Calumet Total Eclipse

Brewed by Rowlands Calumet Brewery
Style: Schwarzbier
Chilton, Wisconsin USA

Pours slightly darker than the dark with a smooth creamy tan head covering it all. Taste is malty, of course, and well balanced with just the right amount of hops. Shows vinous qualities. Could be a little thicker, but I guess it wouldn't be a schwarzbier then. I put this in the same boat as the Calumet Dark.

On tap at the brewery. THIS is the beer that IMHO should be getting the raves that the Dark is. The maltiest, sweetest nose that I’ve ever experienced, milk-chocolate and caramel and a faint floweriness. Dark and rich and thick, with a medium-to-slightly heavy body, strong coffee flavor, excellent finish. Best of Bob’s beers if you ask me.

On draught at the brewpub in Chilton, Wisconsin. Pours a dark, near opaque, clear brown brew with a creamy and thick off-white head that slowly disipates to a fine film and off-white head. Some spotty lacing but still quite thick. Aroma of sweet black malt, toasted multi-grain malt and a touch of sweetened coffee. Taste is medium to full bodied, very light carbonation with a grainy texture. Flavors has mostly dark toasted multi-grain malt with little hop presence. Finish is slightly dry with a dark toasted malt aftertaste along with a short lived mild bitterness.

Growler. Clear, deep mahogany with a well-retained cap of smooth toffee head. Nose picked up a bevy of sweet, deep, dark malts... caramel, coffee, bittersweet chocolate, and some light spices were all packed in there, with floral hop highlights. Everything really popped in the flavor... coffee was the shining star, and was complemented by dry roasted chocolate and caramel, and surrounded by floral hop bitterness. Smooth malts pushed the brew across the palate, hoppage provided excellent bitter hints, and the finish was long and full of roasted coffee. This stuff is fantastic, and well worth a trip out there!

Appearance from likely generous American at Doug Shoemaker Party. Very sweet with chocolate malts and who knows what to sweeten the smoke, but also bitterness at the finish.

Pleasant malt base with light smoky touch. Dark brown, fine creamy head. Pleasing to the eye . Flavour : plain on top , dry roast accented . There are some bitters , gradually dry at end . Very decent.

Pours a dark black body, big fluffy beige head. Touch of sourness hops and dark malt in the aroma. Roasty, slightly dry astringent (?) sour bitterness and some malt. Average palate, touch light. Growler @ Toronto Christmas Party 2004.

A growler courtesy of Skyview. Dark brown color with a medium head. Very complex aroma of dark fruits, smoke and coffee. Bone dry malt flavor with ample chocolate. Slightly floral finish. Friggin delicious.