Brewery Backyard Series: Black Lobstah Lager
Redhook Brewlab

 

 

 

Very dark for a lager. While lagers aren't one of my preferred styles, an above average lager.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22oz brown bomber with a freshness date

Thick two finger of froth, full on dark brown. Smells of dark bread, faintness of caramel, spicy hop and a mild sweetness. Semi-sweet start, slightly roasted, very mild saltiness, spicy, faint herbal hop, slight alcohol warmth, more roastiness in the drying finish.

Not sure if I even tastes lobster in this beer at all, did detect some saltiness but that was pretty clean. Roasted character nearly mimics a brown porter, drinkable regardless of what style it is closer to or that it was brewed with lobsters.

An odd bomber of Schwarzbier (reads "Black Lager" on the label) by Red Hook.

Pours nicely dark brown, cola-colored, with an ample tan head, not a lot of lacing.

Aroma of roasted (chocolate) malt mixed with very light hoppiness and light nondescript fruitiness.

Tastes like a light porter, largely reflecting the aroma. Moderate bitterness from the dark roasted malts, coffee notes, but not a lot of hops. Slight acidity, but not sufficient to discern citrus.

Light-bodied with ample carbonation and no alcohol overtones.

Pleasant, fairly refreshing beer but not really distinguished from the pack. Too light-bodied to be a Baltic Porter, which is seems to desperately want to be, but it remains a Red Hook lager underneath. More hops and more complex malt notes might have made it a much better beer. As is, it's a good summer refresher and a New Hampshire novelty, but not something to add to a collection. Would buy again if price is right, but not where I would look first.

From the Portsmouth, NH (USA) Brewery 650 ml. bottle marked: 1151NH-MAR2213. Sampled on August 10, 2013.

The pour is very dark brown to near black but the brown hues can be seen along the edge of the glass in the light. Modest light brown head.

The aroma is of dark burnt malts, coffee, and a dash of smoke. Hops are downplayed.

The body is medium to bold with a slickness on the tongue.

The taste boasts dark malts, less coffee than the aroma, and a slightly earthy crisp hop finale. My palate may not be trained enough to pick up lobster meat because I don't. I like the fact it is brewed with New Hampshire local ingredients.