Kulmbacher Mönchshof Schwarzbier

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

Clean roasty and toasty but slightly metallic aroma; tight, creamy head; smooth, mild, slightly nutty flavor with a dry, lightly chalky finish; rather subtle but definitive chocolate hint; slightly metallic. Quite drinkable and tasty.

Dark clear brown/mahogany with a thick, light beige head. Noble hops and some peat in the nose. Flavor has notes of caramel sweetness, smoke, grassy herbal hops, chocolate and roastiness. Very well balanced. Thin body with a watery texture and subtle carbonation - this was the only aspect of the beer I didn’t enjoy. Head retention is ok, a thin coating of lacing hangs on the glass. Quite drinkable. Overall, solid tasty stuff.

Got this as my last beer in Eisneach, Germany before departing for Wittenburg. Got it at the Kaiserhof hotel and savored it as I watched the World Cup in the bar. It poured a very dark color. There was not any daylight left and it seemed to be a very dark brown with red overtones. Very attractive. Head was tan, and while not real large was long lasting. Nose was roasted malts and carmel. Some hint of chocolate. Palate was thinner than it appeared visually but still OK. An OK Schwarzbier. Update: Been over a year since I drank this in Germany. I tried a imported bottle this time. Slightly different label as it says World Classic Schwarz The Original Black. Just as good at the non-import.

Bottle at Oktoberfest Beer-Restaurant in Athens, Greece. Very dark red/brown color, thin head. Nice bitterness at first sips, tastes of roasted malt, chocloate and some caramel. Very nice Schwarzbier.

Draft at Goodbar in Buffalo. Very dark brown, small off white head. Muted chocolate and dilute roast malt aroma. Sweet dark malts, toffee and caramel, very muted hints at chocolate. Average palate.

The aroma is fairly nice. It has toasted malt, cardboard, and chocolate. The appearance is red brown with a medium, foamy tan head. The flavor has chocolate, coffee, and toffee. The bitterness is mild. The palate is thin. Overall it’s a nice beer.

Bottle: Attractive with a mild flavor of toffee malt followed by a slight finish of hops. A little watery on the finish, and a little less than I was expecting.

500ml bottle. Brown-red-amber color, thine beige head. Aroma of roasted malt with notes of raisins, toffee and chocolate. Well balanced, full body with a dry finish. Roasted malt, notes of molasses, a little bitterness, very drinkable.