Schwarzbier
Köstritzer Schwarzbierbrauerei

SchwarzbierSchwarzbier
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From:
Köstritzer Schwarzbierbrauerei
 
Germany
Style:
Schwarzbier
Ranked #42
ABV:
4.8%
Score:
88
Ranked #15,014
Avg:
3.91 | pDev: 11.76%
Reviews:
961
Ratings:
2,237
Status:
Active
Rated:
Saturday at 04:17 AM
Added:
Oct 17, 2001
Wants:
  139
Gots:
  377
First-class, refined ingredients, the unique recipe and a passionate brewing tradition that you can taste: Köstritzer Schwarzbier stands for pleasure in perfection. It is the unique roasting of malting barley to the finest roasted malt, which gives Köstritzer Schwarzbier its unique malt aroma and unmatched character.

The market leader in the segment of bottom-fermented, dark beers presents itself in an elegant, bubbly manner, and promises a special kind of beer experience at first sight with its strong color and pronounced foam crown.

Taste the difference and enjoy Germany's most popular black beer.
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Photo of SaltofOH
Reviewed by SaltofOH from Ohio

4.42/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Can dated 8.31.23, BB 8.30.24. Pokal glass. It’s been sitting off refrigeration for an hour. Oops.

A: pours a deep mahogany, like coca-cola, deep red when you hold it to the light. Two fingers of a frothy tan head on top. A little visible carbonation around the edges. Head lasted a while, but has receded to a thin skin of foam as I drink it down.

S: on the nose there is a pronounced roast, but in a clean, lagery way; definitely getting the flinty/bloody smell I used to associate with dark beers in my youth. Not unpleasant, but it’s roast without sweetness. Perfectly to style.

T: similar to the smell, there is relatively little sweetness on the arrival. Quite driven by the roasted malt, with a little sweetness mid-palate, turning to a mild noble hoppiness, then finishing on a bitter, roasted black malt note. Lingering bitterness on the finish. Hard to tell if it’s the roast or the hops. Pretty much spot-on to style.

M: lighter side of medium in weight. Quite clean. Unmistakably a lager. Moderate carbonation.

O: pretty much exactly what I want in a dark lager. I’d probably pick a porter over this 8 times out of 10, just because of the lack of sweetness and texture. But I’d definitely take this over Guinness; just can’t beat that lager cleanliness.
Saturday at 04:17 AM
 
Rated: 4.25 by BurtonRed from England

Feb 28, 2024
 
Rated: 4.15 by KensWorld from Florida

Feb 19, 2024
 
Rated: 4.02 by Sellen from Connecticut

Feb 16, 2024
 
Rated: 4 by Pens1866 from Pennsylvania

Jan 20, 2024
 
Rated: 1.82 by paylstep from Canada (ON)

Jan 01, 2024
 
Rated: 4.44 by BLVBBERGIXLL from Arizona

Dec 31, 2023
Photo of Jmsandberg17
Reviewed by Jmsandberg17 from Missouri

3.68/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
500ml can pours a deep, dark brown color with a dense, plentiful head of light brown-colored foam that fades down to a thin layer while leaving chunky lacing. Smells of roasted malts and dark fruits. Rich and smooth roasted malt flavor with a hint of burnt malts, as well as notable caramel and dark fruits. Small sweetness and a small bitterness, with a light burnt/bitter aftertaste. Light to medium body with a mild amount of sparkling carbonation feel and a smooth finish.

This was a solid, good Schwarzbier, but I'm not sure it was unique or memorable enough to buy again. Fun to try, though.
Nov 15, 2023
Photo of MissouriMule
Reviewed by MissouriMule from Missouri

3.8/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3 | feel: 5 | overall: 3
On pouring, a fellow would be forgiven for thinking the can had a nitrogen widget. The head is a roiling, towering, creamy light brown. Only the size of the bubbles told me that the head was not a product of nitro. Regardless, the beer is one of the most visually appealing I have ever poured at home.

Smell is darker roasted malt all the way. Taste is the same story; all chocolaty, sweet roasted malt. Like BitteNochEinWeissbier’s review, I can report no bitterness. Carbonation and mouthfeel are medium and satisfying.

Overall, taste is the millstone around the neck of an otherwise fantastic beer. The taste is too unidimensional, even for this genre’s simple profile. That said, for people who would like Guinness if it was not so watery-smooth, this could be your beer.
Oct 15, 2023
Photo of Kendo
Reviewed by Kendo from New York

3.94/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
A: Poured from the can into a Real McCoy pint glass. Body is brownish on the pour, but appears black in the glass - with a half-finger's worth of tan head settling on top.

S: Malts: roasted/roasty malt, some chocolate and a touch of burnt caramel.

T: Roasty malts over a minerally/metallic taste. Some faint chocolate.

M: Quite thin/watery in feel. Active carbonation is on the fine side.

O: OK. An easy drinker after mowing the lawn, but this doesn't approach the Von Trapp Schwarzbier that I get out of Vermont. Too thin and light in flavors.
Sep 10, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by JohnhatesIPAs from New Hampshire

Jun 13, 2023
 
Rated: 3.94 by DownyIsHungry from Minnesota

May 25, 2023
 
Rated: 3.7 by Miles_Nilges from New York

Apr 26, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by FLBeerGuy from Florida

Apr 18, 2023
Photo of JamFuel
Reviewed by JamFuel from Sweden

4.02/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a very dark brown with fine tead.

Smell is roasted and malty with notes of pumpernickel, leather and chocolate.

Taste is roasted and malty with a hint of sweetness and moderate bitterness. Notes of pumpernickel, rye, chocolate, leather and a hint of licorice.

Mouthfeel is thin to medium, well carbonated.

Overall, a very nice Schwarzbier, lacking a little bit of power and body.
Apr 12, 2023
 
Rated: 3.92 by Myboymi from Kansas

Mar 25, 2023
Photo of BitteNochEinWeissbier
Reviewed by BitteNochEinWeissbier from Pennsylvania

4.21/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Had this vom Fass.

Dark roasted malts with a touch of chocolate. No noticeable bitterness. Very, very smooth and a tad creamy. Mouthfeel is medium-light. Very nice and quite easy to drink. Sorta reminds one of a German version of Guinness or Murphy's (and w/o the nitrogen). Low(er) ABV is welcome - one can enjoy more than one at a time.
Mar 20, 2023
Photo of Ushouldbeworkinh
Rated by Ushouldbeworkinh from England

3/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Just tasted like a lager, not much roast aroma for me
Mar 12, 2023
 
Rated: 3.6 by ajdemma from New York

Mar 01, 2023
 
Rated: 3.73 by QuintusHorace from California

Mar 01, 2023
Schwarzbier from Köstritzer Schwarzbierbrauerei
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 2237 ratings