German Schwarzbier

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Beertsipper, Jun 4, 2019.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,848) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I was introduced to the Wooly Pig Brewery, in Ohio, by @WesMantooth . Everything I've had has been top notch, and their Schwartzbier is addictive. Iirc, he told me that the owner/brewer used to work at Uinta, and may have even come up with the recipe for Baba.
     
  2. TheGent

    TheGent Grand Pooh-Bah (4,201) Jun 29, 2010 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I hope you like it! It’s hard not to (IMO).
     
    JackHorzempa likes this.
  3. TheGent

    TheGent Grand Pooh-Bah (4,201) Jun 29, 2010 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I’ve only had two of their beers. One was Nightshine and one was a mixed fermentation, oak aged saison that was delightful.

    Both were on tap in NYC. But I rarely see their beers. Would love to try more. Not exactly two of the most popular styles and both were great.

    I’ll need to keep my eyes peeled for some Czech black lager.
     
    FBarber and TongoRad like this.
  4. jkrich

    jkrich Pooh-Bah (1,854) Nov 1, 2001 Florida
    Pooh-Bah Society

    An excellent example is brewed by Duck-Rabbit Brewery from North Carolina. As this is seasonal, it should be available this summer - the brewery refers to this lager as "black pils."
     
  5. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,181) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Even better! I am a fan of Tmavý Ležák (Czech Dark Lager) beers!!

    Na Zdravie!
     
    hopsputin, FBarber and TongoRad like this.
  6. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,848) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Oh yeah, if it's on draught, then kegs do make it down to the city. For me, they've been on my radar for a few years now because they're located up near my parents in western Sullivan county- and what a great pleasure it was to discover them. So much of their stuff is right in my wheelhouse, and incredibly well made; I'm particularly fond of the lagers and wild/sour beers. They also do a killer Pils, and the Flanders Red is reminiscent of Rodenbach Vintage. All coming out of this sort of forgotten part of the state- it's kind of crazy and wonderful.

    The Czech Black Lager that I used to adore was Herold, but I haven't seen it in years, maybe even a decade. I'm still holding out hope that they make their way back to these shores again- it may have been before their time previously :wink::sunglasses:.
     
    TheGent and JackHorzempa like this.
  7. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,181) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Michael, my memory is about 10 years as well. I used to be able to buy Herold beers at my 'local' Total Wine & More (Claymont, DE) but they chose to no longer carry those beers.:slight_frown:

    Cheers!

    @RobH
     
    RobH and TongoRad like this.
  8. TheGent

    TheGent Grand Pooh-Bah (4,201) Jun 29, 2010 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    A quick google search and that label does not look familiar to me. Would be great to try that beer.
     
    TongoRad likes this.
  9. anfield86

    anfield86 Pooh-Bah (2,594) Nov 21, 2006 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I’ve never been to Rock Bottom but our local Iron Hill (another regional brewpub chain) recently put out A Storm of Swords schwarzbier as a part of their Game of Thrones inspired beers. It was actually much better than I was expecting and worthy of the name (A Storm of Swords is probably my favorite book in the ASOIAF series...thus far).


    I slightly disagree with your assessment of Smoke & Dagger. I recently had this beer for the first time in several years and I was quite surprised and how much smoke character it has now. Back around 2012 I remember it drinking like a schwarzbier with just a hint of smoked malt; now it drinks like a full on (dark) rauchbier with just a hint of its former schwarzbier characteristics. Still an enjoyable beer but I kinda liked it when the smoke was more subdued (and this is coming from a HUGE rauchbier fan). Granted this was a fresh can, perhaps the smoke flavor fills out with a bit of age.

    Cheers
     
    #29 anfield86, Jun 5, 2019
    Last edited: Jun 5, 2019
    AlcahueteJ, zid and TongoRad like this.
  10. WesMantooth

    WesMantooth Grand Pooh-Bah (4,820) Jan 8, 2014 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    This is correct. Baba was his recipe and a great beer. And his Schwarz now is his best beer, and it holds up with any German version I have had so far. Though those are hard to come by here. Conversely, a black lager in general is not as many of the central Ohio breweries make one, and most are fairly decent.
     
    rodndtube, Lingenbrau and TongoRad like this.
  11. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,181) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society

    It has been a few years since I had Smoke & Dagger. When I had it (bottles) the smoke content was subtle for my palate. Maybe over the past couple of years they 'upped' the smoke aspect?

    Thanks for your input here.

    Cheers!
     
    anfield86 likes this.
  12. WesMantooth

    WesMantooth Grand Pooh-Bah (4,820) Jan 8, 2014 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    @TongoRad Here is another one that is still draft only, but when I come across it at the brewery where they have crowlers, you can do an Ohio side by side.
    [​IMG]
     
    eppCOS, anfield86 and TongoRad like this.
  13. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,848) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I recently went through a sixer of cans and was pleasantly surprised with the smoke character. It did seem to have a touch more 'oomph', although the beer wasn't all that much different in the end. Maybe freshness does seem to have something to do with it; or if it's been tweaked it was just by a slight amount. I like it better now, though :wink::grin:.
     
  14. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,848) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Wow! That would totally make my day, man, truly!
     
    WesMantooth likes this.
  15. denver10

    denver10 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,081) Nov 17, 2010 New Mexico
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Locally, La Cumbre and Bosque have done some really nice ones.
     
    eppCOS likes this.
  16. FBarber

    FBarber Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,161) Mar 5, 2016 Illinois
    Super Mod Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    WesMantooth likes this.
  17. unlikelyspiderperson

    unlikelyspiderperson Grand Pooh-Bah (3,862) Mar 12, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Definitely a favorite style that seems to be rising a bit in popularity. I will have to check out xingu, I've definitely seen it around but never gave it another thought, sorta assumed it was like sapporo or something.
     
    AlcahueteJ and FBarber like this.
  18. WesMantooth

    WesMantooth Grand Pooh-Bah (4,820) Jan 8, 2014 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I remember buying sixers of the Sam Adams Black Lager routinely back in 2012-13. Disappointing that it was discontinued.
     
    KentT, BruChef, AlcahueteJ and 5 others like this.
  19. elNopalero

    elNopalero Grand Pooh-Bah (4,568) Oct 14, 2009 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I just popped in here to praise Moonlight's Death & Taxes. An old favorite, and until recently draft-only.
     
    TongoRad likes this.
  20. EmperorBatman

    EmperorBatman Zealot (717) Mar 16, 2018 Tennessee

    I used to enjoy Köstritzer, but it disappeared from all the stores in my neighborhood and haven’t seen it since last fall. The other Bitburger Group beers like Bitburger and Benediktiner have stayed, so I don’t exactly what happened to it.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.