Imperial Schwarzbier
Templin Family Brewing

leave it to these guys to not even name a beer of this epic nature, calling this imperial schwarzbier is a major understatement, its enormous and its fruited and its amazing, black cherry and red plum in a style that almost never sees fruit, and the extra abv and body are needed, i think its such a cool wintertime beer, i was very impressed, but i pretty much always am with these guys. pours more like a stout, a short burlap head floating on top of a dense leggy black beer, a tad intimidating, thick, and with some shine. the aroma is striking too, tartness from the cherries, sweetness from the plums, both super compatible with each other and also with the dark almost burnt ashy roast character this leads with, less german maybe than i expect in the style in terms of grain and yeast, but i like everything about the way this smells. a soft oak nuance with vanilla, some middle malt richness, graham cracker, espresso crema, chocolate covered dried cranberry. very rich in flavor, riding tons of body, dark chocolate and coffee notes with just a little malt sweetness, very full and long, hearty and sticky, the fruit brings a lot and the tang is cool, seems real and natural and not overdone, and i get the drier lager elements and a bit more german character from the grain now too, slightly dusty and continental, baking chocolate and cocoa powder, long in the finish and pretty alcoholic as it warms, plum skins and luxardo cherry decadence, this is insanely unique and compelling, a favorite from a heady bottle share (can in this case), as clever a schwarzbier as i have ever known, and so little fanfare about it. ambitious, brilliant, memorable!