Nacht Rider
Arbeiter Brewing

Appearance: Pours a dark brown, nearly completely dark brown color with a strong, carbonated tan head. SRM of 23. (4.00)

Aroma: Strong aromas of dark grains, cocoa, yeast, espresso roast. (4.00)

Flavor: Strong flavors of dark grains, dark chocolate, yeast, grains, and a earthy, grainy, and roasted balance off the end. Clean. (4.25)

Feel: Medium-body, strong carbonation. Carbonated, yeasty, yet roasted and dark. Clean and balanced finish. (4.25)

Compared to Talking Waters Sound Czech 2/25: Pours lighter, milder aromas. Less smooth cocoa and roast. More dark grains.

to Sprecher Black Bavarian 2/25: Pours lighter, milder head. Milder aromas. Less cocoa dark chocolate. More dark fruit. Drier.

to Half Acre Ridge Tree 3/25: Pours darker, similar head. Less smooth cocoa and grains. More dark roast.

to Modist Pretty Metal 3/25: Pours similar, stronger aromas. Less smooth dark cocoa, grains. More roast and dark fruit.

to Kostritzer Schwarzbier 3/25: Pours lighter, similar head. Stronger aromas. More cocoa, roast. Less dark grains and earthy Munich malt. More bitter.

to Arbeiter Schwarzbier 3/25: Pours darker, similar head. Less caramel toasty and spiced. More bitter cocoa and roasted.
2/26: Less dark malt, grains. More sweet cocoa and bittersweet
3/26: Less dark grains and earth. More roast and dark chocolate.

to Fair State Black Pils 2/26: Identical aromas. Less dark grains, pine, bitter cocoa. More dark fruit and sweetness. Similar.

to Back Channel Zero 2/26: Pours similar, stronger aromas. More earth, dark fruit, roast. Less grains and cocoa.

to Ayinger Altbairisch Dunkel 2/26: Pours identical. More earth, dark roast, cocoa. Less dark bread, tobacco.

to Little Thistle Schwarzenlager 3/26: Pours identical, similar aromas. Less dark grains. More sweet dark chocolate and roast. Sweeter.

to Fair State Black Pils 4/26: Less earthy, floral, bitter. More dark chocolate and sweet.

Overall: First try at this Schwarzbier from Arbeiter. These guys are slowly producing some of the best lagers in Minnesota. First with their German Pilsner winning Gold at GABF, I was excited to try this. Dark cocoa, grains. earthy, yeasty, and roasted. Balanced, yet smooth. Complex. Hits every aspect. I might start picking up every lager I see from these guys. This is an up and coming brewery in Minnesota that people are going to start waking up to if they haven't already. (Rating: 4.18)

Nothing wrong with this one, though I’d trade a little chocolate for a little more grainy bread. All in all, well constructed and tasty.

At the brewery, in a cuvee glass, very black brown, with a nice creamy head and great lacing. Nose is a little baker’s chocolate, bitter coffee grounds…that pretty much covers it. Taste is a little more full, with some bready notes, and a hint of sulfur…and it comes to a nice point at the finish. Mouthful seems about right for the abv. Initially I though maybe a little thin and watery, to nitpick, but after the full pint, I retract that…it’s actually just right. Carb is on the high side of medium.

Would like to do a side by side with the Bauhaus version, which is pretty good too, as I recall.

Very black, very nearly opaque, slim brown-ish head on top.

In the nose: Cocoa, coffee, and cream. Cola on the side.

In the mouth: More of that on the palate. Minor bitterness, then it's all about the malt. Medium bodied, smooth, expertly drinkable. Clean, like a lager should be. Flavors of cocoa and cream, with a smear of coffee a touch of richness, caramel, toffee. Very likable.

I like a good schwarzbier, and this is one.