Upland Schwarz

Brewed by Upland Brewing Company
Style: Schwarzbier
Bloomington, Indiana USA

Serve in Dimpled mug, Lager glass, Stein

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Draft. Poured a dark clear black color with an average frothy off-white head that was mostly lasting and produced good lacing. Moderate toasted malt aroma. Medium body with a smooth texture and soft carbonation. Medium roasted bittersweet flavor with a medium bittersweet finish of moderate duration. Solid drinkable brew.

Bottle poured a clear dark reddish brown with a small lasting tan head. Aromas of dark chocolate, smoke, dark fruit, carmel and light earthiness. Palate was light to medium bodied and smooth. Flavors of bitter chocolate, earthiness, smoke and light dark fruit with a smooth lingering smokey finish.

Bottled. Poured deep cola brown with a nice lookin’ beige head on top. The aroma picked up sweet vanilla, cocoa, and chocolate, with hints of dry coffee roast around.. some hints that it might be a tad sour.. not bad. The flavor found dry-roasted coffee and chocolates with accents of vanilla.. the roast was quite heavy, and stuck along with fresh earthy bitterness on the finish.. very faint metallic sourness on the back.. I really enjoyed it, and it was close to an 8. Lighter-bodied, roasty, and bitter on the palate.. the roast worked well.. this was a very solid brew.

12 ounce bottle courtesy of queenholly. Thanks! Glad to get to try another Upland beer. Now THERE’S a glass full of foam. Pours a dark brown color with a foamy, frothy brown head. As CrellMoset would say, fascinating bubble structure. Aroma of chocolate, green apple, herbal hops. The taste is chocolate, green apple, mild roast and a solvent note. Medium bodied. Sad, but this is off.

Bottle. Woody chocolate malt aroma. Opaque black-brown color with moderate head. Wood, light smoke and chocolate malt flavor. Lightly bitter herbal hops finish. Very good.

Black, as one might expect. Loose, spongy head. Smells oddly tart and winey, plus some coffee notes. Flavor is also winey, with solid coffee flavors in the background. Not sure if this intentional, but I kinda liked it. Thanks to queenholly for the trade!

Draught at the brewpub. Aroma of nuts and berry, coriander-lemon in the Leipzig style (!!!), light roast and yeast. Near-black appearance with a soapy tanned head. Taste of nuts and red berry, dry with faint roast and strong wood, a touch of citrus (orange rind) and coriander underneath, seems to turn dryer and dryer as you go along. Nice bit of funk underneath, has something in common with their wit and weizen, I’d assume it was the yeast but it can’t be (ale vs. lager). House character? Mouthfeel is not flat, just prickly enough to make it interesting. Medium body. Overall, tastes extremely (East) German, and that’s a big compliment. Judging by this, the Maerzen, and the Oktoberfest, Caleb really should try his hand at lagers more often!

12oz bottle from a now forgotten location on a summer trip to Upland country. A shame I haven’t been able to try this beer on tap, since I have the distinct impression that this bottle has a very mild infection and may not be as fresh as desirable. Nice dark brown pour, with a fairly lively carbonation, almost cola-like. Soft roasted malts and a hint of chocolate in the nose, along with a mild dankness. Body is a bit too lively in places, though it does eventually settle down a bit. Hints of smoke and chicory in and among the roasted malts, and the dry hops blend well with dark choc. The mild tart note remains, and docks the brew a point or two. But still a solid entry.

12oz bottle...looks to be about a year and a half old. Still pours with a thick head...eventually settles into an oily beige layer on top of brown-black body. Brown sugar and chocolate aroma, quite rich and nice. Holds up quite well overall. Creamy, medium bodied, this is a really great Schwarz. A touch of cocoa bitterness, maybe a little soured with age, maybe not. Doughy and rich, this is really a quality beer.

bottle - Pours dark brown and has a roasted malt aroma. It’s full flavored with roast coffee tones, a medium body, and a good, balanced finish. Solid.