One of my new favorites from Germany, this Schwarzbier, a black lager, looks mean and tastes clean. The color is opaque black with a quickly dissipating, light caramel head; the effervescence is high. The nose is hazelnut, roasted coffee bean, old maid popcorn kernel, dried orange peel, honey, copper and malt ball candy. On the tongue, it’s a bit of an anomaly as roasted flavors are married to a very refreshing, crisp lightness with a moderate 4.9% abv. In addition, the palate expands to include nuances of honeysuckle, bee pollen, and pecan shell. The beer is devoid of fruity flavors except the dried orange peel, which lightly permeates the nose and palate. The finish is smooth and long with notes of hazelnut and honeycomb. This is a session beer, if ever there was one!

Köstritzer has been making beer since 1543. Nice.

Anthony Garcia
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