Zoigl-Schwarz
Zoiglhaus Brewing Company

Purchase at the brewery. Bottled on 10/25/18 & reviewed 11/12/18.

Pours a deep rich brown, not stout-black, but dark enough. The aroma is quite light, with just a whiff of smoke and deeply roasted grain. Let the beer warm to cellar temp which will let the layers unwind a little more. The roasted grain comes out with some hoppy bitterness on the side. It's not close to a porter or stout, but it was never intended to be one. Recommended for those cool, rainy nights with some hearty chow. At 4.8% ABV, have a couple.

500ml

Big ol' thanks, Phil! One of my favorite beer styles and this example looks mighty fine. The body looks like black coffee, in a beer glass, but with foam. Chestnut highlights run the edges. A khaki foam is easy to conjure on the pour and settles at a finger in height before falling to a whispy skimming and solid crown. Patchy spots congregate here and there. It's a handsome beverage.

Mhmm. The most gentle of roast kicks it off with an ample brown breadiness to follow. A softly sweet drizzle of caramel adds some depth before an unspecified nuttiness floats through. There's a solid dose of hops in this beer and they work perfectly. Dry grass and herbal notes round it out. It's not overhopped, it's perfectly hopped. An example so fresh that you rarely run across. Yum.

This is a schwarz of such freshness and brightness that I have rarely run across in the past. Brown bread and floral hops get it going. There's a touch of bubblegum that adds some uniqueness and works well, it's subtle. It's bready and nutty and bright, yet as balanced as one could hope for. A little grass here, a little caramel there. It's perfectly well rounded and balanced with crisp nuances. This is good.

The body kicks off moderate in weight but there's enough crisp carbonation that by the swallow it leans more toward light. With that leaning it's extremely drinkable. There's a whisper of sweetness off the bat but the swallow brings a crisp dryness that leaves me wanting more. That dryness also accentuates a soft lingering bitterness.

This beer, this exact beer, is what we all need more of in our lives. It's lively, crisp, softly bitter, and extremely drinkable. A beautiful example of the style and when you can find such a stellar Schwarz in America this fresh it's a true gem. Thanks Phil, you actually are good for something!

A seemingly black lager with walnut highlights, when held to the light, Zoigl-Schwarz shows off quite possibly the deepest shade of crimson there is. The cream colored head is impressively large, foamy, and persistent. The lacing leaves the glass looking like a finished milkshake.

Well roasted grains attack from the glass. They are not burnt smelling, just nicely kilned. A unique but pleasant black olive scent plays support to the toasted character, and it has a dried grassy, floral end.

The flavor is well blended. It is mostly medium toasted whole grain bread, the olive seems to have disappeared, and the floral and nutty end is ever so slight. There is the faintest cola spice thing going on too, but it works.

This beer feels clean. It is very well balanced, and if it weren't for the slightest earthy and toasty, dry, bitter finish, it would be spot on balanced. The carbonation is just right, as the liquid seems to float right in.

This is a wonderful Schwarzbier. Another beer from this fine brewery that I could drink all day, every day. It is a great example and homage to the classic style. Prost!