Samuel Adams Black Lager

Brewed by Boston Beer Company
Style: Schwarzbier
Boston, Massachusetts USA

Poured dark - but not black - hint of red. I detected little in the aroma - taste was good. finally a SA that doesn’t taste like every other SA. I enjoyed this but wont rush back for more.

Robust chocolate red. Cola-like sweetness, rich earth and campfire smoke, and chocolate-hued vinous swells in the nose. Quiet and calm; a bit sugary. Just a touch of peppermint-tinted menthol; off-putting but not spoiling. The rich malt characters are there, the clean character of low alcohol doesn’t strip away any of the meatiness of that maltiness, and so it’s quite pleasant.

Flavor is soft and anise-driven, generous in smooth sweetness and distinctive wooden smokiness. The dried caramel and deep red fruit sweetness is an old and easy friendship of flavors. There’s a soft dryness present in the middle, that has a cinnamon spiciness about it; caky, and sweet. Its simplicity and easiness in the roast character is pretty fitting; it seems to highlight the nuances of the munich malts and the yeast character more than many I’ve had, and I really like that; it isn’t so much a thin bodied roast-heavy example as it is a thicker fruit-heavy example. A bit of sweetcorn and mineral toughness arrives nearing the finish, but in a surprisingly easy and palatable form; more as an afterthought.

Medium palate is softly carbonated and quite smooth; finishes semi-sweet and lightly sticky with a heavy licorice and root beer sweetness that lingers too readily, and too simply; altogether, though, the cleanness of sweet flavors in this beer is something very satisfying. It’s a richness designed for the lager drinker, and it’s pretty immaculately done.

Bottled sample via mnurda. Near black in colour with medium carbonation. Aromas of heavy malts, caramel, a bit of roast and a hint of tar. Malts are the major flavor too, with caramel and chocolate notes being rounded out by some dryness and a hint of spicy hops. A solid schwarzbier, but not quite as elegant or refined as the best ones are.

Bottle. Very dark brown.Nice tan head. Smells of sweet & roasted malts. Roasted malts, caramel taste. acidic from malts. Light-Medium body. Sweet aftertaste.

bottle. poured near black with a tan head. aroma had some good caramel and coffee notes. flavor was good with a rich caramel followed with some coffee and a nice bitter to finish it off with. this is a good beer. glad i found a sixer on sale for $4.99.

Bottle. Dark brown/black color. Aroma is a bit sweet roasted malt and some coffee. Taste is roasted with some chocolat in it. Pretty good.

12oz bottle: As name implies, near black in color. Frothy off-white head. Aroma of sweet roasted malt with a hint of chocolate and caramel. Deep roasted flavor with a slight hint of cocoa. Finishes a little crisp. Very well balanced. One of my favorite S.A. offerings.

Bottle 0,33l. Dark brown colored - almost black. A huge fluffy light brown head. Chocolate and roasted malt in the nose. Soft mouthfeel. Rounded flavor with fruits and berries. Sourish bitterness. Aftertaste of coffee.