4.6
AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20ChadPolenz (1709) - Lakeland, Florida, USA - NOV 8, 2016
2015 BJCP Category: 8B Schwarzbier
AROMA: Lightly sweet nose of dark toasted malt, some red fruit, and a hint of iced coffee. Very faint herbal hops. 10/12
APPEARANCE: Deep ruby red or mahogany. Dark but clear with bright ruby highlights. Large, tan froth. Plenty of lacing. 3/3
FLAVOR: Moderately strong malty presence and sweetness throughout. Bready but also toast/roast flavor (not burnt, however). A mild milk chocolate flavor emerges as it departs, leaving a slightly bitter aftertaste. Red fruits linger as a background note. Clean fermentation. 18/20
MOUTHFEEL: Medium body and carbonation. Texture is soft and smooth. Not refreshing per se but comfortable in the mouth. Aftertaste is fairly clean with slight bittersweet chocolate aftertaste (not astringent). 5/5
OVERALL IMPRESSION: Pretty much a perfect beer for the style, albeit slightly Americanized. 10/10
TOTAL SCORE: 46/50
NOTE: See my 2013 original review here.
