Tanbark
West Kill Brewing
- From:
- West Kill Brewing
- New York, United States
- Style:
- Schwarzbier
Ranked #100 - ABV:
- 4.9%
- Score:
- 87
Ranked #22,730 - Avg:
- 3.87 | pDev: 10.34%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 4
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 11, 2025
- Added:
- Jan 11, 2019
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 1
SCORE
87
Very Good
87
Very Good
A traditional German-style black lager that is checking all the right boxes right now: Super smooth, slightly roasty, and crazy crushable.
Historically, Tanbark was the name given to the bark stripped from the Eastern Hemlock trees used in the tanning industry over a century ago when the Catskills region had an abundance of Hemlock trees whose bark contained high amounts of of tannins needed for the tanning process.
Historically, Tanbark was the name given to the bark stripped from the Eastern Hemlock trees used in the tanning industry over a century ago when the Catskills region had an abundance of Hemlock trees whose bark contained high amounts of of tannins needed for the tanning process.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by StJamesGate from New York
4.15/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.15/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Steady taupe foam over garnet black; copper penny, flowers and light roast on the nose; light malt sweetness that opens into caramel, vague hazelnut + toffee, light hop spice; light, smooth, clean.
4 4 4.25 4 4.25
Discrete, balanced and easy. Roast doesn’t overwhelm and finishes with lager lightness. What a schwarz should be.
West Kill hit a standard.
Jun 20, 20254 4 4.25 4 4.25
Discrete, balanced and easy. Roast doesn’t overwhelm and finishes with lager lightness. What a schwarz should be.
West Kill hit a standard.
Reviewed by GreesyFizeek from New York
4.2/5 rDev +8.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.2/5 rDev +8.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
This pours a dark brown color, almost black, with a small head, and lots of lacing.
This smells roasty, with some coffee, breadiness, and a nice chocolatey aroma.
This feels a bit more chocolatey and a bit less roasty than I thought for the style, but they’re both there and it’s delicious all the same.
This is light bodied, creamy, and very drinkable.
I really feel like West Kill is pretty underrated overall, and this was delicious.
Dec 20, 2023This smells roasty, with some coffee, breadiness, and a nice chocolatey aroma.
This feels a bit more chocolatey and a bit less roasty than I thought for the style, but they’re both there and it’s delicious all the same.
This is light bodied, creamy, and very drinkable.
I really feel like West Kill is pretty underrated overall, and this was delicious.
Reviewed by metter98 from New York
3.8/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.8/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
A: The beer is nearly black in color and only has traces of dark brown near the edges of the glass when it is held up to a bright light. It poured with a quarter finger high light tan head that left a narrow collar around the edge of the glass that settled down and left a thin ring around the edge.
S: Moderate aromas of dark malts are present in the nose.
T: The taste has flavors of chocolate malts along with hints of roast. There is a light amount of bitterness.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and somewhat clean on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This schwratzbier incredibly drinkable and is also quite tasty.
Serving type: can
Apr 01, 2022S: Moderate aromas of dark malts are present in the nose.
T: The taste has flavors of chocolate malts along with hints of roast. There is a light amount of bitterness.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and somewhat clean on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This schwratzbier incredibly drinkable and is also quite tasty.
Serving type: can
Rated by markartis from New York
4.13/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.13/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Really nice US Schwarzbier expression. Delicious
Feb 14, 2019
Reviewed by Gajo74 from New York
4/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at The Milling Room, NYC.
Pours a clear dark brown color. A moderate tan head displays good retention.
The nose opens with hints of chocolate, and toasted malts throughout. This is followed by dark fruit, redolent of plum and notes of cherries. Bright but muted hops aromas, zesty and mildly spicy.
Flavors dominated by toasted malts that are complimented by dark fruit, particularly plum and hints of cherry. Notes of chocolate, caramel, light roasted malts and a gentle touch of black malt tartness. Zesty hops flavors, mildly spicy, earthy, woodsy, and a touch of bitterness.
Medium bodied, moderately carbonated and smooth. Crisp and clean finish with a lightly bitter linger.
Nice example of the Schwarzbier style. I would have again.
Jan 12, 2019Pours a clear dark brown color. A moderate tan head displays good retention.
The nose opens with hints of chocolate, and toasted malts throughout. This is followed by dark fruit, redolent of plum and notes of cherries. Bright but muted hops aromas, zesty and mildly spicy.
Flavors dominated by toasted malts that are complimented by dark fruit, particularly plum and hints of cherry. Notes of chocolate, caramel, light roasted malts and a gentle touch of black malt tartness. Zesty hops flavors, mildly spicy, earthy, woodsy, and a touch of bitterness.
Medium bodied, moderately carbonated and smooth. Crisp and clean finish with a lightly bitter linger.
Nice example of the Schwarzbier style. I would have again.
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