Flossmoor Station Black Wolf Schwarz

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

Objectively speaking: A brown lager that lacks the usual house confidence.
I like: Not very tasty at all, rather pale coloured. Very light bodied. limited roastiness. Clean, but mostly dull.
I dislike: Mostly sweet palate, but never really choosing a direction, avoiding fruitiness and wandering into the cerealic side of things. Not much lager character, no crispiness.

Draft... DLD’08... Very dark (almost black), clear ruby red with a large, frothy, white head. Creamy, tight retention. A merger of cocoa, vanilla and cinnamon comprise the aroma. Medium-bodied with a skim-milk mouthfeel and bristly carbonation. Well-balanced, nicely roasted and very drinkable. Good bitterness prevents overwhelming sweetness. Roasty, nutty finish.

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>

On tap at the brewpub with a dark brown body and light tan head. The aroma was sweet pancakes with some coffee. The taste was coffee with some cola. There was also some fresh bitter green beans. A decent Schwarzbier.

Chi-town gathering at Flossmoor: Deep brown hue with reddish highlights and a small fizzy head. The aroma was smoky, chocolate, caramel, raisin, walnut, and earthy yeast esters. The taste has a nice smooth malt character with a surprising hint of bitterness. Smoky and woody finish added depth. The mouth feel is smooth and medium bodied. A nice refreshing black bier that is not cloy or chalky like many.

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.

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.

Pour is ruby amber/brown with a thin tan head...toasty sweet caramel aroma...some chocolatey molasses flavor things going on...nice malty toasty flavos throughout...