Wild Boar
New Trail Brewing Company

 

this is grossly underrated, among the best american made examples of this style i have ever had if i am honest, and i have long been an advocate for them, i recall beating the drum for a lot of underappreciated beers in the schwarzbier style back in the day, never gets any love. this is really full and sturdy as they go, more like a deep american brown ale with some german nuance, it seriously looks like a big porter, clear and very dark with a tall tanned leather colored head, dense as these go. the nose is chocolate and cola forward with some woody elements, molasses and birch aromatics too, maybe trace maple and noble hops too, lots going on, no real sign of lager yeast, but a european flare to the grain profile here. the flavor is rich too, fuller bodied for the style and with a little more roast and depth than a lot of these have, but more hop than roasted bitterness which is surprising based on color and style. light toasted coconut, bakers chocolate, and cigar. its oddly drinkable though too, i can feel the lager yeast more than i can taste it, maybe some light breadiness about it, but it dries this out impressively, and the carbonation is also nice. its low enough alcohol to be a session type, and even worked as a boat beer, although it was morning, i was terribly hungover, and it was raining, but hey, i was on a boat still! in any event, this style rules, this deeper and more robust interpretation of it is highly appealing, and new trail keeps on killing it. i seriously have been stoked on all of their beers to date!

 

A finger’s worth of light khaki colored froth... Decent retention... Color is a pale flat black that lets a bit of light leak in around the edges... Subtle nose of black licorice and lightly roasted malts... Palate is of faint cocoa and lightly roasted malts... Light to medium bodied... Decent beer, nothing more, nothing less... However, I’m very happy to see some local breweries pay this neglected style some much needed attention...

 

 

 

 

Dark dark mahogany that I guess could be mistaken for black in dim lighting, but it's not all the way there. Corners give it away further with a ruddy brown tint. Decent finger or so of foam that settles into a thin cap, and leaves a nice mountain range silhouette on the glass.

Nose is deep roasted grains, with a bit of coffee bean and an emerging umami that's unexpected. Some faint bakers chocolate lurks beneath.

Nice balance of the same notes as described on the nose. A little bit of milk chocolate leaks into the bakers chocolate above, and the deep roasted malts aren't quite so pronounced. THere's still some dark roast coffee on the backburner there, but it's less pronounced as well. It's more a smoothed out interpretation of the aromatic profile, with a little touch of perfumed hops to pluck up the high notes.

Really smoothe body, with fine (as a descriptor, not a value statement) carbonation. Let's the finish linger dry with a bit of bitterness from the coffee and some faint earthiness.

Overall it's a pleasant drinker, and one that I am grateful to @JayORear for having sent along my direction in his ninja box during NBS BIF #13!!
Thanks Jay!

 

From a twelve ounce can poured into a clear pint glass for to see. Das ist schwartz. Well, sort of, more like a dark brown. But a lager won't get much darker than this. There's very little head and only marginally more glass lacing. Like most lagers, it lacks the aroma of ales. That's a little off setting because of the color. Wheat or pumpernickel bread might be the closest smell. Now the good news. This has much more taste to offer than an ordinary lager. The roasted malt shines here and there's enough hop presence to compliment it. The finish is clean and dry. As a lager, it can't provide the mouthfeel of a good ale, but this is a good beer.

 

Pours a deep Burnt Umber with a tan head.

Smells of crystal malt, wheat bread, and a slight grass and raspberry note.

Taste of wheat bread, fruity grain, and earthy hops.

12oz can courtesy of JayO'Rear. No freshness date on the can. Apparently, this is a collaboration beer between New Trail and another PA brewery called Sterling Pig.

Poured into a can-shaped glass (somebody told me what that style of glass is called but dammed if I can remember), this was a black color worthy of the name of the style, utterly impervious to light. Nice, tan head with decent lace.

Slightly roasty, coffeeish bitter nose.

Roasty and malty up front. Bitter, but not at all to an overpowering degree. Lightly coffeeish and a wee bit of molasses-like sweetness. Finishes clean.

Light-to-medium bodied, with a fairly clean mouthfeel.

Really nice schwarzbier. It's a style that isn't really a flavor bomb, but one I enjoy. I was impressed to discover this is 5.4% abv, making it perhaps the strongest I've had. It drinks lighter than that, which is how it should be. Recommended. Thanks, Jay!

 

Poured into a grip shaped goblet: color is dark brown, amber edges, light tan head with fine bubbles and presents 1/2 inch thick, head dissipates to a thin top and thicker ring along the glass.

Smell is light roast, hint of chocolate, limited sweetness, slight earthy bitterness.

Taste is similar with a bit of roast, some chocolate, light sweetness, a little sharp in the hops and feel.

Mouthfeel is moderate carbonation, moderate sweetness, not as smooth as expected for a schwarzbier with lingering bite and bitterness.

Overall a nice, moderately roast and sweet schwarzbier - just needs some smoothing on the finish.

Great example of the style. Delicious.