Flossmoor Station Black Wolf Schwarz

Brewed by Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery
Style: Schwarzbier
Flossmoor, Illinois USA

9/10/07 re-rate. On draught at Rayboy01’s Cajun Fais Do Do. Dry at 1st whiff; settles down. Dark, mostly opaque creamy tan head. Some lace. Nice Schwarz; moderate sweetness. Low carbonation. Subdued flavor. Very nice flavorful and drinkable beer. I kept the old ratings since this was the 1st beer of the night and I was parched. Ar 7, Ap 4, Fl 8, Pal 5, Ov 16. 10/22/06: Draught at brewpub. Not much aroma. Dry and malty. Excellent lace. Very nice brew; roasted malt with some sweetness and hop undertones. Rivals Hereford and Hops’ Schwazbier, which I think may be slightly better. Enjoyable. Underrated. Proof? Gold medal at the 2006 GABF.

Draught at Cole’s in Buffalo, NY. Pours black with red hues and an average size diminishing tan head. Aroma is roasty and nutty with some chocolate, hops and a hint of smoke. Flavour of roasted malt, nuts, chocolate, a nice amount of smoke and a bitter finish -- this is a pleasant surprise. Medium bodied. Not mind-blowing but it’s easy to drink, quite tasty and a good version of the style.

Draught. At Cole’s in Buffalo NY, shared with blankboy. Mostly opaque reddish-black with an average beige creamy head. Very dry and bitter aroma, nutshells, coffee grounds, baker’s chocolate and bitter hops. Tastes the same, but the bitterness is ameliorated some by hints of raisins and vanilla - it finishes surprisingly quick, nice balance (no cola taste here). I was impressed with the solid body, for a schwartzbier, lightly astringent, mildly carbonated and no aftertaste - really one of the best of the style I’ve ever had, really malty and not too sweet at all like most seem to be.

Growler from Rayboy. A nice looking dark pour on this one. A good amount of roastiness make this one a fine brew to welcome the Fall. Very sessionable for a dark beer.

Served with a deep, ruby hued black/brown body under a tan head that held as a thick film. Roasty, husky, nutty aroma with whiffs of alcohol that increase as the beer gets low in the glass. Mid-bodied with a consistently bitter flavor that finishes on a sour, milky note. Lagered undertones to a roasty, almost smoked base of malt. Worthy of a second glass.

<font size=-4>On tap at <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp? Station, Flossmoor, IL 60422</font>

Draft. Spongy brown head that disappears quickly, over a deep brown body. Basic lager smell with just a hint of dark roast grains. Taste has a bit of pizza dough aspect to it, but barely, and it helps here. The dark malts add mostly to the bitterness underlying the decent lager taste. Toward the end I get a bit of coffee and somehow, a suggestion of whiskey.

Black bodied with a tall, rocky tan head that does some serious lacing as it settles down in chunks, this schwarzbier has a lightly roasted, sweet malt aroma with a hint of smoke. Perhaps a bit thin for the style, it nevertherless delivers a smooth taste of roasted malts, a daub of chocolate, and a light bitterness of Hallertau hops in the finish. A good sessionable lager from Matt and Andrew.

<font size=-4><a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp? Station, Flossmoor, IL<font size=-1>

Great looking pour...black as the ace of spades with a huge rocky long-lasting head. Rich roasted smoky aroma. The flavors are all arrayed on the dark, smoky, roasted side of the scale, plus distinct chocolate notes. Lightly carbonated and easy-drinking, although slightly thin-bodied. I thoroughly enjoyed this experimental effort by my two favorite brewers, Matt and Andrew.