Schwarzbier
Four Generals Brewing

Poured from a bottle into a Celebrator pokal. Pours a dark mahogany brown with orange tones; a little light transmission, and a one finger light khaki head with great retention and solid lacing. Aroma of dark toasted malt with slight char, light cocoa, sweet licorice and a touch of latte coffee; inviting. Flavor is dark toasted malt, light cocoa, licorice with cola notes and some coffee and light grassy hops in the finish. Medium bodied with light to moderate creaminess. A pleasant domestic take on the schwarzbier style. Like the altbier I just tried, it seems little dialed back in flavor, but the profile is faithful and this is refreshing and a little smokey and it should be. I really like the licorice/cola element that is subdued, but adds a lot of interest; it is much more pronounced in the aroma. This brewery is not that close to home, but it's nice to have a source for faithful German styles in the area and I will be back for more. I still have a bock to try.

 

Pours a dark brown with a tinge of fog to it. Head is half a finger of khaki foam. Aroma is toasty, roasty, bready, caramely, and earthy malts. It's malty thru and thru, lovely. Flavor profile is bready, caramely, and roasty malts with a touch of caramel and toffee sweetness at the back. Mouth feel is medium in thickness with a little crushed velvet texture giving it a faintly creamy feel. Overall, lovely malt body and extremely smooth.

Draft.