Black Forest
Matt Brewing Company / Saranac Brewery
- From:
- Matt Brewing Company / Saranac Brewery
- New York, United States
- Style:
- European Dark Lager
Ranked #44 - ABV:
- 5.3%
- Score:
- 84
Ranked #31,220 - Avg:
- 3.62 | pDev: 10.22%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 4
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 19, 2026
- Added:
- Sep 07, 2020
- Wants:
- 2
- Gots:
- 5
SCORE
84
Good
84
Good
A Bavarian black beer with distinctive carmel malt sweetness and rich creamy trademark head. Flavorful, yet smooth; it is very drinkable!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by mvanaskie13 from Pennsylvania
3.59/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.59/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured into a grip shaped goblet: color is dark brown, slight chill haze, head is very light tan and presents 1 finger thick.
Smell is light sweet caramel and chocolate malt, light roast.
Taste is similar with light caramel, toast, chocolate, light fruitiness, hint of roast.
Mouthfeel is moderate carbonation, moderate sweetness, low bitterness.
Overall light caramel and chocolate dominate this brews aroma/flavor, lighter than a schwarzbier and bit different than a dunkel.
Jan 23, 2023Smell is light sweet caramel and chocolate malt, light roast.
Taste is similar with light caramel, toast, chocolate, light fruitiness, hint of roast.
Mouthfeel is moderate carbonation, moderate sweetness, low bitterness.
Overall light caramel and chocolate dominate this brews aroma/flavor, lighter than a schwarzbier and bit different than a dunkel.
Reviewed by AccipiterofBeer from New York
3.64/5 rDev +0.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
3.64/5 rDev +0.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Poured into a tulip pint.
L: 3.75. Translucent dark brown with a hint of ruby. Small lingering head. Decent carbonation
S: 3.5. A bit flat. Caramel. Bready.
T: 3.5. Run of the mill. Liquid bread with light flavorings.
F: 4.25. Very pleasant light mouthfeel. It is a lager after all.
O: 3.75. I havent had too many Euro darks, so take my review with a grain of salt. Solid lager, although far from outstanding.
Oct 24, 2021L: 3.75. Translucent dark brown with a hint of ruby. Small lingering head. Decent carbonation
S: 3.5. A bit flat. Caramel. Bready.
T: 3.5. Run of the mill. Liquid bread with light flavorings.
F: 4.25. Very pleasant light mouthfeel. It is a lager after all.
O: 3.75. I havent had too many Euro darks, so take my review with a grain of salt. Solid lager, although far from outstanding.
Reviewed by RDWHAHB_Tom from Maryland
3.56/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.56/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
9/7/2020
Packaging: BBD 12/31/2020, 12 oz. glass bottle, 50*F, sea level
Glassware: Pint glass
L: Deep, brilliant ruby-brown. Two fingers of tan, uneven foam that quickly disappeared. Impersistent.
S: Black cherry. Smokey, toasted barley. Vanilla.
T: Soggy bread, honey. Black cherry, cranberry. Lightly nutty, very mild funk.
F: Wet, light-bodied. Clean.
Overall: Interesting. Drinks light, sessionable. Lacks some of the 'sodabread' quality that I have experienced with previous schwarzbiers. Head quickly vanishes. Black cherry notes leave most-lasting impression and tasty burps!
Sep 10, 2020Packaging: BBD 12/31/2020, 12 oz. glass bottle, 50*F, sea level
Glassware: Pint glass
L: Deep, brilliant ruby-brown. Two fingers of tan, uneven foam that quickly disappeared. Impersistent.
S: Black cherry. Smokey, toasted barley. Vanilla.
T: Soggy bread, honey. Black cherry, cranberry. Lightly nutty, very mild funk.
F: Wet, light-bodied. Clean.
Overall: Interesting. Drinks light, sessionable. Lacks some of the 'sodabread' quality that I have experienced with previous schwarzbiers. Head quickly vanishes. Black cherry notes leave most-lasting impression and tasty burps!
Reviewed by Singlefinpin from North Carolina
4.06/5 rDev +12.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.06/5 rDev +12.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Drinking this at home.
Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a pint glass.
Appears, dark brown, almost black with a nice foamy tannish head that dropped quickly to zero head.
Smells malty sweet, floral
Taste follows the nose with more than enough hoppiness to keep my interest.
Mouth feel is medium for the style.
Overall a very nice black lager, lacking in head retention, but very tasty nonetheless.
Sep 07, 2020Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a pint glass.
Appears, dark brown, almost black with a nice foamy tannish head that dropped quickly to zero head.
Smells malty sweet, floral
Taste follows the nose with more than enough hoppiness to keep my interest.
Mouth feel is medium for the style.
Overall a very nice black lager, lacking in head retention, but very tasty nonetheless.
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