When Mike says we are going to do some research, it means we are grabbing a couple of brews and talking about them.

This time, we decide to take a detour to learn more about Schwarzbier, Mike’s 15th Jar of Destiny pick. These black lagers have a specific description but they seem to be different in commercial examples.

After I struck out on finding any American wheat ales, Mike brings four(!) Schwarzbiers from our local craft beer store. Obviously, we line them up and give them a proper taste test.  Let’s see what we learned as Mike got notes for his “Jar of Destiny” brew.

The Schwarzbier Appearance & Aroma

These Schwarzbiers ran the spectrum from nearly see-through ruby highlights to dark, opaque pours. We labeled each of these beers with letters from A to D.

D takes the crown for looks. It is crystal clear with gorgeous ruby edges. C is the darkest, practically daring you to find any light.
When it came to aroma, things got interesting. A has a whisper of chocolate and roast, B is all about subtle malt, and D plays the malty card with a hint of Munich breadiness.
C is a plum bomb. It is rich, fruity, almost Baltic porter territory.

Taste Test & Takeaways

Here are our full notes from our left-to-right lineup (A, B, C, D), Here’s the quick rundown:

A (Coolship Lager Black, EOC Brewing Co.): Thin body, touch of roast, maybe a little ashy. Pleasant, but missing that signature Schwarzbier snap.

B (Lethos Schwarzbier, Grimm Artisanal Ales): Mild aroma, medium mouthfeel, a little dry roasted malt. Charcoal vibes lingered but nothing harsh.

C (Hidden Mechanism, Aeronaut Brewing): This one drank like an ale with big plum, caramel notes, bordering on Baltic porter. Roastiness took a back seat.

D (Rinsteig Black Lager, Schilling Beer Co.): Our winner! Just enough malt sweetness, restrained roast, and balanced as hell.

Inspiration & The Value of Homebrewing

Tasting four commercial Schwarzbiers side by side proved a few things. One: this style is all over the map, and two: if you want it done your way, sometimes you have to brew it yourself.

That’s still the joy of homebrewing, right? If you’re ever frustrated that your favorite style is missing from store shelves, don’t get mad, get mashing.

BREW ON!