Drowned Crown
Grey Matter Brewing Co.

Appearance: The body is as black with the barest hints of deep brown when put up to the light. Poured with a thumb's worth of head that did not lace or retain though.

Smell: Mild toffee and chocolate malt, but the potency just isn't there. Nothing offensive mind you, just even after warming up for a while, the beer barely offers anything here.

Taste: Mild toffee to start that leads to chocolate and slight touches of burnt malt and mild licorice as a subdued hop bitterness comes out and ends with another mild malt snap with hints of berries.

Mouthfeel: Carbonation does a great job as it is just aggressive enough as it walks the line of a sudsy froth and a more aggressive soda one that really accentuates the entire beer at the right times. Aftertaste is a mixed with the barest touch of dryness to keep you drinking. Transitioning is pretty good too, but doesn't seem like it travels a long road.

Drinkability: On the lighter side of medium body, this beer does seem to want to foam up a bit in my gut, but it's a minor item. It's refreshing and does what a Schwarzbier does well, offers a lighter option for darker malts to come out. Really like that despite being a dark beer, the bitterness is well subdued.

Final Thoughts: I am really pleased that after having a poor first experience with their wheat, that this and their Scotch Ale have done very well. I'm certainly looking forward to heading back up north in the spring to pickup some more Grey Matter. The only real complaints here are the lack of scent and that the carbonation really wants to stay in the body, although event that's not a bad thing. Certainly worth picking up.