Any recommends for CO schwarzbiers? I love the style in autumn. I really like The Kidd, but I've yet to see very many other examples of the style brewed in-state. Anyone have any suggestions for examples to get as the weather cools?
There's B3K from Wynkoop... but that's all I can think of off the top of my head. I'd be interested in hearing back from folks, too, as it's a style I dig, as well.
Eddyline makes one called Jolly Roger. It's pretty good (I would say it's very 'porter-ish'). Grimm Bros. has a 'German Porter' in cans as well. I haven't had it (yet), and I'm not sure if it's an ale or a lager, but I would guess it's more or less a schwarzbier (if it's a lager). That's about the only other ones I can think of, except Uinta Baba Lager, if you're alright with a beer from one state over.
We get tall boys of Kostritzer. 1554 is a schwarz in disguise. B3K is a good beer, although it uses rauchmalt. Jolly Roger isn't bad, too. That's kinda it to be honest.
Yeah, 1554 is kind of a schwarz, isnt it? Black lager is the definition of the style. And its probably the best beer NB makes.
Per their own reps it used to be called an "Enlightened Black Ale" to appease Texas and because the word lager had a stigma. 1554 came out in the early 2000's, so that's understandable. It's their spin on a schwarz and it's pretty close. I prefer it to a few imported ones and I love that it has become commonly available on tap. I see it at lost of random restaurants these days and think it's really good food beer. A lot of the other CO ones seem to be draft only or seasonals. Even in Germany, it's not very common. Kostritzer is super widespread, but outside of 3 eastern states I don't know if most people could name another one.
If it doesn't need to be from CO, Kulmbacher Monchshof is the archetype as far as I am concerned. Just a wonderful beer.
Monchshof is a really good one. They aren't always super fresh (Kostritzer is owned by Bit, which helps), but it's damn good when it is. There aren't a whole lot of other high profile ones that leave Germany. Monch is kind of forgotten as it is. Kaiserdom is huge in some places, but we don't get it here or in much of the US. Not sure what their distro is like, but I still see Sprecher Black Bavarian on our shelves here and there. Hopefully those aren't all 3-4 years old.
Great Divide actually just put one on that was brewed with Colorado fresh hops. The hop character isn't prominent, and it is quite enjoyable.
