Randy Sprecher is at it again. Already brewing a plethora of wonderfully authentic German styled beers (bocks, hefeweizens, Vienna lagers, etc.) he’s also producing a wonderfully authentic Schwarzbier, or black lager. This is a style of beer that is sadly not widely produced by American microbreweries, though some examples of it can be found. Oddly enough one of the better American versions besides Sprecher’s came from an unlikely source, Pennsylvania’s Latrobe Brewing, famous for their Rolling Rock brand. Latrobe’s Black Lager was a deliciously spicy and creamy black beer that is sadly no longer produced.

Schwarzbier is similar to porter and stout in that it contains a good portion of dark roasted malts, hence the color. Unlike porters and stouts, however, Schwarzbier is a lager and as such is cold fermented and conditioned. This provides for a cleaner, crisper brew that generally will not have the fruity esters warm ferments and shorter maturations can impart. Sprecher cold conditions its Black Bavarian for a full two months, quite enough time to produce a rounded beer.

Black Bavarian is brewed with Caramel, Pale, and Black Patent malts as well as roasted unmalted barley. It is hopped with traditional Tettnangs but, in a decidedly American twist, also uses domestic varieties: Cascades, Mt. Hoods, and Chinooks. These give the beer a bit more hop character than one will find in German examples like Kostritzer or Monchshoff.

I like to drink my Black Bavarian from a large boot-shaped glass adorned with the Sprecher logo. This type of glass originated in Germany and is called a Bierstiefel, or beer boot taken literally. Generally holding a liter or two, the glass is part of a traditional beer game of sorts called stiefeltrinken. Filled to the rim with beer, it is passed around from drinker to drinker, each taking a sip. As the contents near the bottom, the trick is to keep the beer from splashing all over you since a pocket of air will inevitably form in the toe and come gushing up all over you. If you are lucky enough to have this happen to you, you earn the honor of paying for the refill.

Sprecher Black Bavarian pours to a deep black color with a light creamy tan head and a slightly roasty nose. The palate is surprisingly smooth for a beer so dark. To be sure, there’s flavor here: some coffee and chocolate notes along with a subtle roastiness. Still, this is a creamy, smooth drinking beer, clean of esters and less robust than say a porter or stout. A dash of hops is apparent in the finish.

A perfect match to a hunk of black bread with Tilsiter cheese, sauerkraut and assorted German sausages.

 

Update: 6/6/2013: Sad to say, but I haven't had a Sprecher beer in ten years. Sprecher beers have not been available in Georgia, though happily that changed and their bottled beers started showing up on store shelves a few weeks ago. Sorely missing was the Black Bavarian, my favorite Sprecher beer. You can imagine my sheer delight, then, when my local Taco Mac here in Canton got a keg of the Black Bavarian! And what a deal at just $5.50 for a pint (20-ounce mug for me).

Taking a sip, I think Sprecher Black Bavarian is better than ever. It is roastier than I recall and my above tasting notes imply, with chicory and chocolate, and a hint of licorice. As per the style, the brew is quite clean with a firm smooth body, a robust roasty finish with minty grassy hop aroma and full bitterness. Absolutely fantastic beer!

 

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft

(G)=Growler

 



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