Schell Dark

Brewed by August Schell Brewing Company
Style: Dunkel
New Ulm, Minnesota USA

Serve in Dimpled mug, Lager glass, Stein

For better or worse I’ve found that this is the ultimate introduction to a timid newcomer to craft beer. It’s tasty but it’s not bitter, it’s dark but it’s not thick, strong, or overly roasty. This beer has changed so many impressions of what "dark" or "craft" beer is and can be. That being said in the larger pool of craft beer this one is the shallow end, or maybe the kiddie pool. Pours a nice brownish amber color with a medium head that sort of sticks around. The aroma is nutty and has some chocolate. Flavor is toasty, lightly sweet with caramel, coco, and nutty notes. There is a nice zing of old world hops in here as well. This is pretty light and very smooth; the palate is admittedly very nice but entirely boring at the same time... if that is possible. Basically there is absolutely nothing wrong with this beer; it is very well made... It is just made to be a bit boring, nothing inherently wrong with that.

Poured from bottle into single style glass. Dark brownish-amber with very thin head. Very sweet smell - caramel and maybe a little cherry, maybe a touch of spiciness. Very malty and sweet. Lots of caramel and fruit, with maybe a touch of roastiness and spiciness. Really wish there was more than a touch of both. Slightly cloying aftertaste. Pretty high carbonation, light to medium body. Easy to drink but uninteresting. Schell should make a real Dunkel, this is an American Dark Lager.

Pours a light reddish-brown with medium off-white head. Aroma of caramel and sweet malt. Taste is a little nutty, some roated malt, a little metallic, light hops, tiny hints of coffee & caramel. Medium-light mouthfeel, watered down...tastes like a very watered down stout. On the good side, it’s highly drinkable just not very high quality.

Pours a dark brown with almost no head. Smells like a roasted malt and tastes the same. Almost no carbonation, very smooth finish. Bland and mediocre.

Bottle. Clear light brown with beige head. Aroma is light malt, light acidity, and light sweetness. Flavor is malty and bready with just a hint of acidity. Nothing crazy, easy drinkin’.

A chocolate brown color with a off-white head. The aroma is roasted malt and hops. The flavor is light caramel and toasty malt. The texture is watery, but it finishes dry.

Coca Cola colored beer with a Hires type foam. Slow carbonation but a nice look to this one. Musty malt aroma akin to sweaty socks with a hot hop behind it almost like the elk’s piss from the label. Flavor is foremost watery then a slight malt appearance. Palate is as easy to take down as a sip from a water fountain. Much too weak a beer. Its mature looks are more alluring than its unsophisticated flavor.

Pours a brown with a foamy white head that quickly fades to nothing. Aroma is light corny with a very sweet apple juice note and a mild toasted note. Flavor is pretty sweet of apple juice as well, light caramel sweetness and a light nutty note. Pretty watery feel, low carbonation and a oily texture. Overall a bit light for my taste and the corn sweetness really came through a bit too much for my tastes.