Drinking Schwarzbiers

Never been one of my favorites styles, but as you say, variety is a big thing for me as well. May the Schwartz be with you...

 

Try the Mönchshof Schwarzbier, if you can get it

 

Schwarzbier/Black Lagers are one of my favorite styles. Despite those terrible green bottles, Einbecker's Schwarz is really good.

 

It's been too long since my last Kostritzer - thanks for reminding me.

 

One of the first beers that steered me towards non InBev was Shiner Black. I would order it and constantly be surprised that I could drink it in Houston in the 90 degree weather and it didn't feel heavy. Wasn't until last year after an all night bar hopping with one of my daughters in Shreveport where we drank Reasonably Corrupt from Great Raft until the sun came up, that I started looking into this beer. I like this style and will always get it on tap when I see it at a bar or restaurant.

 

I'll second Shiner's Schwarzbier. I really like the style and I think Shiner's is one of the best I've had.

 

Sprecher makes an awesome Schwarzbier - their best beer, by far. Bonus points for coming in a 16-oz bottle.

(Their root beer is awesome too, but that doesn't count.)

 

Try Devil's Backbone.

 

Another vote for Mönchshof Schwarzbier. I did a blind side by side with Kostritzer and it kicked its butt. I think the Mönchshof is much smoother and the flavors you associate with the style come through a lot more. Great beer.

 

Although I don't dislike Schwarzbier, I think I'll allways prefer the soft, malty, more ballanced Dunkles.
And while most Dunkles from smaller bavarian and esp. franconian breweries are awesome, Schwarzbier from smaller thrungian breweries is way more risky.
There are good ones.
But some are very imballanced,our sourish, or both-you can't be sure of their quality unless you tasted them, but with a franconian Dunkles, you won't get any negative surprises...

 

Discounting small village breweries, I think there might be more schwarzbiers in America than in Germany these days. It was a pretty regional (and obscure) style until Sam Adams Black came out. Now, there are hundreds of 'em. Most of them are from over here, too.

 

It does seem that everyone is making a Schwartz lately. A good style for this time of year. I prefer a heavier feel to my dark beers, but I really enjoy a good one at times.

 

Funny enough, IF a new german craft brewery tries their hands on a traditional german style, it is either a hoppier Pils or a SchwarzbierBuddelship Kohlentrimmer is decent, but most attempts fail in my experience. That being said, I think the very common Köstritzer Schwarzbier is a high benchmark.....

 

Not too shocking. You don't want to go too crazy or you might lose the local market. Agreed on Kostritzer, though. It's top notch. I think it might also be the only one I saw on sale outside of the Franconian/Thuringian corridor, too. Bitburger has really rallied behind that brand, which isn't a bad thing at all.

 

The Kostritzer tall boy cans are top notch. If you find them, buy them.

Thirsty Dog's Rail Dog was a pleasant surprise too. My father brought me back some from Cleveland. I wish he'd gotten me all Rail Dog instead of the mix 12.
I'm actually surprised Victory has never attempted to make a Schwarzbier. They often nail the German styles quite well. Yakima Glory was one of my favorite beers they made but it's unfortunately not made anymore and was a black IPA more than anything else.

 

I think it is kinda confusing because it is a difficult style to get right....
The Köstritzer brand is getting really expanded though, with the very tasty Kellerbier and the Meisterwerke Lineup(Pale Ale,Red Lager,Witbier), though the Pils still remains regional only

Another Schwarzbier you can get nationwide in germany would be Mönchshof Schwarzbier. And in the north, Störtebecker Schwarzbier is common, as is Märkischer Landmann Schwarzbier in Berlin/Brandenburg. But yeah, Köstritzer is still way more common than all of those.

 

I think for the widely distributed American versions, I'd look for Uinta's Baba or Sprecher's Black Bavarian.

 

Another ‘vote’ for Shiner Bohemian Black Lager. IMO it is a high quality Schwarzbier.

Cheers!

 

FYI... I haven't had these but I would buy them in a second for the labels alone...