Thirsty Bear Black Bear Lager

Brewed by Thirsty Bear Brewing Company
Style: Schwarzbier
San Francisco, California USA

Tap (cask). Very dark brown color with a creamy light brown head. A toasted malt aroma and flavor that is quite assertive. A hint of chocolate and bitter on the palate. Very nice!

Tasted on tap at the Drakes 1st Annual Beer Festival and Washoes Tournament. This Schwarzbier pours a deep brown color from the tap. Large sized white foamy head. Aroma is roasty malt, chocolate and coffee. A medium bodied schwarzbier. Malts are roasty and chocolate. Hops are slightly bitter and earthy. Nice balance. Roasty malts really stand out. Crisp and clean. Easy drinking. Nice beer. Mouthfeel is full. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

(Draft at brewery). When you can get it, have this bear! Black. Malty aroma with, sometimes, just a hint of diacetyl. Rich, roasty character finishes very smooth. A tasty beverage.

Tap. Near opaque, with mahogany around the edges. Not much of a distinguishable aroma, apart from nice sweet maltiness. Finishes a lot like their brown bear, but I’m kind of a sucker for simple dark lagers like this one so chalk up some extra points.

I had this on tap. It is a nice schwarzbier-type. It is almost black, with a medium, light brown head that steadily diminishes to a thin top and lasting ring of foam. The aoms is pleasant, mild aroma is toast with hints of chocolate, coffee. It’s dry, smooth, and clean. The taste is similar, on the lighter side for the style, but still with a good fullness and range of flavour. It’s mostly toasted grain with light chocolate and coffoee elements - a bit dry and rather clean, but light on complexity and depth. Ther e is a faint licorice quality but this is weak. It’s still tasty, though, and very drinkable.

Draft. Blackish beer with a tan head. Slight roasty aroma with caramel and a bit of hop. Roasty/caramel/coffee flavor with backing hops. Medium body. Very clean and easy to drink.

~Pours a clear dark amber with white head. ~Malty, yeasty, and spicy sweet scent. ~Nice malt flavor on this one. Not too sweet, light citrus hops. ~Light feel, bittersweet finish. Some tingles on tongue. ~Enjoyable brew. Better than expected.

Roasted malt nose, opaque brown color, low biege head. Licorice sweetness, deep roasted malt body. Espresso end that lingers. Thinish body. Good balance and good example of a Schwarzbier from the New World.