Brewers' Cut Schwarzbier
Real Ale Brewing Company

RB transfer

 

 

 

 

One thing about Real Ale that I love, but at the same time is slightly annoying is that they are devoid of hype. I had absolutely no idea this was released as a Brewers Cut offering. I love a good Schwarz, and if I had heard about this sooner, this would have been an easy staple in my fridge since its release...anyway on to the review.

A: Pours a dark brown, near black color. With some ruby highlights around the edges. A khaki, nearly tan head rises to over two fingers with rings of lace.
S: The malts are the entire show. Really soft and mellow. Though a touch toasted, some chocolate, even light smoke. An earthiness lingers. Incredibly subtle, and I love it.
T: The Soft and subtle malt character continues. Toasted malts, some baked bread. Chocolate, and a bit more smoke asserts itself. An earthy bitterness lingers after a little bit. Really well balanced and again very subtle.
M/O: A superb silky smooth body. Though with great carbonation and crispness at the same time. Amazingly clean, even though there is a bit of smoke here. Fantastically drinkable. I can come back to this again and again.

I wish I had found this sooner. Maybe better than Live Oak Schwarz, and that is saying something. Supremely enjoyable, all around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12 oz. bottle poured into pilsener
(best before Feb. 23, 2016)

L: dark brown, clear, slight orange highlights ...the clarity is very nice; beige to almost tan head of foam, about 3/4-inch, not huge but a little sticking, and it keeps a big-bubbled collar; no lacing

S: very mellow dark-malt sweetness ... some chocolate, almost a hint of vanilla, nuts (walnuts, pecans); slight bitter hoppiness (or burnt malt?) ... offers a hint of earthiness that dominates the flavor; sour grain

T: chocolate, oak-wood ... some American brown bitterness, very earthy ... yes, dirt hops with a smoothed out smokey oak-wood finish -- far less smoke flavor than a rauchbier, but it's in there, the charred wood taste at a barbecue, again very American brown ale-like; sweetness from the malt never full kicks in, just teases from the back row

F: classic lager crisp, relatively lightweight filled out well from the carbonation ... wants to feel chewy from all that malt, but it's too well-made to feel like anything but a good lager -- nothing thick, slick or heavy. very nice.

O: great beer and to no surprise ... Real Ale brews quality stuff, from the regular lineup to seasonals to the new bombers and this brewer's cut series ... in fact, this schwarzbier is plenty good enough to make me want to get back into the brewer's cut brews. the six-pack will be enough for me on this particular beer, but I'm very happy I bought it -- a very earthy but still tasty dark-malt lager. the dark-malt sweetness from the nose never fully makes it into the flavor, but the combo is still good.

 

On tap at Real Ale's Oktoberfest, poured into a .5L stein.

A - Pours dark brown, almost black, with a couple fingers of very light brown head.

S - Not a strong aroma, but I detect roasted malt and a bit of smokiness.

T - The roasted malts really shine through in this. Somewhat smokey, balanced by subtle semi-sweet chocolate and mildly bitter coffee.

M - Like a lot of schwarzbiers, this isn't thick at all. Luckily it wasn't watery, though. Thin-to-moderate body with moderate carbonation. Alcohol feels well hidden.

O - One of the best schwarzbiers I've had. The roasted, smokey character is done really well.