Shorewood Schwarz
Great Dane Pub & Brewing Company (Downtown)

 

This no Black Moravian but it is good.

Appearance: Near black mahogany brown with only a light skim around the glass for head.

Aroma: High cocoa content chocolate bars, coffee, herbal hops.

Taste: Matching the nose but adding sweet caramels and grains. Less roastedness than I would like.

Mouthfeel: Light bodied, low carbonation, slightly biting finish.

Drinkability: Outstanding.

Had this from a growler that kmpitz2 brought back. Porus a dark brown with a small head that doesn't have great retention (but it's from a growler) and leaves a little lacing on the glass. The aroma is mild, but it's mostly chocolate and malty goodness. The flavor is much the same - mostly chocolate malts and hints of roasted notes. Very smooth. The body is on the light end of full and the drinkability is very good.

This was only called "Schwarzbier", but I assume it is the same brew. It pours a deep ruby brown color with almost no light passing through. A small head falls to a ring over top. Nose is slight chocolate, slight caramel sweet and a touch roasted. Very solid. Flavor is a little more sweet than expected. Lots of caramel and chocolate with an undertone of roast. Very tasty. Feel is moderate. Carbonation seems to have suffered from the trip, but I don't think it affects the brew. As far as things go, this is highly drinkable. I really enjoy the flavor. Everything seems to be in line. I'll easily cash the growler.

Great Dane seems to put out a Schwarzbier annually as a winter seasonal (and occasionally at other times of the year). Last year's "Black Moravian" was outstanding as a bold version of the style. This offering tends towards tradition.

Serves up black, glinted with purple and proves that it's clear when held to a lightsource. The head is a bleached brown, and has some stay.
Nose is muted, but presents with java and caramel with a herbal hop-induced twang.
Enters with a sedate roastedness, somewhere between chocolate and canned coffee. Turns partially sweeter with burnt caramel and brown sugar. Grainier midway. A well lagered briskness carries it into a lightly herbal hop closure.
Light bodied, inching fatter with a moderately low carbonation.
Not especially memorable, but well-done in the essence of some of the famous German versions. A potentially endless quaff.