Kulmbacher Mönchshof Schwarzbier

Brewed by Kulmbacher Brauerei (Schörghuber)
Style: Schwarzbier
Kulmbach, Germany

Clear walnut with some deep garnet. Very large, very fine slightly sticky light brown head settles slowly to a complete rocky cap leaving nice lacing. Touch of toffee leads over dark, slightly husky chocolate. Just a touch of roastiness as well. There’s a solid malty goodness lurking below to support it all. Complex, interesting, and well-balanced. Heavy side of medium in the mouth with excellent rich malt of the bready sort. Roast and chocolate notes are there, as well as a touch of dried cherry fruitiness. Complexity, interest and balance again. Excellent soft, filling mouthfeel - seems to get into every crack and crevice of the mouth. Great length with a touch of spicy bitterness at the death that simply begs you to take another sip. Drinkable? This is one of the magic brews that simply disappears from the glass leaving only a lingering smile. Genius beer. Easily abused, and nowhere near the same experience when it is. Please buy from a reputable retailer.

This beer is one of the best examples of the balance and refinement present in German brewing. It pours a deep, deep ruby. In the broad part of the glass it’s black in narrower parts it’s reddish brown. The head is a tan sticky beauty. Nose is of soft, clean malts, a nice chocolate roastiness and a fair smattering of noble hops. It smells so good, yet so refined. This is not a big beer, not at all, but it’s still so deep. It’s dry, but somehow still has a malty sweetness rounded out with a refreshing bitterness coming from the roast and the perfect level of hopping. Finish is smoth and clean with a subtle lingering bitterness. It’s so nice. Round and smooth, but still dry and refreshing. There’s a faint, metalic tang of the water in here as well. That’s right you can taste the water. What’s wrong with that? Soft and subtle yet flavorful and deep. Perfect. What craftsmanship.

[Bottle from Little Germany] Aroma of roasted malt, berry fruit, caramel. Medium body with some sweetness leading to a dry finish with more roast and fruit. Very drinkable.

Dark amber body. Coffee, malt, caramel and a little cherry aromas. Balanced with a slightly bitter finish.

From one of those miniature kegs. Pours amber with a small beige head. The aroma is caramelly with a spicy tinge. The flavor is caramelly at first, but with dulled edges, and it persists for quite some time. Simple, but good.

pours a dark cherry-red witha thick, foamy and lasting tan head. Dark chocolate in in the aroma. Nice carbonation and slighty creamy mouthfeel. Roasted malt, dried fruit and chocolate which lead to a nice bitter and lightly hopped finish. Nice representation of the style.

Nice black beer with a decent head and lacing. Good aroma of hops and malt. Good roasted malt flavor with mild hop bite. A good Schwartz with more body than most.

Bottle pours dark brown with a pretty nice offwhite head that stays well and laces lots. Aromas of chocolate and caramel mostly a little peat and some earthy notes as well though. Flavor is chocolate, caramel, peat, and even a little smoke. Quite smooth and creamy but a tad on the watery side. Seemed to lack body to go with the flavor..