powdery baker's chocolate, some floral and vanilla notes, malted milk, that's what I've got. Good, but the taste and mouthful definitely take things way up several notches. Taste: I've never tasted a lager like this (and while on paper it kind of seems like it should be similar to a baltic porter, I don't taste it that way), that I recall. First: there's this drippy luxurious honey and caramel sweetness that blends with a more milk chocolatey groove (than is present in the nose) and roasted grains in a way that is very very tasty. There's some sort of light floral and vanilla blend in there, too. And then there's just a hint of citrus and dark fruit at the edges, too. Maybe just a little lager yeasty twang, but I could be imagining that. Better and better as it warms. In terms of mouthful, this is smooth, medium carbonation, and neither wet nor dry on the finish...in fact it doesn't really come to a point, it just kind of lingers without being either too much or too little. Exceptional

 

12 oz bottle exp date 4/19/24 into a tulip glass.
L: SRM 49 Pours darkest brown-edged black with VG light and steady carbonation bubbles, a creamy thin light khaki head that has good retention and recedes to thick edge foam, medium-heavy spooky lacing.
S: A hint of cocoa, distant musty subterranean funk, gently floral, a hint of old coconut.
T: Gently sweet & rosy dark milk chocolate, dark roasted/lightly charred grains, heavily caramelized malts, a light alcohol burn, a hint of toffee, oaken barrel notes, light tannins, distant citrus zest, malted milk chocolate candy aftertaste.
F: Lightly brisk then creamy medium-bodied feel with a fairly long gently drying finish. It is warming in the chest.
O: Simply incredible for a Lager. Liquid chocolate covered malted milk ball candy stored in booze barrels. It is moderately sweet overall, is fairly full-flavored, and rewards the drinker with an angelic chorus of ingredients alongside masterful brewing. Easy to forget it's a Lager and not a Porter or Stout. This sipper is world-class in its style.

 

12oz bottle. Stamp on bottle neck is '041924 023453'.
Dark brown to black colored body, with garnet back lit edges. Long lasting light tan head. Lacing webs are left behind.
Aroma of chocolate, caramel, vanilla, and toasted malt.
Taste is medium dark chocolate, caramel, honey, and vanilla - very similar to a candy bar profile, but with much less sugar. Chocolate after taste.
More than medium mouth feel. Smooth finish. Higher ABV% is non-existent. Very good carbonation.
Sweet, but well balanced, ball of chocolate/caramel goo.

Pours clear dark brown with a thick tan head. Generous lacing. Aroma is smoky roasted malt. Flavor follows the nose, some dark chocolate, stone fruit and vanilla with just a hint of warmth from the rye in the finish. Feel is medium bodied, smooth, and lightly (but adequately) carbonated. Overall, a fantastic beer that I look forward to each year.

On tap. Tan head. Dark brown color.

Vanilla, oak, barrel. Caramel, chocolate. Black licorice, plums, molasses. Baltic porter vibes. Molasses, dark dried fruits. Smooth, warming, delicious.

One of the best cave aged lagers in the recent years.