Drinking Schwarzbiers

Ithaca has one in their taproom. I have not tried it but it is called "may the schwarbier with you." ( I think that's the name of it)

 

You have had schwarzbier that have a smoky taste? I have never picked this up on any that I have tried. Are you thinking of Rauchbier?

 

Shortly after reading this post I went out and found Bauhaus Stargazer Schwartzbier on tap at the Pig and Fiddle and had a few - thanks for reminding me how good Schwartzbier is!

 

Uncanny how this thread comes just in time to help me prepare for a chapter in our DE-US workshop tasting tomorrow: we are comparing aka drinking side-by-side Köstritzer and young & up-and-coming Base Camp Celestial Dark Lager.

Maybe hoping to show how "full creative expression" is a very US-typical idea when taken to traditional DE styles. I like the Celestial CDL as Pacific Northwest India Dark Lager, heavy on hops and ashy roasted malt, though.
But it also shows what the Old Europe idea of "balance" can bring to helping a beer style survive over several decades and generations.

 

Hmm. Schlafly is distributing in my area, but I haven't seen this one yet -- on the lookout.

 

Uinta Baba Lager - low alcohol perfectly crafted beer

 

Anddd I'm an idiot. Lol

 

shwartz/rauch, they are both bier brothers, just that one of them smokes

 

I would recommend that you give Jack’s Abby Smoke and Dagger a try if this beer is ever available to you. I really like this beer.

Cheers!

“Smoke & Dagger

Black Lager
Available Year-Round

Cloaked in mystery, this dark black beer skirts the line between a schwarzbier and smoked porter. The use of a small percentage of traditional Beechwood smoked malt adds complexity and balances the liberal use of chocolate malt. Notes of roasted grains, beechwood smoke and coffee accompany a full bodied and sweet chocolatey malt character.”

http://jacksabby.com/beers/smoke-dagger/

 

Depressed now, that sounds right up my alley, but being from Texas.... Will have to add that to my list of wants, make that needs when I visit the upper east coast

 

Jack's Abby made a 'guest appearance' in my area (Southeastern PA) this past spring. I bought a couple 6-packs of the Smoke & Dagger and thoroughly enjoyed those beers.

At least in Texas you get Shiner Bohemian Black Lager which I think is very good. In a couple of weeks I will be in Texas visiting family (and attending Wurstfest). If the Bohemian Black Lager is in the Shiner Family Pack I will buy one; my sister (who I am visiting) loves Shiner Kosmos.

Cheers!

 

Sweet, my daughter is trying to talk me into going to Wurstfest but I think work is going to get in the way, she will be there also. You can actually get the Black here in Texas in 6/12 packs so have at it. Hope you have a great time while you are there

 

Saranac Brewing has stopped production of Saranac Black Lager (for now):

http://www.syracuse.com/drinks/index.ssf/2015/08/saranac_stops_brewing_one_its.html

Cheers!

 

I had this one two years ago and loved it. Got twice as much of it last year and it wasn't nearly as good. I'm never sure if it's me or the beer though. :\

 

I think the real key to a Schwarzbier is in the dry, almost crackery finish, and sometimes that can be tricky to pull off (especially if it's a seasonal). Maybe they just didn't nail it last year.

If I see it I'll grab some, but Schlafly can be very hit or miss around here.

 

IDK I personally wasn't a fan of this. Flavors are great but I had it on tap and it was nitro. Was just sort of conflicting having a beer that is technically a lager, which is supposed to be light be so heavy in body. Quite frankly it was highly disorrienting.

Also to those saying Schwarzbier is hard to find in New England I am really surprised. I see Kostrizer all the time and drink a ton of it. Also see Monchshof alot too, which IMO is the best. That being said in the Boston area on tap in select locations is Harpon's Dark Lager. This is an excellent schwarzbier, not the best but really good, if you can find it of course. But at the very least Kostrizer is quite common, at least up here in the Merrimack valley.

 

I'd blame the nitro in that instance, not the beer. Who's bright idea was that? Must've been the bar's.

 

We get Einbecker in central NJ, if you ever find yourself down here.

 

@edward_boumil I have had Jack's Abbey Smoke and Dagger on a nitro pour and my experience was very similar to yours. However, I agree with @TongoRad that the problem was likely the nitro, not the beer. I don't think Smoke and Dagger is typically a nitro pour but some bars experiment with their nitro taps and when they do it's typically with darker beers. It's well documented that nitro pours give a beer a smoother, creamier body that some people prefer, but the trade off is the nitro mutes flavors of the beer. When I ordered mine the tap was around the corner, but had I seen it was a nitro tap beforehand I would not have ordered it. So, I recommend you give Smoke and Dagger another try without the nitro. Also, it might an interesting experiment for you personally to taste the difference between a nitro vs CO2 pour [or bottle] for the same beer.

 

Thanks- I'll ask my beer guy then. They carry the bocks, so hopefully the Schwarzbier is available here too.