Blackout
DuClaw Brewing Co.

 

Wow. I walked in with the intent to try this beer first. I could have enjoyed it all night. The first of two beers I enjoyed with the Razer & Chips (grouper battered with Hellrazer IPA). Complete black, almost opaque in the glass with a soft gray foam on the edges (likely lost something on the way to the table). Laced all the way down. Nice dark (smoky coffee) roasted malt in the nose. Soft carbonation enhanced the same dark roasted malt on the tongue with very little hops presence (just enough for balance but perfect for the style, IMHO). Nice, refreshing mouthfeel with a touch of bitterness at the end makes it hard to put down. Extremely nice rendition of one of my favorite styles. A smooth, drinkable beer.

Pours black with ruby highlights. A thin head dissipates to a wisp and wide ring.

The smell is of chocolate/toffee with a slight roasted character.

The taste is of some dark fruit, a hint of chocolate/coffe. Some graininess is in the back with a hin of earthy bitterness in the finish.

The carbonation is very mild, giving it a weak-ish feel. Still, body holds up well-enough.

Not a bad brew.

Not bad... tried a sample tonight. The smell was milder then I hoped, but it reminded me of fresh baked dark bread.The beer was near black brown little light brown head. Had tastes of pumpernickel bread with an aftertaste of dark chocolate. It was a bit sticky mouth feel while not a thick beer, while it was a drinkable beer I was really in the mood for a glass of badmoon porter with my dinner, my brother got a full glass though.

This is brand new seasonal from DuClaw. On tap at the Arundel Mills location.

Pours a very dark brown. Almost black but not quite, as some garnet highlights come through the body at various points. The head is thin and light tan with very good retention. A little bit of swirling in the glass, immediately brings up a good 1/2 finger of fresh foam that left good lacing behind. The aroma is a little subdued at first but then opens up more with mostly roasted chocolate malts dominating but then a splash of fresh citrus notes and mild hops come out behind it.

The taste is once again roasted chocolate character up front that unfortunately fades out way too quickly before the hop profile kicks in and end things with some extra punch. Finishes on the palette with a bitter and sweet sticky feel. The mouthfeel has a light medium body that has just a tad too much of a watery feel to it.

I'm a big fan of Schwarzbiers but this one just doesn't quite measure up. A little more assertive roasted feel in the taste profile and thickness in the body would have gone a long way in my book. That being said, at 5% this is still a quite quaffable brew and I have to commend DuClaw for dabbling in yet another new Lager style. I just wish that this one had a little more to offer to the drinker.