Sprecher Black Bavarian

Brewed by Sprecher Brewing Company
Style: Schwarzbier
Glendale, Wisconsin USA

I’m not sure why I don’t like this beer more. I like Schwarzbiers, and I’m not opposed to Sprecher (although they are more pretentious than the better Lakefront and Milwaukee Ale House brands). Anyway, this pours very dark with a dark head. It looks like a porter, smells like a porter, but tastes a bit heavier than that, with definite coffee-ground flavors that are not as bad as you’d think. Smoky finish and thin mouth feel. Pretty good, but not as good as I want it to be.

Dark and heavy pouring, with a half inch dark head. Looks a lot like a porter. Very malty aroma, with coffee dominating. Lighter body than expected, with a sharp tangy flavor. Heavier than a porter.

Tasted at http://www.ratebeer.com/events-detail.asp?eventID= with DenverLogan, and Quaff members. 1yr old bottle I believe. Black color. Mild flavor. Not memorable.

16 ounce bottle

I have had a few of these and figured it was about time to rate it. Coming from Sprecher my expectations were not that great but this was a pleasant surprise. It didn’t blow me away but it was not found totally lacking as most of their beers are. This may be the sort of thing that I would pick up occasionally for a change of pace.

Aroma / Appearance - A fluid dark brown body swirled around the glass. A sandy thin head sat on top for a few minutes then began to fade into the rest of the liquid. Smoky malts, black coffee and the dregs of a pot of coffee. It was pretty plain but that is typical for most schwarzbiers I have tried so far.

Flavor / Palate - A thin mouthfeel coated the mouth in a bit of smoke and dark fruits. Toffee and slight bitterness reminded me somewhat of a sweet stout without the roasted malts. The figgy dry finish makes a strong impression before it fades. It could be more complex but it is still pretty satisfying.

Bottle. Pours nearly pitch black w/ hints of ruby coming through when held up to the light. Very small brown head. Aroma is dark chocolate with just a hint of fresh coffee beans. Some sticky caramel in the aroma, too. Flavor is smooth maltiness, faint coffee flavor, vanilla and some earthy notes. Not at all sweet, well balanced. Light coffee-like bitterness in the finish. Round, creamy mouthfeel. Not my favorite style, but a great beer nonetheless.

(bottle) Pours a very dark brown with a tan head that reduced quickly to a ring around the glass. The aroma contained some roasted coffee and a hint of chocolate. Flavor was mainly coffee, with a nice smoky finish, quite good.

[Bottle] Pours dark brown with a quickly disappearing small dark tan head. The aroma was mainly coffee with hints of smoke. The taste was once again coffee and smoke, with a little bit of roasted malt. The coffee came through stronger as it warmed. Medium mouthfeel. Nice long finish. Good beer.

16oz bottle, courtesy of Ughsmash. Thanks, Jason! Pours a very dark brown appearance; medium tan head with excellent retention and lacing. Chocolate and smoked meats in the aroma, with a hint of bitter coffee. Medium-to-full, roasted and (surprisingly) smoky mouthfeel: the smoke character is rather spicy, almost like a Slim Jim or beef jerky, but in a beer form; the closest similarity I can think of is HOTD Adam, although that’s a heck of a lot more dense and less sessionable; excellent roasted coffee and chocolate creaminess coming through mid-palate, taking over where the initial smokiness and spice leave off; dense, generous, and damn good. There’s some buttery warmth poking through at the very end, leading into a creamy, buttery and smoked meat finish. Excellent stuff.