Hereford & Hops Schwarzbier

On tap at the Escanaba brewpub. aroma is a faint flow of roasted malt. Pours a deep brown with off-white rim. Flavor is ashy, salty and sea-like. Flavors develop some dry chocolate character, a bit of oaky and some nice sweet caramel. This isn’t bad. Deep and sustaining. Somewhat complex and developing. A bit of soda-like flavor, but nothing sugary. Very dry actually, and I can appreciate that. A bit of pepper and herring meld with the roast and salt. Nice. Good examples of this beer are starting to grow on me. There’s room for complexity and good style done subtly here.

A very nice and toasty schwarzbier. Aroma was ok. A nice blend of roasted malt and a hint of coffee. Pour was a nice deep dark brown with a pinky sized near tan head. Taste was a little thin in the front but all roasted malt and coffee in the middle and aftertaste. The finish didn’t carry it through, but had a nice warm toasted malt backbone. Not bad.

Had this beer on draft at their newest brewpub in Cranberry PA. Stylistically, this is the best schwarz I’ve ever had. Although, it is a very hard to find style of beer. Poured a dark brown with light tan head. Very small lacing. Wonderful toffee and caramell aroma followed with the same taste. Great beer with a smooth finish.

Tried on tap at Cranberry location. Poured VERY dark brown with a small off-white head. Aroma of smoked wood, caramel and chocolate. The nose prepares you for the taste of thick caramel and bitter chocolates. There is a mild smoke flavor, but it is nicely balanced. Finishes dry.

12/27/07 - Winter Road Trip ’07 - Draft sample at brewpub. Pours black w/ red hues, off white/coffee-colored head. Chocolate and coffee nose w/ slight smokiness. Creamy mouthfeel w/ coffee and chocolate, sweet finish, malty. No discernable hops. Smokiness is there, but subdued. Rather watery, but good.

On tap. Chocolatey with toasted grain notes and mild coffee. A bit of fruity hops. Smells quite a bit like a porter. Dark brown-black clear with a thin tan head. Medium body with light carbonation. Starts with some mild DMS, Twizzlers, and mild coffee grainy character. Papery stale hoppiness with light tangy finish. Very little bittrness. Could be drier.

On draught at the brewpub in Wausau, Wisconsin. Pours a dark cola brown brew with a creamy off-white head that has some good retention and thick lacing. Aroma of dark black malt, some flowery hops, a touch of chocolate and coffee. taste is medium bodied, light carbonation with flavors of dark roasted black malt, flowery hops with little bitterness and a touch of smoked wood. Finish is semi-sweet, with a toasted dark malt aftertaste that quickly disappears.

On tap at the Wausau brewpub on 6/24/07: Pours a mostly opaque with dark brown edges and a small, frothy light tan head. Aroma of lightly sweet dark caramel and toasty roasted German malt with a light noble hoppiness. Body starts full and toasty dark malty sweet with good authenticity and bitter balance toward an enjoyable roasty bittersweet dark chocolate finish. A great Schwarzbier!